6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 3.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
This film is a live-action version of a popular Japanese comic book and animated series, transformed into a vehicle for international action hero Jackie Chan. Ryu Saeba, a womanizing private detective, is hired to find the runaway daughter of a wealthy businessman. Ryu's pursuit of the girl leads him to a cruise ship. Through coincidence the ocean liner is hijacked, leaving Ryu to contend with the hostage takers as well as the elusive daughter.
Starring: Jackie Chan, Joey Wang, Chingmy Yau, Richard Norton, Michael Wong (I)Foreign | 100% |
Martial arts | 42% |
Action | 24% |
Comedy | 2% |
Comic book | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Cantonese: LPCM Mono
Cantonese: LPCM 2.0
Cantonese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM Mono
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Wong Jing's "City Hunter" (1993) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage trailers for the film; large gallery of cast and crew interviews; outtakes; and more. The release also arrives with a collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film, as well as technical credits. In Cantonese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
As good as real, maybe even better
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Wong Jing's City Hunter arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.
The release is sourced from a marvelous new 2K remaster, the best that I have seen done for an early Jackie Chan film. It really makes revisiting City Hunter quite the special experience. (Ironically, exactly the opposite is true about the recent 4K restorations of Police Story & Police Story 2).
The entire film looks remarkably healthy and exceptionally vibrant. Depth is excellent as well, with both close-ups and wider panoramic shots boasting delineation and balance. I usually mention fluidity and this particular remaster looks as good as I could have hoped it would on a bigger screen. To be honest, I would take this type of presentation any day over 4K remasters like the ones that are mentioned above. The best best news here is that the entire film was graded by a person that knew exactly how to preserve its native color values. Quite predictably, the outdoor and indoor footage -- which features plenty of neon and filtered light -- looks stunning (see screencaptures #4, 11 and 12). Image stability is excellent. There are no damage marks, cuts, stains, burn marks, or any other annoying age-related imperfections. Very, very impressive. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There are five standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Cantonese: LPCM 1.0, Cantonese: LPCM 2.0 (Stereo),
Cantonese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), and
English: LPCM Mono. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature. Also, there you are given the option to see the "Gala Gala Happy" sequence with English subtitles.
I started viewing the film with the Cantonese Mono track, but experimented with the Cantonese Stereo track and actually finished my viewing with it. I liked it a lot. My guess is that both tracks were fully remixed because clarity, depth, and stability are outstanding. I can imagine a fan of the film having any issues with them.
In an ideal world the people that completed the 2K restoration of City Hunter should be placed in charge with the restorations of all early Jackie Chan films. Why? Because they clearly know what they are looking at, and because they clearly understand what their work should accomplish -- which is preserve the native qualities that a film had when it was completed by its creators. I am sorry to say it but this appears to be a very elusive concept amongst the people at L'immagine Ritrovata that worked on the recent 4K restorations of Police Story & Police Story 2, and what is very sad is that you don't have to be a restoration specialist to know that it is so. City Hunter overflows with that classic late '80s/early '90s kitsch that so many people crave again, so if you are one of them hurry up and order your copy now. I guarantee you are in for an incredible treat. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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1984
夏日福星 / Ha jat fuk sing | Eureka Classics
1985
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1983
重案組 / Jackie Chan Collection
1993
奇蹟 / Jackie Chan Collection
1989
醉拳 / Jui kuen / Masters of Cinema
1978
飛鷹計劃 / Fei jing gai waak / Jackie Chan Collection
1991
Lung hing fu dai / 龍兄虎弟
1986
She he ba bu | Se hok bat bo | 蛇鶴八步 | Deluxe Collector's Edition
1978
劍花煙雨江南 / Jiàn huā yān yǔ jiāng nán
1977
A計劃續集 / A gai wak juk jaap / Eureka Classics
1987
A計劃 / A gai wak / Eureka Classics
1983
飛龍猛將
1988
Lung kuen | Lóng quán | 龙拳 | Deluxe Limited Edition
1979
警察故事 / Ging chaat goo si | Eureka Classics
1985
龍少爺 | Dragon Strike | Limited Edition
1982
福星高照 / Fuk sing go jiu | Eureka Classics
1985
警察故事續集 / Ging chaat goo si juk jaap | Eureka Classics
1988
林世榮 / Lam sai wing | Eureka Classics
1979
Bo bui gai wak
2006