7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
An armored truck is secretly transporting $100 million for a U.S. bank when it is hijacked by a band of robbers calling themselves the 'Ronin Gang'. The gang blows up the truck and makes off with all the cash. Three young detectives, led by Chan Chun, are soon assigned to thwart another massive bank robbery organized by the Ronin Gang.
Starring: Nicholas Tse, Jaycee Cho-Ming Chan, Shawn Yue, Jing Wu, Andy OnForeign | 100% |
Martial arts | 59% |
Action | 58% |
Crime | 28% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Cantonese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Benny Chan's "Invisible Target" (2007) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Showbox Media. The supplemental features on the disc include an audio commentary with actors Jaycee Chan, Shawn Yue, Andy On and Hong Kong Cinema expert Bey Logan; making of featurette; trailer gallery; interviews with various cast and crew members; deleted and extended scenes with commentary by director Benny Chan; production featurettes; and more. In Cantonese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Three tired cops
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Benny Chan's Invisible Target arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Showbox Media.
This is a pleasing but somewhat inconsistent high-definition transfer. Fine object detail is good, clarity adequate and contrast levels consistent throughout the entire film. Some of the closeups, however, are plagued by mild edge-enhancement. Selected scenes also reveal mild to moderate sharpening, which viewers with larger than 50' screens will likely be annoyed with. Elsewhere, however, the image is very strong. Additionally, there are no serious stability issues. I also did not detect any disturbing flecks, scratches, debris, marks, or damage to report in this review. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).
There are two audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. For the record, Showbox Media have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image frame and the black bar below it.
The Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is very strong. The bass is potent and punchy, the rear channels active and very effective, and high-frequencies not overdone. Understandably, the Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is most impressive during the prolonged action scenes, and especially the ones where there are massive explosions. The dialog is crisp, clean, stable and very easy to follow. There are no balance issues with Anthony Chue's music score either. For the record, while viewing the film I did not detect any cracks, pops, hissings, or dropouts to report in this review.
I tested only a couple of scenes with the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and my impression of it is that it is quite poor - the dubbing is dull and remarkably unenthusiastic.
Note: Most of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray disc are encoded in PAL. Therefore, if you reside in North America, or another region where PAL is not supported, you must have a Region-Free player capable of converting PAL to NTSC, or a TV set capable of receiving native PAL data, in order to view them.
Commentary - an audio commentary with actors Jaycee Chan, Shawn Yue, Andy On and Hong Kong Cinema expert Bey Logan. This is a casual and quite hilarious audio commentary, which also appeared on the SE DVD release of Invisible Target. Most of the comments are about specific scenes, specific locations seen in the film, and cast members.
Orchestrated Mayhem: The Making of Invisible Target - a standard featurette with plenty of raw footage from the shooting of the film. The focus of attention is on the numerous action scenes, most of which are addressed by different cast and crew members. In Cantonese, with imposed English subtitles. (PAL, 25 min).
Trailer gallery -
-- Original theatrical teaser - In Cantonese, with imposed English subtitles. (PAL, 1 min).
-- Original theatrical trailer - In Cantonese, with imposed English subtitles. (PAL, 3 min).
Interviews - a gallery of interviews with the director of the film and different cast members. Each of the interviewees discusses the type of preparation and work that went into the film, some of the key characters, stunt work, etc. In Cantonese, Mandarin and English, with imposed English subtitles:
-- Benny Chan (PAL, 23 min).
-- Jaycee Chan (PAL, 19 min).
-- Shawn Yue (PAL, 20 min).
-- Wu Jing (PAL, 28 min).
-- Philip Ng (PAL, 26 min).
-- Vincent Sze (PAL, 16 min).
-- Andy On (PAL, 21 min).
Deleted and extended scenes - with commentary by director Benny Chan. In Cantonese, with imposed English subtitles:
-- Pillar of the Community (PAL, 2 min).
-- Unofficial Rivals (PAL, 3 min).
-- Top Brass, Bedside Manner (PAL, 4 min).
-- Look Who's Come to Dinner! (PAL, 3 min).
-- A Sick Friend...and his Family (PAL, 2 min).
-- Double Crossed (extended scene) (PAL, 2 min).
-- Trojan Horse (extended scene) (PAL, 1 min).
Featurettes - three standard featurettes with additional information about the production history of the film as well as its reception. In Cantonese, with imposed English subtitles:
-- Fight for the Glory: Constructing the action sequences of Invisible Target (PAL, 19 min).
-- Storyboard comparison (PAL, 18 min).
-- The Gala Premiere (PAL, 10 min).
Trailers - trailers for other Showbox Media releases. (1080p).
Fast, loud and violent, Benny Chan's Invisible Target should please hardcore action aficionados. The Blu-ray disc herein reviewed, courtesy of British distributors Showbox Media, looks good and sounds terrific. It is also packed with an incredible amount of excellent supplemental features. RECOMMENDED.
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