Exiled Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Exiled Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 20, 2008

Nominated for Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2006 and Winner of the Best Director Award granted by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society in 2007, Johnny To’s "Fong juk" a.k.a. "Exiled" arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Mega Star Video Distribution Ltd.

Somewhere in Macao. Two assassins, both pros, are sent to take out a target whose name is Mr. Wo (Nick Cheung). The assassins are Blaze (Anthony Wong) and Fat (Lam Set). Two other assassins, Cat (Roy Cheung) and Tai (Francis Ng), are sent to protect the target. They all turn up in front of the target's house at the same time. When the target eventually appears, a bullet storm clouds the sky. Shortly after, exhausted by the intense shootout, the assassins drop their guns and begin repairing the house they have just destroyed. It turns out that the assassins and their target know each other well -- years ago, they grew up together, joined the same gang, and then parted ways.

In the meantime, big boss Fay (Simon Yam), the man who wants Mr.Wo killed, is informed about the truce. Slightly annoyed but not surprised by the development, he dispatches a new posse of assassins to bring him Mr. Wo’s head.

Love is not in the air

Even though there aren’t any disclaimers by Johnnie To, it is quite clear where the inspiration for his film Exiled came from -- the classic Italian spaghetti westerns. Indeed, long, continuous shots, large panoramic vistas, extreme close-ups, highly-stylized action scenes, and an exotic soundtrack that could have been created by the great maestro Ennio Morricone make it absolutely impossible not to compare what To has done to the work of Sergio Leone.

Thematically, Exiled quickly heads down a familiar path, but it is impossible to write that it lacks originality. To routinely crafts unique situations where the main protagonists also engage each other in some quite unconventional ways. This is precisely how they identify their opponents and then proceed to eliminate them as well. As a result, even though their end destination is easy to predict, their behavior isn't and neither is the action that flourishes because of it.

The chemistry between the leads is outstanding. It makes the blending of the graphic killings and light humor very effective and ultimately gives the film its identity. It is a special one, too. Because of the complex action choreography and stylish camerawork, it almost feels like To directed a violent symphony with multiple acts.

Exiled Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Exiled arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Mega Star.

Watching Exiled on a big screen is certainly a revelation. I have Magnolia Pictures' R1 DVD release of Exile in my collection and while it offers a strong presentation of the film, in high-definition everything looks better. In fact, there's more to see. Those of you who have seen the film know how incredibly important the color scheme is, and how To's camera captures as much of the fast-paced action (at times Matrix-style shootouts) as possible in areas where the smoke, lighting, and falling bullet shells are given utmost attention. The detail and texture are fantastic and with an excellent natural feel, which film purists will undoubtedly appreciate. During the second half, for instance, where the gang embarks on a treacherous journey to locate the precious gold cargo, one will certainly be reminded of the glorious westerns Sergio Leone directed. Light, shadow, and a variety of very interesting color nuances create various visual contrasts that are simply a lot more impressive in 1080p. All in all, this is a very fine presentation of the film with nice organic qualities.

Exiled Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This is where this disc truly shines. The HK distributors have provided three separate tracks for Exiled -- Cantonese DTS-HD Master 7.1, Cantonese Dolby Digital EX 5.1, and Mandarin Dolby Digital EX 5.1. Needless to say, I instantly opted for the 7.1 track and you better have your audio system calibrated as this disc offers one of the most attractive 7.1 treatments I've heard thus far. It is active, incredibly loud, and with top-notch surround effects. There is enormous depth in the bass and some of the silent sequences that follow the action scenes are incredibly well-mastered (quite frankly this 7.1 mix reminded me of New Line's Shoot 'Em Up where everything was of exemplary quality…yet I could not endure the film for several different reasons, most of them ironically having to do with a different type of quality). Dialog on the other hand is just as impressive. It is crisp, crystal clear, and very easy to follow, just as the exotic Latin soundtrack is -- there is absolutely nothing here that you should be concerned with. Finally, optional Chinese and English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

Exiled Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Aside from a gallery of trailers for other Media Star releases, two trailers for Exiled included, what you will find here is a Making-of documentary. It is subtitled in Chinese and English. It is quite generic, however, and it provides only a few revealing comments by Johnnie To and the cast.

Exiled Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

With the notable exception of a few scenes where I felt that the action was slightly overwhelming, Johnnie To's Exiled offers just about the right mix of style and substance. The impressive cinematography capturing the endless beauty of ex-Portuguese colony Macao compliments a wild story of friendship heavily influenced by the spaghetti westerns Sergio Leone popularized. Boasting an incredibly talented cast as well, this is certainly a film that shall impress fans of HK action cinema craving what the genre does best, which is entertaining. The Blu-ray release herein reviewed, courtesy of Mega Star, is also a pleasant surprise of the highest caliber. Without a doubt, this is the best Asian Blu-ray release to reach my desk this year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.