The opening credits make it known that Bangkok Dog is presented by Prachya Pinkaew. Most famous for producing gems like Ong-Bak, Tom Yung Goong, Born to Fight and Chocolate. Just to give you an idea of what this meant for me, expectations wise. I wished I could say that this film has the same quality of his previous films.
Still, I wouldn't say the film is a complete waste of time. For what it's worth, I have seen far worse. The acting is far from atrocious. But it is bad. Certain stand-outs are Byron Bishop as Charn Chai, Sahajak Boonthanakit as Mesias and the lead D.Y. Sao as Andrew Kang. Compared to the others, their acting feels natural. Even if Mesias is a very cartoonish character. Sao definitely is someone with potential. I would like to see him spar with the likes of Iko Uwais, Tony Jaa and Scott Adkins. The direction and cinematography is competent. Director Chaya Supannarat clearly understands how to shoot action.
And obviously, that is the main attraction. You think I was invested in this film because of the plot and the cheesy acting? Of course not. I was in the for the action. In that department, Bangkok Dog certainly delivers. Brian Le as Benz Wu shows off some moves you wouldn't expect from a guy who looks like him. The fight between him and Sao is certainly the highlight of the film. Ron Smoorenburg of Who am I fame also makes an appearance. How is this guy keep getting jobs in films? His skills as a martial artist are vastly overrated, and in all these years he even has become worse as an actor. But OK, I wouldn't fault him for that. If he is such a great martial artist, then why doesn't this become apparent? Sure, great kicks and his size does make him look like a fierce opponent. But he just can't explode on screen like others can. Take Brian Le for example. He is not tall, but pretty big. Hopelessly overacting, yet when he has to back up his big mouth, he makes it true. He is a force to be reckoned with.
Overall, this is one of the films you fast-forward to the action sequences and nothing else.
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