REVIEW:
Two brothers (Alex Man and Andy Lau) are forced to enter the Triad to pay off gambling debts. Their boss (Chow Yun-Fat) is a kind man and they find success within the organization, but one brother's hunger for power eventually sets them against one another. This is pretty straightforward Triad stuff (Danny Lee even sticks his head in a couple of scenes as -- you guessed it -- a cop) enlivened by a great performance by Chow Yun-Fat (but then, one gets the idea that he could pull off this kind of stock role in his sleep) and a couple of decent gunbattles. Rich and Famous is kind of disappointing considering the cast involved, and really only recommended for die-hard Triad movie or Chow Yun-Fat fans.

Note: there is a pretty interesting gaffe near the end of the movie. Check out Danny Lee's hair in these two shots in the same scene. I guess that Rogaine really works!

TECH SPECS:
Extras: trailers for the movie (European "Black Vengeance" version), "Phantom Lover", "Hong Kong 1941" and "Naked Killer" (Tai Seng versions) and talent files (bio/filmographies) for Chow Yun-Fat, Alex Man, Andy Lau and Alan Tam

The picture definitely shows some wear; it's faded and there are scratches throughout -- it's not horrible for a 25-year-old foreign movie, but it is distracting in parts. The sound is okay, but there are times where there is a strange tinny reverb to it. Again, it's not enough to make you hit the stop button, but it gets annoying. Thankfully, the subtitles are very well done. They're yellow and easy to read, and go so far as to translate the credits and the literal meaning of some of the characters' names. The talent files are well-written, but I wish they were on a static screen, rather than having to wait for the slow scrolling used here to bring the information up. And once again, I really must say that Tai Seng should use the original HK trailers on their discs; their versions are pretty dull and the voiceovers make them seem cheesy. This isn't a great DVD, but it's worth a look. At least it isn't as bad as the full frame/dubbed dreck Tai Seng used to put out.

Movie:
Rich & Famous, originally released in 1987, is the first of a two-part epic that’s concluded in the sequel, Tragic Hero. Directed by Taylor Wong, Rich & Famous stars Chow Yun Fat (Chai), Alex Man (Yung), and Andy Lau (Kwok).

Rich & Famous is primarily the story of two brothers, Yung and Kwok, who are quite different in most regards. One day at the track, Yung gets caught counterfeiting his winning ticket and Kwok steps in to save his brother. They then have 10 days to repay the debt, or Yung will lose some fingers. In order to get the money, they decide to steal it from Old Chu, a drug dealer with ties to the Triad. Things go awry and Kwok is captured and tortured. Seeking his freedom, Pearl, their sister, goes to see Chai, another shady businessman who comes from the same part of town as they did. Chai agrees to help them, bargins for Kwok’s safe return, and, in the process, makes enemies with Old Chu. After Kwok returns, Chai offers both him and Yung a position at his side; over the years, Kwok is highly favored by Chai, but Yung is snubbed for his numerous errors and wise remarks. In retaliation, Yung betrays them both. Chai and Kwok must then find a way to stop Yung before more are killed in his lust for revenge.

I had heard of Rich & Famous only recently, and being a fan of Chow Yun Fat, I wanted to check it out. Overall, it’s a pretty good movie, though the main focus is on Kwok and Yung and it has a tendency to drag a bit in parts. It’s also more of a drama than a straight action film, though there are some scenes where Yun Fat gets to shine.

Picture:
Rich & Famous is presented in 1.85:1 non-anamorphic widescreen. The print is really in need of some help, as there are frequent lines, marks, and spots. There is also some flickering and shimmer in the picture, as well as a general “soft” look to the blacks. Overall, the film is watchable, but the transfer is disappointing.

Sound:
Rich & Famous is presented in Dolby 1.0 Mono in Cantonese, Chinese, and Spanish. Optional English subtitles are available. The dialogue sounded clean and I didn’t detect any distortion in the soundtracks. Though obviously limited, the included 1.0 tracks get the job done.

Extras:
Extras include four trailers for other films, including the sequel Tragic Hero, and four scrolling filmographies/biographies for the principle characters.

Summary:
Rich & Famous is a decent dramatic action flick with Yun Fat; unfortunately, the DVD presentation leaves a bit to be desired. It is worth at least a rental, and fans might want to consider a purchase. Recommended.