7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
A Hong Kong cop and two American cops are onto a suspected harbor worker and are forced to team up when they discover that the suspect is a witness on the run from CIA agents and their schemers; two corrupt cops.
Starring: Cynthia Khan, Donnie Yen, Michael Wong (I), Kai-Chi Liu, Yuen Yat-ChohForeign | 100% |
Martial arts | 38% |
Crime | 15% |
Action | 13% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
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 | 2.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
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 IV 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 myRoyal Warriors Blu-ray review and In the Line of Duty III Blu-ray review, though to my eyes this film comes through the weird timing issues the best of the bunch, at least relatively speaking. While there is a definite teal and/or blue-green skew to a lot of the imagery, quite a bit of the outdoor material in particular pops quite well, and detail levels can be very appealing. Grain resolves naturally throughout.
In the Line of Duty IV features DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono mixes in either Cantonese and English, and I have to say to my ears this is one release where the English track seems to have quite a bit more full bodied sound, something that's apparent if you toggle between tracks during any of the sequences featuring underscore. Otherwise, though, both tracks offer good renderings of dialogue, effects and score. Optional English subtitles are available.
It's undeniable fun to see a very young Donnie Yen along with Cynthia Khan and Michael Wong in this enterprise, but there's still a kind of "been there, done that" feeling to everything. This is another film in this collection where some intermittently odd color timing is an arguable hiccup, but where some enjoyable supplements may help to offset things for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.
(Still not reliable for this title)
Huáng jiā shī jiě III: Cí xióng dà dào | Wong ga si je III: Chi hung daai do | 皇家師姐III 雌雄大盜 | 2K Remastered
1988
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
Above the Law / 執法先鋒 / Zhí fǎ xiān fēng / Slipcover in Original Pressing
1986
Sai hak chin / Xi hei qian / 洗黑錢
1990
Serbuan Maut
2011
警察故事 / Ging chaat goo si
1985
警察故事續集 / Ging chaat goo si juk jaap
1988
警察故事3超級警察 / Gíng chaat gu sih sāam: Chīu kāp gíng chaat | Standard Edition
1992
Gekitotsu! Satsujin ken / 激突!殺人拳
1974
Fuk sing go jiu / Fu xing gao zhao / 福星高照
1985
省港旗兵續集
1987
狂獸 / Kwong Sau
2017
少年黃飛鴻之鐵馬騮 / Siu nin Wong Fei Hung chi Tit ma lau
1993
The Big Boss | 唐山大兄 | Collector's Edition
1971
Dynamite Fighters / Zhōng huā zhàn shì / 中華戰士
1987
Armour of God II: Operation Condor / Fei jing gai wak / Project Eagle
1991
給爸爸的信 / The Enforcer
1995
The Raid 2: Berandal
2014
怒火
2021