One Take Only DVD: Review By Adam Frazier

One Take Only better known as Som and Bank: Bangkok For Sale is presented by The Pang Brothers (The Eye, Bangkok Dangerous) and written, directed and edited by Oxide Pang.

This Thai film was originally released in 2001 but only recently received it's American DVD debut under the banner of Tartan Asian Extreme Films. The story revolves around Som and Bank, who meet by chance in Bangkok. Bank has no idea that Som is a prostitute and Som, who is wise for her age, has yet to catch on to the fact that Bank is a drug dealer.

After coping with the reality of their significant other's careers, the couple soon become partners and the drug deals they make bring them wealth beyond their wildest imagination, but soon they find the price to pay for that wealth may be too great.

This film plays out like a Thai version of Romeo & Juliet, but instead of noble families we see hookers and drug dealers with their fair share of skeletons locked in closets. To be honest, I didn't find myself fully immersed in this film, although the cinematography was nice and the film was a pleasure to look at - I couldn't get my head around the characters.

I feel as if there was a lot of symbolism going on that reflected Thai culture that I couldn't grasp on to. Also, the whole movie seems chaotic and disjointed for lack of a solid plot. Not much happens during the 90-minute duration of One Take Only - it just meanders along. There's no real beginning, no real turning point and no true ending. I found it rather unsatisfying, unfortunately.

If you're a fan of the Pang Brothers' other work, then I suggest at least renting this film and checking it out, although I've heard it's nothing close to their other cinematic conquests.

Special features for One Take Only include:

Film notes from Justin Bower

Original Theatrical Trailer

The Making of Oxide Pang's "Ab-Normal Beauty"

and first looks at new releases from Tartan Asia Extreme

The picture quality of One Take Only is just what you would expect from any other Tartan Asia Extreme DVD release: crisp and surreal, with vibrant colors catching the attention of your eye through its anamorphic widescreen scope.

This film is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and DTS Surround Sound 5.1 - both audio tracks are only available in Korean and Thai, so unless you happen to be a fluent in the language(s) I imagine you'll be using the English subtitles.

The film is filled with lavish techno beats juxtaposed against tight, fast-cutting shots that play out like a Thai version of Requiem For A Dream (except not as disturbing nor entertaining).

Oxide Pang's One Take Only is packaged in a Tartan Asia Extreme sleeve, which protects the DVD's keepcase.

Unless you're a hardcore fan of Asian cinema, I would suggest avoiding this DVD and checking out the Pang Brothers' The Eye or perhaps other films like Oldboy and A Tale of Two Sisters.