Plot: What’s it about?
It seems as though a large amount of guns are being smuggled into Hong Kong by underworld criminals, which means these thugs are heavily armed and become even more so with each passing shipment. In an effort to end or at least slow down this process, the police plan to raid and attack the smugglers when they attempt an arms deal at a local teahouse. Lead detective Tequila (Chow Yun-Fat) is poised and ready to shut these guys down and the moment for action is just a few moments away. Soon a massive gun battle breaks out and while many of the smugglers were taken down, so was Tequila’s partner. This leaves him seeking revenge, but he knows in order to attain what he wants, he needs to be careful and not allow his wrath to overcome him. So he is teamed with an undercover agent, Tony (Tony Leung) who will infiltrate the ranks of the smugglers to close them down from the inside. As a battle rages between rival factions within the smugglers, the time seems perfect for Tequila and Tony to start dismantling the operation, piece by piece. It will take a lot of courage and a lot of bullets, but perhaps Tequila will have what he wants at last.
In the realm of action movies, Hard Boiled is a lesson in superb filmmaking. Yes, there is violence in ample amounts and that might turn some people off, but this is a must see for genre fans and I can’t imagine not owning this title. If I were forced to trim all but ten movies from my collection, Hard Boiled would be of the few left standing. The action is intense and very well planned & executed, which reflects the typical style of director John Woo. The sequences come off as much more than simple gunplay, more like poetry or a well timed and highly complex dance. There is a lot of blood and a few scenes that might make you cringe, but this isn’t that gory overall. A lot of people are shot and killed, but you never get taken into the more grisly side of that act. The teahouse and hospital sequences stand as some of the finest scenes in action cinema history, which is a true testament to this film. This film also features unique and complex characters, which is rare in such an action packed motion picture. All in all, this film should be seen by all action fans and I think most will want to add this one to their personal collections. This disc isn’t as supplement loaded as the original Criterion release, but it will hold you over nonetheless. Those of you who missed out on that disc should be pleased with what you’ll find on this one.
This film is basically fueled by two men, director John Woo and lead actor Chow Yun-Fat. I think Woo is the best action director in the business and this film is one of the prime examples of why that’s what I think. This is hands down in my book one of the top five action movies ever, with a strong chance of nabbing the number one spot. It doesn’t have the massive scope or budget of True Lies or similar Hollywood blockbusters, but it does have two things those movies lack, character development and terrific acting. Also, while most directors focus on big the next explosion will be, Woo concentrates on how complex and involved the gunfights will turn out to be. This is usually a fast paced and highly intricate process, which has fantastic results. Other films with Woo at the helm include Face/Off, The Killer, Mission Impossible 2, A Better Tomorrow, and Bullet In The Head. In front of the camera is action superstar Chow Yun-Fat (The Replacement Killers, God Of Gamblers), who turns in a spectacular performance in this film. I also love the work of Tony Leung (Chungking Express) in this film, who shines in his role and I wish he was given more screen time. The cast also includes Teresa Mo (Magnificent Scoundrels), Philip Kwok (Return Of The Five Deadly Venoms), and Philip Chan (Mr. Sunshine).
Video: How does it look?
Hard Boiled is presented in a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. I do wish this film were given a new anamorphic transfer, but even as it stands this is a nice visual presentation. I compared this to the Criterion release for this review and both are decent transfer, but this one reflects lighter contrast than the Criterion disc. This isn’t an extreme difference, but some of the darker sequences come off as a little too light on this version. But I would consider them on the same level quality, just a little different in that respects. Colors seem natural, though some bright shades emerge and flesh tones look warm and consistent. I found only minimal compression hiccups, certainly no more than the Criterion disc displayed to be sure. It isn’t what I wanted (16X9 enhanced), but it stands up well against previous editions.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc uses the original mono format, with the choice of English and Cantonese language tracks. I am pleased Fox Lorber has included both options, but I do wish a new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix was placed on this disc. I think this film screams for an active surround track and mono just doesn’t do this film justice. But as far as mono goes, this one is good and never wanders into distortion or harshness. The sound effects seem distinct, but lack the punch and dynamic range a surround track would offer. This one sounds just as good as the Criterion disc, which is what I imagine you’re wondering about. This disc does include English subtitles, which is good if you prefer the Cantonese track, but don’t speak the language, like myself.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc contains some informative production notes, talent files, and theatrical trailers for Hard Boiled & The Killer. The main supplement is a new audio commentary that features director John Woo and executive producer Terence Chang. I think Woo does most of the talking on the track, with Chang serving as a sort of interviewer at times to keep Woo on topic and consistent. This is a track exclusive to this disc and is not the same as the one found on the Criterion disc, with this one proving to be a little more interesting and informative to listen to.
