Motorway Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Motorway Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 19, 2024

Cheang Pou-Soi's "Motorway" (2012) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Chameleon Films. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new program withy associate producer Ding Yuin-Shan; exclusive new program with Xavier Jamaux; exclusive new audio commentary by critics Arne Venema and Mike Leeder; archival interviews with cast members and producer Johnnie To; promotional materials; and more. In Cantonese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Ambitious rookie cop Chan Cheung (Shawn Yue, Reign Of Assassins) and his older partner Lo Fung (Anthony Wong, Exiled) spend most of their time chasing criminals on the streets of Hong Kong. Chan does all of the driving, while Lo does most of the paperwork the two are required to submit at the end of their shifts.

One day, Chan spots reckless driver Jiang Xin (Guo Xiaodong, True Legend) and goes after him. He quickly corners Jiang on the motorway and arrests him. Then he escorts him to Kowloon East Police Station, where he is immediately jailed. But Jiang and another prisoner (Li Haitao) kill their guards and manage to escape. Chan goes after the two men but gets tricked into a narrow alley and misses them.

Jiang and his partner, both seasoned Mainland criminals, meet the leader of a powerful local gang who has requested important information from them about a large diamond on its way to Hong Kong. But instead of getting paid, Jiang and his friend nearly get killed. Alone in Hong Kong and without money, the two decide that it would be best if they tried to steal the diamond and then go back to the Mainland.

Meanwhile, seriously frustrated that he has been tricked by another driver, Chan vows to find the Mainlanders. He does not have to wait long to meet them again as shortly after they steal the diamond from a local bank his colleagues track them down. When they enter the back roads up in the hills just outside of the city, Chan is tricked again. Lo, who has been trying to avoid all the drama, makes the crucial decision to enter the chase and help his younger partner.

Cheang Pou-Soi’s Motorway comes three years after his excellent thriller Accident. This film is also produced by Johnnie To’s Milkyway Image.

Though the terrific dark overtones from Accident are missing, the moody atmosphere has been retained. There are occasional splashes of humor, but the focus of attention is clearly on the car chases, and the majority of the film is indeed very intense. It is also worth mentioning that these car chases are very impressively filmed with a number of strategically positioned cameras that allow one to view them from a variety of different angles.

The final third of the film reminds about the finale in Walter Hill’s cult classic The Driver. One could almost feel the electricity in the air after Chan goes after Jiang. The chase sequences here are very intense, and it never feels like Pou-Soi is trying to impress. Needless to say, folks enjoying these types of action films will be enormously pleased.

The film’s only weakness is the underdeveloped relationship between Chan and a beautiful doctor (Barbie Hsu, Connected), whom he meets in a bar. The two flirt and later on meet again, but there is nothing substantial that happens between them affects the main story.

Motorway is based on an original story by Joey O’Bryan, who collaborated with Wai Ka-Fai on the script for To’s Fulltime Killer. The film was lensed by cinematographers Fung Yuen Man (Accident, Shamo) and Kenny Tse (The Stool Pigeon, The Viral Factor).

*Earlier this year, Motorway was nominated for Golden Horse Award for Best Action Choreography (Chin Kar Lok) at the Golden Horse Film Festival in Taiwan.

Motorway Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Motorway arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Chameleon Films.

Motorway made its high-definition debut in 2012 with this release from Hong Kong-based label MegaStar, which I have in my library. This release is sourced from the same master that was used to produce the MegStar release.

I revisited Motorway last night and thought that it still looks wonderful in high-definition. This is not very easy because large portions of it are quite dark and during the action footage the camera moves a lot. But shadow definition and the different ranges of darker nuances look lovely. Can both look even better? It is hard to say because light/lighting are managed in unique ways, so in some areas it is pretty obvious that delineation, for instance, is not perfect by design. Also, colors are managed in particular ways to further enhance the neo-noirish atmosphere. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Fluidity is very good, possibly even slightly better than that observed on the original release. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks very clean as well. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Motorway Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Cantonese LPCM 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The first Blu-ray release of Motorway has a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 tracks, so I pulled it out and did several comparisons. I could not spot any meaningful discrepancies to point out in our review. I sampled several action sequences where I think that dynamic intensity and effects are outstanding, and both were every bit as impressive on the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The fantastic synth/ambient tunes sounded just as terrific, too. The dialog is clear, clean, and stable. The English translation is excellent.

Motorway Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Arne Venema and Mike Leeder. As usual, these gentlemen have plenty to say not only about the production, reception, and quality of Motorway, but the various areas in Hong Kong where the film was shot, some unique practices involving the local police authorities, the popularity of racing, trends in action cinema, etc. It is another solid commentary.

• "Inside Track" - in this exclusive new program, associate producer Ding Yuin-Shan discusses his passion for helping young filmmakers in Hong Kong, and discusses his involvement with Motorway, communication and work with Cheang Pou-Soi, some unique obstacles that had to be overcome during the shooting process, the racing cars that were used, the film's reception and possible relationship to Drive, etc. Also, there are some interesting comments about the progression of the careers of the many different people that worked on Motorway. In English, not subtitled. (36 min).

• Interview with Co-Composer Xavier Jamaux - in this exclusive new program, composer Xavier Jamaux discusses the evolution of his relationship with Johnnie To, the early work he did for some of the films from Milkyway Image's catalog, and his involvement with Motorway. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• Behind the Scenes - this archival documentary takes a closer look at the production of Motorway. It uses a lot of raw footage from the shooting of key sequences, as well as comments from various cast and crew members. In Cantonese, with English subtitles. (60 min).

• Archival Interviews - a collection of archival interviews with cast members and Johnnie To discussing their contributions to Motorway. In Cantonese or Mandarin, with English subtitles.
  
  1. Shawn Yue. (11 min).
  2. Anthony Wong. (9 min).
  3. Barbie Hsu. (5 min).
  4. Cheang Pou-Soi. (23 min).
  5. Johnnie To. (3 min).

• Photo Gallery - a large collection of production and promotional materials for Motoway. Presented with music. (11 min).

• Trailer - presented here is an original trailer for Motoway. With English subtitles. (2 min).

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Soundtrack - the original soundtrack for Motoway by co-composers Xavier Jamaux and Alex Gopher, presented on a CD disc. 17 tracks. Total length: 44 min.

• Booklet - 24-page illustrated booklet featuring a new essay by film scholar Gary Bettinson and a new interview with Screenwriter Joey O'Bryan, as well as technical credits.

• Cover - reversible cover with alternate poster art forMotoway.

Motorway Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Johnnie To's passion for film noir is not a well-kept secret, so it makes perfect sense that he and his production company Milkyway Image enthusiastically embraced Motorway, a moody, wonderfully shot and acted neo-noir thriller. Motorway also has a brilliant soundtrack of the kind that the legendary band Tangerine Dream would have been proud to deliver during the 1980s, when it scored such cult films as Thief and Risky Business. Australian label Chameleon Films has prepared a very elegant release of Motorway with several exclusive new and various archival bonus features that also includes a CD copy of the excellent soundtrack. It is Region-Free, too. (A standard edition without the CD is available as well). VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.