6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Dragon Ma is back, having rid the seas of the dreaded Pirate Lo. Back on land, he is assigned to the police force, where he is to clean up corruption and crime in a local suburb. Along the way, he is caught up in the fate of several Chinese patriots attempting to secure sympathy and support for their revolutionary cause. The Chinese Manchu government is after these revolutionaries, and anyone that stands in their way is in trouble, even if they are in the police force.
Starring: Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung, Rosamund Kwan, Carina Lau, Kenny HoForeign | 100% |
Action | 53% |
Martial arts | 48% |
Comedy | 6% |
Period | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Cantonese: Dolby Atmos
Cantonese: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Cantonese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
Mandarin: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Note: This film is available on 4K UHD disc as part of The Project A Collection 4K from 88 Films.
Another informative and mile a minute commentary by Frank Djeng included in this set mentions how Jackie Chan wasn't quite "Jackie
Chan" yet when the Project A films came along, and in fact it was those very films which helped to finally cement Chan's very unique status
in the martial arts universe. Chan's completely distinctive blend of outrageous stunts combined with breezy comedy (both physical and verbal) found
a near perfect outlet in Project A, and the film's overwhelming success proved that Chan's sense about how he should be presented on
screen was completely correct. If there is a bit of that oft mentioned sophomore slump at play with the follow up film, the two offerings together are
great examples of how Chan managed to connect with his relatively early audiences, establishing a template of sorts that would carry him through
countless other productions. As of the writing of this review, only the first film has had a previous release on Blu-ray in Region A, but 88 Films is
bringing out two sets simultaneously, this standalone 4K set, and another 1080 release which does not include some significant non disc
swag that is included in this particular release, which may make this version the default choice for some who might not even have 4K setups.
Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc in this package, which I frankly think gives a more accurate representation of the palette in
particular, rather than screenshots sourced from the 4K UHD disc which by necessity would be downscaled to 1080 and SDR.
Project A Part II is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of 88 Films with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. Perhaps in a subliminal
"echo" of this second film's kind of "sophomore slump" ambience, the presentation in both 1080 and perhaps especially 4K UHD of this second outing as
at least a minor downward step when compared to the first film. While this is another really pleasing looking transfer by and large, some of the color
timing on this presentation struck me as being skewed a bit toward yellow tones on occasion, though kind of interestingly Dolby Vision / HDR tended to
add a somewhat more brownish tone at times . There are also a few passing moments that look uncharacteristically rough when stacked up against the
bulk of this transfer's generally consistent clarity and grain resolution, with one very noticeable example being at slightly past the 22:30 mark, where
the image degrades to the point that it looks positively out of focus with much less crisp detail levels. Changes like this one are probably only more
noticeable given the increased resolution of this version. The good news is these variances tend to be intermittent and not overly distracting, though
they certainly won't escape notice. As with 88 Films' 1080 presentation, some of the strongest moments come in outdoor material, where the palette
can be very nicely suffused, and where sometimes very heavy grain can appear a bit more tightly resolved.
Project A Part II features another kind of gobsmacking array of audio options, though in this case they're largely limited to different versions of a Cantonese track. There is a Dolby Atmos Cantonese track, but then several Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono options, including Original Mono (Hong Kong Mix), Remixed Mono (Hong Kong Mix), and just good, old fashioned Mono (Japanese Mix). A Mandarin Remixed Mono track in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono and (for the Export Cut) an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track round out the options. There are some noticeable differences between the Cantonese Mono tracks, with, for example, the Remixed Mono having a noticeably more pronounced high end than the Original Mono (something it shares with the Japanese option, though the Japanese may arguably have a bit more tamped down high end). As with the first film, the Atmos track is not going to amaze any devoted audiophile, but it offers a much better overall rendering of the basic elements of the track in terms of a well balanced presentation without a surplus of hiss or other bothersome high frequency issues. Scoring and effects probably are the most noticeable uses of the surround channels. The dubbing in either version is almost comically at odds with lip movements at times, and so sync as they say is definitely loose. That said, dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
4K Disc
As with many sequels, this follow up can't quite match the overall ebullience of the first feature, but it has some fantastic stunts and Chan as always is never less than completely engaging. Technical merits are also probably a bit less pleasing here than in the first feature, but are still generally solid. The supplemental material is also not as fulsome as with the first film, but is very enjoyable. As with the first film's 4K UHD presentation, those with an aversion to at times very heavy grain may well prefer the 1080 discs included in this set, but one way or the other, technical merits are generally secure. The non disc swag included with these 4K UHD discs is no doubt going to be another enticement for many fans. With caveats noted, Recommended.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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1993
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1967
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1988
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1979
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2010