5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A brutal Los Angeles police Lt. is determined to bust up an organization that forces underage girls into prostitution.
Starring: Charles Bronson, Perry Lopez, Juan Fernández (I), James Pax, Peggy LiptonCrime | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
For their final collaboration, actor Charles Bronson and director J. Lee Thompson (who passed away in 2002) head into the darkness with 1989’s “Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects,” transporting their recipe for smashmouth filmmaking to the world of sexual exploitation. It’s a difficult subject matter to explore with any type of lightness, but the pair give the topic a B-movie shakedown, delivering a strangely insensitive take on the death of innocence that favors scowling and xenophobia from the star, who takes on the role of a determined cop with the same lukewarm passion he brings to every role. As well-intentioned as “Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects” tries to be, it’s missing a few great ideas and patience to truly understand the scourge of human trafficking, treating the topic with minimal interest in collateral damage. There’s plenty of Bronson being irritable, smacking around baddies and sassing superiors, but what the picture needs is respect for the crime, not more breakaway glass.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation delivers a basic viewing experience, handling low-budget filmmaking comfortably but never remarkably. Detail isn't particularly strong, but it identifies thespian aging and set decoration to satisfaction, also finding life with costuming, delivering textures on wool suits and more traditional Asian fabrics. Colors aren't particularly alive, but primaries remain intact, while more dynamic hues are found during streetwise visits. Skintones are acceptable. Delineation isn't precise, but it's never solidified, making sense out of evening encounters. Source is in good shape, with only mild speckling detected.
The 2.0 DTS-HD sound mix also fights production limitations, finding the tinny, synth-driven score taking command of the listening experience, even with a complete absence of depth. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable, though they are dialed down a bit, requiring some volume riding to even out. Sound effects are snappy, detailing gunshots and breaking glass with ease.
As a Cannon Films production, "Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects" isn't as action-packed as it could be, only working up the energy to pound bad guys periodically, saving most of the heat for the dreary, formulaic finale, where Crowe tracks and confronts villainy on a shipping dock. Instead of escapism with shoot-outs, fisticuffs, and explosions, Thompson focuses on unsavory business to generate thematic weight, paying more attention to rape and suicide as a way to give the picture greater impact. For something like "Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects" to hit its mark as a spotlight on evildoing, the production needs a substantial increase in profundity to matter. Instead, the feature offers a lead character who doesn't seem to mind when he causes civilian death, doesn't protect his daughter in her time of need, and intentionally avoids legal police work to terrorize a villain he eventually wants to arrest. It's a miracle there's anyone left alive at the end of this movie.
1993
Limited Edition
1980
Limited Edition to 3000
1973
Tengoku to jigoku / 天国と地獄
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Special Edtion
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Reissue
1986
2018
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2002
1973
Forbrydelsens element
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天注定 / Tian zhu ding
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Limited Edition to 3000
1959
2014
1947
1993
2012
The Dirty Harry Collection
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Unrated Director`s Cut
1980