Crime Story 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Crime Story 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 5, 2025

Kirk Wong's "Crime Story" (1993) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of British label 88 Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with critic Tony Rayns; new audio commentary by critics Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto; vintage programs with cast and crew members; rare scenes from the Singapore version of the film; and more. In Cantonese and English, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The cop

The text below was initially used for our review of the North American release of Crime Story, which Shout Factory produced in 2013.

Eddie Chan (Jackie Chan), an honest Hong Kong cop, is ordered to protect a local businessman (Law Kar-Ying, Viva Erotica, Tricky Business) who fears that he could be the target of a kidnapping plot. He immediately performs a quick background check on the man and determines that his concerns are justified, but before he can react, he is kidnapped by a powerful gang with connections in Taiwan. Chan follows a lead and ends up in Taipei, where a portion of the ransom the kidnappers have demanded and received is wired.

Chan is accompanied by Hung (Kent Cheng, The Sensational Pair, The Bodyguard from Beijing), a seasoned cop whose opinion is well respected within the Police Department. With the assistance of the local authorities, the two quickly track down a man who has been communicating with one of the kidnappers in Hong Kong. The man leads Chan and Hung to a building on the outskirts of Taipei, where the ransom money is delivered. After an intense shootout, during which Chan is seriously injured, the gang’s local leader and his top men are eliminated, and the ransom money is recovered.

Before heading back to Hong Kong, Chan sees Hung talking to one of the gangsters and then killing him, and realizes that he is secretly assisting his bosses. In Hong Kong, he immediately requests that Hung be monitored. Much to his surprise, however, he is told to focus on what matters -- the kidnappers -- and stop worrying about Hung. Shortly after, however, Hung, who is already aware that Chan suspects him of being a dirty cop, attempts to kill his partner on a ship that has been used by the kidnappers.

Inspired by a true story, Crime Story is a film that allowed Chan to prove that he could portray serious traits. In it the comedy elements that appear in many of his previous films are replaced by a stronger dramatic material, and the focus of attention is primarily on the events surrounding the kidnapping of the businessman.

The secondary characters are also not entirely overshadowed by Chan. There are important relationships between them that get as much attention as the action scenes where Chan does his usual tricks. Naturally, the dynamic progression of the film is a lot better than that of many of Chan’s classic films.

Quite predictably, the action is sizzling. There are a number of wonderfully choreographed scenes from Taipei, and later on from Hong Kong, where Chan shines in familiar fashion. Only a few, however, have the marquee comedic overtones that helped Chan become a superstar. The special effects in these scenes are also fairly modest.

Kirk Wong’s direction is confident and motivated. There is a good balance between the action sequences and the dramatic material that ultimately gives the film a very solid stylish look. Cinematographer Arthur Wong (Iron Monkey) and editor Peter Cheung (Police Story, Police Story 2) are also to be commended for the film’s consistent tempo.

*In 1993, Crime Story won Golden Horse Award for Best Actor (Jackie Chan) at the Golden Horse Film Festival. A year later, the film won Best Film Editing Award (Peter Cheung) at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Crime Story 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

88 Films' release of Crime Story is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-B "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.

Screencaptures #1-25 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #30-39 are from the 4K Blu-ray.

In 2019, 88 Films introduced an excellent 2K makeover of Crime Story with this Blu-ray release. The combo pack introduces an exclusive new 4K makeover of the film. In native 4K, the 4K makeover can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I chose to view it with Dolby Vision. Later, I also spent time with its 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray.

In native 4K and 1080p, the overall quality of the visuals is excellent. However, while there are some noticeable discrepancies between the previous and new presentations (in native 4K and 1080p), the upgrades in quality are minimal. In fact, there are some small trade-offs that make certain aspects of the previous presentation a tad more convincing. For example, the new 4K makeover produces visuals with a superior dynamic range, and this improvement is easy to appreciate in native 4K and 1080p. However, in some darker areas, the previous presentation reveals slightly better darker nuances. Because I was performing direct comparisons, I could easily spot the areas with the trade-offs, but I am unsure if they would be easy to identify if you do not look for particular discrepancies. Also, despite the lusher and slightly expanded ranges of colors on the 4K makeover, balance remains practically identical, which is excellent news. So, if you liked how the 2K makeover looked on the previous Blu-ray release, you will like how the 4K makeover looks on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. The density levels of the visuals are outstanding. Image stability is excellent. I did not notice any traces of digital tinkering.

