Bangkok Dangerous
Brian Tyler
" Lovely theme makes the difference in overlong album "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Bangkok Dangerous of 2008 was the remake of Bangkok Dangerous, the debut film of the Pang brothers of 1999. In this remake, Nicholas Cage delivers his typical sufficient if unremarkable self as the hitman Joe with a conscience. The Pang brothers directed this remake as well, and chose reliable and often requested action composer Brian Tyler for the job. And as usual, Tyler got the job done, delivering a mix of the loneliness that defies Joe's life, and the dangerous path that haunts him. Sufficient to say, Bangkok Dangerous is enjoyable, at times even downright surprising but once again way too long for its own good.
Because it is evident that the score can make its statements in 45 minutes too, which would make it a likelier candidate for repeated listens. Now, as usual, you receive the biggest and most enjoyable bulk in the opening minutes of the score. The opening track, delivering a wonderful mixture of the main theme for piano and the emotion theme is not surprisingly called a Zimmer track for nothing. But it definitely begins this album better than most of Tyler's efforts, for instance for once with a non explosive action track. That is of course left for track 2 "Assassin", which delivers the expected rhythmic sound. The electronics which enhance this experience and the next "Bangkok Dangerous Main Title" (which is not a main title per se) are often heard for the more action oriented pieces of the score. They also usually work around the same action motif, or are heightened by loads of percussion ("River Chase").
The quiet piano theme (named after the deaf girl Joe rescues) is heard for the first time in full in "Fon's Theme", and like the character it's a fragile but lovely theme. And this gentle theme constantly breaks the action and suspense on the album. There are ethnic influences mixed in Tyler's background score for the city of Bangkok (even heard in two playful dance pieces). But Tyler's most ingenious moment comes in "Underground Temple", when toying with his main theme so much it's almost unrecognizable when discovered through the guitar performance. The emotional "Silent Retribution" is to be remembered as well, while the 2 soft themes are lovely in "Second Thoughts".
While the action tracks aren't that memorable, it's surprising and refreshing to discover that the emotional content of Bangkok Dangerous turns out to save the day. While not innovating or different, it's just lovely to discover that Tyler's emotional music makes so much more impact in an action film than expected, and his tranquil, almost fragile approach totally salvages this experience. All in all, it's not enough to make me want to listen to it frequently, but portions do return often in my head. And it's not surprising that they used that very same theme in the trailer of the movie too. Now, if only they cut off 30 minutes of this score's playing list, because it all starts to sound so similar after a while, another trait in the long list of Brian Tyler efforts.
Track Listing
1. Bangkok Dangerous (3.13)
2. Assassin (1.45)
3. Bangkok Dangerous Main Title (2.31)
4. Fon's Theme (2.22)
5. The Pupil (2.32)
6. Bangkok Reflections (2.00)
7. Runner (2.47)
8. Pursuit (2.45)
9. Underground Temple (1.45)
10. Prague (4.13)
11. Silent Retribution (4.27)
12. Explosive Device (1.15)
13. Gangland Grenade (2.05)
14. The Hitman (2.08)
15. Elephant (2.10)
16. Rain (1.28)
17. Scooping Out The Hit (2.04)
18. Second Thoughts (2.28)
19. Pool Assassination (2.50)
20. What I Do (3.08)
21. Hide and Seek (1.53)
22. Floating Market (1.37)
23. River Chase (3.55)
24. The Performance (1.22)
25. Bangkok Downtown (2.18)
26. Knife Test (2.46)
27. Fire (3.40)
28. The Meeting (0.54)
29. The Compound Shootout (4.11)
30. Yearning (1.36)
31. Fate (3.29)
Total Length: 77.37
Because it is evident that the score can make its statements in 45 minutes too, which would make it a likelier candidate for repeated listens. Now, as usual, you receive the biggest and most enjoyable bulk in the opening minutes of the score. The opening track, delivering a wonderful mixture of the main theme for piano and the emotion theme is not surprisingly called a Zimmer track for nothing. But it definitely begins this album better than most of Tyler's efforts, for instance for once with a non explosive action track. That is of course left for track 2 "Assassin", which delivers the expected rhythmic sound. The electronics which enhance this experience and the next "Bangkok Dangerous Main Title" (which is not a main title per se) are often heard for the more action oriented pieces of the score. They also usually work around the same action motif, or are heightened by loads of percussion ("River Chase").
The quiet piano theme (named after the deaf girl Joe rescues) is heard for the first time in full in "Fon's Theme", and like the character it's a fragile but lovely theme. And this gentle theme constantly breaks the action and suspense on the album. There are ethnic influences mixed in Tyler's background score for the city of Bangkok (even heard in two playful dance pieces). But Tyler's most ingenious moment comes in "Underground Temple", when toying with his main theme so much it's almost unrecognizable when discovered through the guitar performance. The emotional "Silent Retribution" is to be remembered as well, while the 2 soft themes are lovely in "Second Thoughts".
While the action tracks aren't that memorable, it's surprising and refreshing to discover that the emotional content of Bangkok Dangerous turns out to save the day. While not innovating or different, it's just lovely to discover that Tyler's emotional music makes so much more impact in an action film than expected, and his tranquil, almost fragile approach totally salvages this experience. All in all, it's not enough to make me want to listen to it frequently, but portions do return often in my head. And it's not surprising that they used that very same theme in the trailer of the movie too. Now, if only they cut off 30 minutes of this score's playing list, because it all starts to sound so similar after a while, another trait in the long list of Brian Tyler efforts.
Track Listing
1. Bangkok Dangerous (3.13)
2. Assassin (1.45)
3. Bangkok Dangerous Main Title (2.31)
4. Fon's Theme (2.22)
5. The Pupil (2.32)
6. Bangkok Reflections (2.00)
7. Runner (2.47)
8. Pursuit (2.45)
9. Underground Temple (1.45)
10. Prague (4.13)
11. Silent Retribution (4.27)
12. Explosive Device (1.15)
13. Gangland Grenade (2.05)
14. The Hitman (2.08)
15. Elephant (2.10)
16. Rain (1.28)
17. Scooping Out The Hit (2.04)
18. Second Thoughts (2.28)
19. Pool Assassination (2.50)
20. What I Do (3.08)
21. Hide and Seek (1.53)
22. Floating Market (1.37)
23. River Chase (3.55)
24. The Performance (1.22)
25. Bangkok Downtown (2.18)
26. Knife Test (2.46)
27. Fire (3.40)
28. The Meeting (0.54)
29. The Compound Shootout (4.11)
30. Yearning (1.36)
31. Fate (3.29)
Total Length: 77.37