6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
After pulling off the jewelry heist of the century, which left dozens dead, Genji Nakamura and his partner Michiko Nishiwaki of the Red Army terrorists plan to use the jewellery they've snatched to buy an arms cache.
Starring: Cynthia Khan, Hiroshi Fujioka, Stuart Ong, Michiko Nishiwaki, Hua YuehForeign | 100% |
Martial arts | 37% |
Action | 18% |
Crime | 18% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Cantonese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of 88 Films' In the Line of Duty: I - IV set.
In some of his typically information packed mile a minute commentaries included as supplements in 88 Films' set of In the Line of Duty
films, Frank Djeng kind of hilariously gets into how this supposed "series" really isn't by any objective standard, and that in fact due to
the
vagaries of production and release dates and almost comically variable titles, the "order" of the films in the franchise is even up for debate. That
somewhat chaotic situation leads to an almost farcical state of affairs where the ostensible first film in the series may in fact not be,
and where any number of alternate titles can either link or uncouple various entries in the "series" in a virtually random fashion (it's perhaps salient
to note that In the Line of Duty didn't even crop up in any original title until the third film). Whether or not
Royal Warriors or Yes Madam is defined as the "first" film, and whether or not all four are indeed a traditional "series", the first two
outings star Michelle Yeoh in what was arguably her first big
leap toward international superstardom, while the subsequent two films feature Cynthia Khan. If there's a "through line" tethering the films
together, it may be nothing other than the fact that these are so-called "girls with guns" outings, where the focal character is kinda sorta a Hong
Kong equivalent of Police Woman, albeit with a facility for martial arts that Pepper Anderson never had.
In the Line of Duty III is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. There's no real technical information imparted in the insert booklet included with this set, and only a passing generic "new 2K restoration" on the back cover. Judging solely by screenshots, this is another release which looks mightily similar and I'd say darn near identical to the Eureka release reviewed by Svet. I echo Svet's comments about the color timing, which reflect some of what I found odd and lacking in my Royal Warriors Blu-ray review, but to my eyes Royal Warriors is even more pronounced in this regard, hence my higher score for this outing. When the color timing of this release looks at least relatively "on", it's rather appealing, with decent flesh tones and accountings of primaries. Detail levels are typically quite good throughout, though there are some rather noticeable variances in clarity, some due to on the fly location shooting. Grain resolves naturally throughout.
In the Line of Duty III features DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono in either Cantonese or English. There's not a huge difference between these, though toggling can reveal slight variations in brightness and fullness of midrange, both of which struck my ears as more pleasing in the Cantonese iteration. Both tracks deliver dialogue, score and effects without any real issues. Optional English subtitles are available.
In the Line of Duty III delivers some visceral action elements, but it's pretty provocatively violent at times and may not have the same star power that the Yeoh films did. Technical merits are generally okay, though the video here like Royal Warriors has some odd color timing. The enjoyable supplements may help sweeten the pot for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.
(Still not reliable for this title)
Huáng jiā shī jiě IV: Zhí jī zhèng rén | Wong ga si je IV: Jik gik jing yan | 皇家師姐IV 直擊證人 | 2K Remastered
1989
In the Line of Duty | Huáng jiā zhàn shì | Wong ga jin si | 皇家戰士 | 2K Remastered
1986
In the Line of Duty II | Huáng jiā shī jiě | Wong ka si jie | 皇家師姐 | 2K Remastered
1985
Zhi fa xian feng / Righting Wrongs
1986
警察故事3超級警察 / Gíng chaat gu sih sāam: Chīu kāp gíng chaat | Standard Edition
1992
Sai hak chin / Xi hei qian / 洗黑錢
1990
殺破狼:貪狼 / SPL: Kill Zone - Paradox / Sha po lang: Taam long
2017
Hai Phuong
2019
2013
暗戰2 / Am zin 2
2001
Top Squad / Ba wong fa / Ba wang hua / 霸王花
1988
Fai can che / Kuài cān chē / 快餐車
1984
少年黃飛鴻之鐵馬騮 / Siu nin Wong Fei Hung chi Tit ma lau
1993
省港旗兵 / Shěng gǎng qí bīng
1984
Five Fingers of Death / Tian xia di yi quan
1972
Tang shan wu hu / 唐山五虎
1979
Dynamite Fighters / Zhōng huā zhàn shì / 中華戰士
1987
怒火
2021
5 Lucky Stars / Kei mau miu gai: Ng fok sing / Qí móu miào jì: wǔ fú xīng / 奇謀妙計五福星
1983
殺破狼 | SPL: Kill Zone | Saat po long | Ultimate Edition
2005