Should you consider an upgrade if you own the previous Blu-ray release? It is very difficult for me to answer this question because now there are two fantastic releases of Crime Story in 88 Films' catalog. I think that it is impossible to be unhappy with the previous Blu-ray release. The same is true for the combo pack release. So, perhaps the size of your screen should be the key factor in your decision to upgrade, or stay with the previous Blu-ray release. If you find yourself leaning toward the combo pack, you can also justify a purchase with the fact that it has some exclusive new bonus features.

Crime Story 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are four standard audio tracks on this release: Cantonese LPCM 2.0, Cantonese DTS-HD HR 5.1, English LPCM 2.0, and English DTS-HD HR 5.1. Optional English subtitles (for the Cantonese tracks) and English SDH subtitles (for the English tracks) are provided.

The Cantonese LPCM 2.0 track is likely the one that virtually all fans ofCrime Story will always choose. It is a very good, very healthy track. However, while revisiting the film in 4K, I also tested various sections of it with the two DTS-HD HR 5.1 tracks. These tracks perform very well, too. The action material, and especially the one that features explosions, can be quite impressive. However, for obvious reasons, the Cantonese and English tracks are for completely different audiences, and I still think that the Cantonese tracks are preferable.

Crime Story 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by filmmaker Arne Venema and actor/producer and Hong Kong cinema expert Mike Leeder.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto.

• Trailer - a vintage Hong Kong trailer for Crime Story. In Cantonese, with optional English subtitles. (4 min).

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by filmmaker Arne Venema and actor/producer and Hong Kong cinema expert Mike Leeder.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto.

• Tony Rayns - in this new program, critic Tony Rayns explains that Crime Story was originally a project developed for Jet Li, but after it fell apart Jackie Chan became involved with it. Rayns also explains why Crime Story is unlike the earlier films Chan make, including the Police Story films, and comments on its themes. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• Victor Fan - in this new program, critic Victor Fan explains why he believes that Crime Story is Jackie Chan's darkest and most realistic film Jackie Chan has made. Fan also comments on some of its key themes. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

• Looking for a New Direction - in this archival program, Assistant Director P'ng Kialek remembers discusses the conception of Crime Story and its production history, as well as some of the film's special qualities and Jackie Chan's involvement with it. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• Police Story on Crack! - in this archival program, actor/producer and Hong Kong cinema expert Mike Leeder discusses the era in which Crime Story emerged and explains what makes it different from the rest of Jackie Chan's action films. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• Interview with Stunt Specialist Bruce Law - in this archival program, stunt specialist Bruce Law remembers how he became involved with Crime Story and discusses his work with Jackie Chan and other cast and crew members during the shooting of the film. In Cantonese, with imposed English subtitles. (25 min).

• Interview with Screenwriter Teddy Chan - in this archival program, screenwriter Teddy Chan discusses director Kirk Wong's original idea for Crime Story, the failure to get Jet Li on board, how some of the key characters were altered in the final version of the script for the film, the tone of film, etc. In Cantonese, with imposed English subtitles. (7 min).

• Interview with Director Kirk Wong - in this archival program, director Kirk Wong remembers what attracted him to the original idea for Crime Story and how he decided to bring it to the big screen, and discusses the production process as well as the stylistic identity of his film. In Cantonese, with imposed English subtitles. (11 min).

• Scenes From the Singapore Version - presented here are a few rare scenes from the Singapore version of Crime Story. Sourced from a standard definition master. Presented with new English subtitles. (7 min).

• Trailer - a vintage Hong Kong trailer for Crime Story. In Cantonese, with optional English subtitles. (4 min).

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Book - 80-page book featuring an interview with director Jamie Luk, two essays on Crime Story, various archival photos, and technical credits.

• Poster - large double-sided poster for Crime Story.

• Lobby Cards - six collectible lobby cards for Crime Story.

• Cover - reversible cover with vintage Hong Kong poster art for Crime Story.

Crime Story 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fans of Crime Story are being spoiled. The guys that run 88 Films have now delivered two excellent releases of the film, one Blu-ray with a terrific 2K makeover of it, and this 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack, which introduces a terrific new 4K makeover of it. I cannot advise you to upgrade because I genuinely believe that it is impossible to be unhappy with the previous Blu-ray. However, on my system the 4K makeover looked mighty impressive, too. If you need a nudge to grab the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack for your library, take a look at the expanded bonus features and additional materials that are included with it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.