Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Breaking News Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 23, 2022

Johnnie To's "Breaking News" (2004) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Chameleon Films. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Frank Djeng; behind the scenes featurette; archival interviews with Johnnie To and cast members; vintage promotional materials; and more. In Cantonese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Note: The text below was initially used for our review of Mega Star's out-of-print release of Breaking News in 2008.

Johnnie To’s Breaking News is an ambitious but, ultimately, slightly disappointing film about the manipulative power of media. Its story revolves around a group of highly skilled professional robbers who attempt to outsmart the police in a busy district of Hong Kong. They unleash a chain reaction of tragic events that causes an all-out confrontation between the media, local government officials, and the police. In 2005, Breaking News earned four Hong Kong Film Awards nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won the prestigious Film of Merit award, granted by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society.

Breaking News opens up with an intense shootout scene where a cop is killed on live TV. The footage forces Commissioner Rebecca Fong (Kelly Chen, Infernal Affairs) to step up. Amidst a sea of reports addressing HKPD’s actions, she begins to feed the media with information meant to calm the situation. Unfortunately, the robbers continue to cause all sorts of problems that allow the media to have a field day with HKPD.

Approximately two-thirds of Breaking News takes place in a massive apartment complex where the robbers manage to barricade themselves. To’s camera follows them closely and only occasionally allows us to see what takes place outside of the building, where the media is reacting to Commissioner Fong’s news feeds. Towards the end of the film, To introduces a few split screens, simultaneously showing footage from the media’s coverage and the confrontation between the cops and the robbers inside the apartment complex, illustrating how easy it is to manipulate TV audiences.

Generally speaking, the action sequences in Breaking News are well done. They are also in sync with what To has favored in his previous films – fast camera zooms followed by slow-motion footage, plenty of close-ups, and catchy ambient tunes popping up during key scenes. Unsurprisingly, the actual shootouts tend to be overly aggressive and notably loud.

Those of you who have seen a good number of To’s films will recognize plenty of familiar faces in Breaking News -- Nick Cheung as Inspector Cheung (Exiled), Richie Ren as Yuen (Exiled), Cheng Sui-Fai as Eric Yeung (Election II), Hui Siu Hung as Hoi (Hidden War), Suet Lam as Yip (Sparrow) and, of course, Simon Yam as Commissioner C.K. Wong (Sparrow). The characterizations are good, but the overall quality of the acting is difficult to describe as impressive.

Breaking News ends on a positive note but, in the grand scheme of things, this is of little importance. It is the message that is channeled through its story that matters -- director To makes a good case about the manipulative power of contemporary media, which can alter what is perceived by the general public as reality.

Breaking News Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.31:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Breaking News arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Chameleon Films.

This release is sourced from the same master Mega Star worked to produce this Hong Kong release in 2009.

Even though Breaking News could have benefited from a new master, I think that it still looks quite nice on Blu-ray. Delineation, clarity, and depth are pretty good, though in a few areas now the age of the master begins to show. Colors are convincing. However, some highlights could have been balanced a bit better. Image stability is excellent. The encoding on this release is better, but I would not say that it makes a notable difference when you view the film. All in all, while some areas could be improved, I still think that the current master is good. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Breaking News Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Cantonese LPCM 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image frame and the black bar below it.

I viewed the entire film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. I think that it is a very solid track and perhaps noticeably better balanced than the Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track that is present on the old Hong Kong release of Breaking News. The dialog is very clear, sharp, and easy to follow. Also, the English translation is excellent.

Breaking News Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by Hong Kong cinema expert Frank Djeng.

• "A Propaganda Duel" - presented here is an extended video essay on Breaking News. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Melbourne International Film Festival Q&A with Johnnie To (2004) - in Cantonese with English translation. (19 min).

• Interviews From Cannes (2004) - in Cantonese, with English subtitles.
  
  1. Johnnie To (13 min).
  2. Kelly Cheng and Nick Cheung (9 min).

• Behind the Scenes - raw footage from the shooting of the film. (4 min).

• Deleted Scene - in Cantonese, with English subtitles. (3 min).

• Photo Gallery - a collection of original publicity materials for Breaking News. Silent. (3 min).

• Trailer - an original theatrical trailer for Breaking News. In Cantonese, with English subtitles. (3 min).

• Booklet - 16-page illustrated booklet featuring Hayley Scanlon's essay "The Show Must Go On: Cops and Robbers in Post-Handover Hong Kong", Mike Walsh's essay "Johnnie To: Biographical Essay", critical appreciation of the director; and technical credits.

• Cover - reversible, ratings-free cover for Breaking News.

Breaking News Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The media can be and often is every bit as manipulative as Johnnie To depicts it in Breaking News. While the action in this film is predictably solid, I think that its true message is its greatest strength. This brand new release of Breaking News from Chameleon Films features good new and archival bonus features, so if you enjoy the film, pick up a copy for your collection. It is Region-Free. RECOMMENDED.