Election 2 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Election 2 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 25, 2023

Johnnie To's "Election II" (2006) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Chameleon Films. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary recorded by critics Frank Djeng and John Charles; new program with composer Robert Ellis-Geiger; several archival interviews with cast and crew members; vintage promotional materials; and more. In Cantonese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Chairman Lok (Simon Yam, Sparrow) has led the Wo Shing Society to prosperity. Its leaders have become wealthier and expanded their business far beyond Hong Kong. Now that it is time for chairman Lok to step down, they are looking to elect a man who would continue his legacy.

Everyone agrees that if Jimmy Lee (Louis Koo, Flash Point), a young and ambitious businessman, decides to run for the post, he would easily win. But if he does not, the selection of a new chairman would be an extremely challenging task.

Running the Wo Shing Society, however, is the last thing on Jimmy’s mind. He is interested in teaming up with legit investors for the construction of a massive highway in China that would effectively separate him from his murky past.

But while negotiating with a high-ranking government official, Jimmy is told that it will be impossible for him to invest in China unless he is well positioned within the Wo Shing Society. Confused and enraged, Jimmy goes back to Hong Kong and immediately announces his intention to run for chairman.

Meanwhile, chairman Lok asks the leaders of the Wo Shing Society if they would agree to let him serve a second term. Most of them are displeased to hear that he is even entertaining the idea because one could never hold the prestigious post twice in a row. But chairman Lok is convinced that he is the only man that could lead the different factions within the Wo Shing Society and in an attempt to preserve the existing status quo hatches an elaborate plan to eliminate Jimmy and retain the Dragon Head baton.

Johnnie To’s follow-up to Election (2005) is a darker, more violent and disturbing film. Also, instead of focusing on personal drama as the first film did, it examines the complex nature of global crime and politics. Its visionary commentary on the inevitable merger of the business interests of the triad society and the communist government in China is particularly impressive.

Despite the thematic expansion, however, Election II is a minimalistic film that routinely chooses silence over action. (It is why some of the best footage in it is dialog-free). To and cinematographer Cheng Siu-keung carefully use locations and manage shadow and light to support this preference.

But it is the quality of the characterizations that elevate Election II above the original film. Indeed, even the smaller players easily leave lasting impressions because they all legitimize their presence in the best way possible. Of course, this makes perfect sense too because in global crime and politics the small and big players constantly have their status altered.

Film editor Patrick Tam did not work on Election II, but Cheung Ka-kit (Black Night) and Law Wing-cheong (Tactical Unit: The Code) are just as effective. Composer Robert Ellis-Geiger (After This Our Exile) has replaced Lo Tayu, but his score is as atmospheric as that of his predecessor.

Election 2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.41:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Election II arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Chameleon Films.

I have one other release of Election II in my library which Hong Kong-based label Panorama produced in 2009. (You can see our listing and review of this release here). This release is sourced from the same old master that was used to produce the previous release.

While the master has some limitations, I still think that it offers a pretty nice presentation of the film. Obviously, a new 4K or 2K master would produce healthier visuals whose dynamic range will likely be improved as well, but I think that there is quite a bit of stylization work in the film that the current master handles very well. Delineation, clarity, and depth range from good to very good as well. There are a couple of shots where light and shadow are captured in ways that could leave the impression that there is edge enhancement, but the stylization work hides it rather well. I believe that color balance is very good, but I must admit that my only experience with this film has been with DVD and Blu-ray releases. Image stability is very good. There are no annoying specks, cuts, damage marks, or blemishes to report in our review. Finally, I think that the encoding is better than that of the previous release, so on my system this presentation was preferable. (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).

Election 2 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 appear inside the image frame.

I revisited the entire film with the Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. I thought that it was great, but the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track from the previous release is great as well. The main improvement here would be in the quality of the English translation. It is excellent. There are no encoding anomalies to report.

Election 2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Frank Djeng and John Charles. The format and style of the commentary is identical to the one the two gentlemen recorded for Election, so you should expect to hear similar quality comments about the production and stylistic identity of Ellection II. Of course, there are plenty of observations about the Hong Kong film industry at the time of the film's production, the local culture and its representation in the film, etc.

• Commentary Two - this is a supplementary commentary by Frank Djeng that explores the history of the triads and their depiction in the two Election films.

• Robert Ellis-Geiger - in this exclusive new program, composer Robert Ellis-Geiger discusses his background in music, his studies with the great Brian May (Mad Max), his doctoral studies in Leeds, and eventual relocation to Hong Kong in 2002 where he teaches at a local university. Patrick Tam recommended Ellis-Geiger to Johnnie To who used him for the creation of the soundtrack of Eleciton II. The qualities of this soundtrack are discussed in detail. In English, not subtitled. (29 min).

• The Veneer of Nobility - this exclusive new video essay on the Election films was created by WildFlicks. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Archival Interviews - presented here are three archival interviews in which Johnnie To, Lam Suet, and Gordon Lam discuss their work on Election II and the international image of Hong Kong gangster films. In Cantonese, with English subtitles.
  
  1. Johnnie To. (12 min).
  2. Lam Suet. (18 min).
  3. Gordon Lam. (15 min).

• The Making of Election II - a standard EPK with clips from interviews with Johnnie To and cast members as well as raw footage from the shooting of Election II. In Cantonese, with English subtitles. (7 min).

• Photo Gallery - a galley of original publicity materials for Election II.

• Promotional Materials - original promotional materials for Election II. In Cantonese, with English subtitles.
  
  1. Theatrical Trailer (3 min).
  2. TV Spots. (4 min).

• Cover - reversible cover.

• Booklet - 24-page illustrated booklet featuring Gary Bettinson's essay "A Milky Way Mob Story", Sam Ho's essay "From a Mission to Two Elections, by Way of a Unit", and technical credits.

Election 2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Not only is Election II better than Election, I think that in several ways it is superior to Infernal Affairs and its sequels. (I mention Infernal Affairs because this film has quite the reputation in the West, and rightfully so, but is one of many great gangster films to emerge from Hong Kong). Johnnie To's visionary commentary on the inevitable merger of the business interests of the triad society and the communist government in China is particularly impressive. This release from Australian label Chameleon Films is included in this two-disc set and is Region-Free. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.