| Fortune Star continues their series of remastered Hong Kong classics, distributed by IVL. The 1.78:1 framed anamorphically enhanced transfer exhibit some vertical and horizontal cropping compared to other versions available but it doesn't greatly affect the viewing as compositions still look good. Sharpness and colour balance registers high and the only real downside is the appearance of mild grain in places. It's usually not a detraction and something most likely due to the shooting conditions and what stock that was originally used. Print only has minor damage so this remaster is a fitting tribute to a classic work.
IVL have come under a lot of heat, rightfully so, regarding their audio presentations on the remasters. It is in regards to the original 2.0 mono tracks that have more often than not been out of sync with the picture. Action movies obviously have ample opportunity to display this authoring flaw while efforts like Rouge (where the track seemingly was in sync however) and this you have to look harder for those few moments. To my ears, this presentation is synced for roughly half the picture and then it ever so slightly shifts to appearing after the action on screen. If you're not looking for, you might not notice it but it's definitely once again an inexcusable flaw, even if it's just for the latter half of the film.
The track otherwise sounds clear with dialogue and music being faithfully presented. Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 remixes are also available and are in proper sync. The opening of the soundstage isn't terribly intrusive but I always like to experience original rather than tampered sound. A Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1 dub is also available.
The English subtitles will be familiar to owners of the prior Megastar disc (that had the subtitles go out of sync for a good portion of the film). Translation is obviously cleaned up although some minor grammar errors appear. Some changes occur such as the reference to Woody Allen by Danny Chan's character and here Chow's Figgy responds thinking he was mentioning Alan Tam. The English spoken dialogue mostly appears in the subtitles as well but do not always match word by word. Traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles are also included.
A newly created trailer as well as the original is included. Too bad the producers of the newly edited one totally missed the mellow mood of the feature and the whole affair feels more like a hard boiled romance now. Thankfully the original stays more true to the intended mood. A 20 page photo gallery consisting of stills from the film is also included (an automatic slideshow set to Lowell Lo's music exists for this extra as well). Fortune Star's created trailers for Rouge and The Killer rounds off the disc.
The Limited Edition package comes in an autumn style packaging functioning as a poorly designed photo frame for the 6 double sided photos from the film (some of which has quotes from the movie printed on them) and the 2005 calendar card. A HK$50 Gift Certificate at Crabtree & Evelyn shops is also stuffed in there... |