Crime Story Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Crime Story Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 5, 2025

Kirk Wong's "Crime Story" (1993) arrives on 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-B "locked".

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 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 is 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 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Crime Story arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films.

The release introduces a brand new 4K makeover of Crime Story. The 4K makeover is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack.

The 4K makeover comes several years after 88 Films introduced a wonderful 2K makeover with this Blu-ray release. I did various comparisons between the native 4K and 1080p presentations of the 4K makeover and the previous presentation of the 2K makeover and can comfortably state that both are equally pleasing. There are some minor discrepancies, some of which are meaningful too, but if you are going to consider an upgrade, I think that you must look at the combo pack first. One of the meaningful improvements is in the area of color reproduction. On the 4K makeover, colors tend to be lusher, a tad more impressive, though on my system both presentations had equally satisfying ranges of colors. There are a few trade-offs. For example, the previous 2K makeover handles some ranges of darker nuances a little bit better. However, on the 4K makeover, the visuals usually have a superior dynamic range. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks very healthy as well. (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).

Crime Story 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.

I viewed the new 4K makeover of Crime Story in native 4K. Later, I spent time with it on this Blu-ray release. The comments below are from our review of the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack.

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 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• 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).

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

Crime Story Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fans of Crime Story are being spoiled. Several years ago, the guys that run 88 Films introduced a terrific 2K makeover of the film with this Blu-ray release, and now they have a terrific 4K makeover available on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray. I cannot advise you to upgrade because I genuinely believe that it is impossible to be unhappy with the previous Blu-ray. However, if you decide to treat yourself, it is better to grab the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack because it comes with some additional goodies that are not included with this Blu-ray release. RECOMMENDED.