Mercury Man
   

Director:  Bhandit Thongdee
Year: 2006
Rating: 5.0
Country: Thailand

Every country has to have a super hero or two. America can't have a monopoly on them. Thailand hasn't had many. In the old days they had a lot of mythological heroes with powers but not much in contemporary times. Back in the 1960s through the 1970s there was a series of Red Eagle films starring Mitr Chaibancha until he was killed in a stunt in his film. He had no super hero powers but was more in the Batman mode. There was a comeback for the character in 2010 with a film titled Red Eagle that was good fun but it didn't spawn a franchise. And let us not forget Iron Pussy, a film directed by Apitchatpong Weerasethakul. Iron Pussy is a transvestite super hero. But here is Mercury Man. And there goes Mercury Man. Only the one film.



It is produced and choreographed by the famous team of Prachya Pinkaew and Panna Rittikrai, who are behind most of the best Thai action films - but this isn't one of them. There is way too much poorly done special effects and wire enhanced action that just feels silly. We like the real thing from these two guys. Where was Tony Jaa when they needed him. The best real fighting is from a transsexual, but not just any transexual. More on that later.



A religious cult headed by Usama Bin Ali is intent on destruction. But he is in jail until his ninjas break him out but in doing so Chan, a fireman, is stabbed in the heart with an Amulet. The Sun Amulet. And as it seeps through his body it gives him powers. Back at terrorist headquarters Usama - Usi to his friends - gives a speech. "They raped our land, they killed our children. Now it is time for revenge" and I was thinking, I hope he isn't talking about America. Yup. His daughter was killed by American soldiers in Afghanistan. And where is he going to get revenge against America? In Thailand, dammit. Why? Because as his martial arts killer female (Metinee Kingpayome) says, it is easy to get in and out. That is true. A suicide bomber takes out Khaosan Road where all the backpackers hang out. So, no great loss.



Meanwhile Chan the fireman is being taught how to use his powers by a female protector (Jinvipa Kheawkunya) of the temple where the bad guys stole the amulet.  She tells him you have to stay cool - jai yen (cool heart) and if he gets hot tempered or excited (jai rawn) his clothes will be set on fire. He tests this by leafing through Penthouse and sure enough his pants get on fire. Like any respected super hero he gets a very cool costume. He becomes a crime fighter leaping tall buildings and using some sort of force field and nothing much hurts him. One of the better scenes is when he is attacked by a bunch of martial arts experts. Finally, he is ready to face the terrorists who have kidnapped his mother. He is helped by his friend Grace.



Grace is a transexual and is played by Nong Toon Parinya. Who you ask? Before he became a she, he was one of the best muay thai boxers in Thailand. The film Beautiful Boxer is based to some degree on her life. She is the real deal and kicks some ass. When one of her soon to be victims says I am going to castrate you, she replies, they are gone already.  The film isn't very good and should have been better. It isn't helped by the actor who plays Chan (Wasan Khantaau) who has the acting chops of a piece of firewood and the charisma of used chalk. This is his only film. Still, I thought it was painless and there is some sporadic solid action.