7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
To win their freedom, a group of hardened Asian convicts agree to go on a suicidal mission to Vietnam and destroy an abandoned ammunitions dump before the Vietcong discovers it.
Starring: Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Biao Yuen, Joyce Godenzi, Wah Yuen, Woo-Ping YuenForeign | 100% |
Action | 18% |
War | Insignificant |
Period | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Cantonese: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital Mono
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Sammo Hung's "Eastern Condors" (1987) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by critic Tony Rayns; archival program with Sammo Hung; archival program with actor and stuntman Yuen Wah; vintage promotional materials; and more. In Cantonese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.39:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Eastern Condors arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.
The release introduces 2K restorations of the two versions of the film: the original Theatrical Version and the Export Version. The latter is included in the special features section of the release.
If you have seen our review of British label Eureka Entertainment's release, you will know exactly what to expect from this release. Both releases introduce the same 2K restorations of the two versions of the film.
I prefer the Theatrical Version, but both versions look really good now. In fact, excluding a few panoramic shots that are just a tad softer than they need to be, I do not see any room for meaningful improvements. In all other areas, delineation, clarity, and depth are already very strong. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Color reproduction and balance are convincing, too. All primaries and all supporting nuances are nicely saturated, healthy and, most importantly, properly set, which is why there are no anomalies to report. Image stability is outstanding. Also, the surface of the visuals is immaculate. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Cantonese LPCM 1.0 (for the Theatrical Version) and English Dolby Digital 1.0 (for the Export Version). Optional English subtitles are provided for the Cantonese track.
There is a lot of action material in Eastern Condors and the lossless track handles it very well. The big machine guns in the second half sound especially impressive, but there are other areas with excellent dynamic potency too. All exchanges are clear, sharp, and easy to follow. The upper register is healthy. I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report in our review.
I am well aware that Eastern Condors has a lot of admirers, and many of them consider it one of Sammo Hung's very best films. But I have to say that there are plenty of good reasons why the film flopped in Hong Kong and other Asian markets, and they have nothing to do with its subject. (The old theory that a lot of folks just did not get its take on the war in Vietnam is an awful facade to hide a wide range of serious flaws). Yes, some of the action is still quite impressive, but as far as I am concerned not enough to save the film. If you do not think that the film needed to be saved and have been waiting for a quality makeover of it to emerge in America, this upcoming Blu-ray release from Criterion should be on your radar. RECOMMENDED (but only to the fans).
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