Rush Hour Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Rush Hour Blu-ray Movie Review

Everybody was kung fu fighting! Those cats were talkin' fast as lightning!

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 18, 2010

Whatever happened to Chris Tucker? I know it's only been three years since his last film (Rush Hour 3 as it turns out), but that's centuries in Hollywood. Not that he was that busy on the Big Screen to begin with. Since teaming up with Bruce Willis as a scene-swiping intergalactic media star in The Fifth Element and wading into leading-man waters with Charlie Sheen in Money Talks (ouch), Tucker has taken a small role in Jackie Brown, helped launched the Rush Hour franchise, emerged from hiding for two sequels and... that's it. A Michael Jackson tribute special here, a BET awards ceremony there, but nothing of note. Tracking down Jackie Chan though, that's a cinch. Since Rush Hour was released in 1998, Hong Kong's greatest export has starred in over two-dozen films, served as executive producer on more than twenty productions, written several screenplays, endeared himself to American audiences and become a true international sensation. Ironic, isn't it? Chan, the humble, soft-spoken martial artist, is virtually everywhere while Tucker, the brash, outlandish comedian, is nowhere to be found.

Ah well, perhaps it's for the best. I'd rather Tucker keep a low profile, team up with an intensely likable talent like Jackie Chan, and star in a derivative but entertaining action-comedy once every few years -- fast and funny genre romps like Rush Hour -- than answer any and every casting call Hollywood issues for a lanky black comedian with a tommy-gun tongue.

"Man, just sit there and shut up! This ain't no democracy."

When the daughter (Julia Hsu) of Solon Han (Tzi Ma), a respected Chinese consul, is kidnapped on her first day of school in Los Angeles, the FBI arrive in full force. Fearing the worst though, Han quickly calls in his own specialist, Detective Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan), a Hong Kong police officer who's successfully dealt with situations like this before. Of course, the prospect of outside interference and the risk of a PR nightmare doesn't exactly sit well with the FBI. Before Lee can even step foot in the States, FBI Special Agents Russ and Whitney (Mark Rolston and Rex Linn) dump their latest problem on LAPD Captain Diel (Philip Baker Hall). Frustrated at being put in a corner, Diel assigns his worst detective to babysit Lee: a cocky, outspoken upstart named James Carter (Chris Tucker). With the Buddy Cop circle now complete, Lee and Carter have to put aside their personal and cultural differences, track down a vicious assassin (Ken Leung), uncover the identity of an elusive crime lord known as Juntao, recover Han's daughter and figure out why she was kidnapped in the first place. Because, you know, the FBI agents in films like Rush Hour couldn't find their reflections in a mirror.

Director Brett Ratner doesn't reinvent the Buddy Cop wheel, no matter how hard he tries. Rather than grab hold of the genre Lethal Weapon built, he simply rests his hopes on Chan and Tucker's chemistry, amps up the physical comedy, and tosses as much kung fu and gunplay into the mix as he can cram in. (Bad timing. Lethal Weapon 4 hit theaters two months earlier with a similar East-meets-West caper and its own Chinese master martial artist.) Instead, Rush Hour unfolds with passionate but predictable comic bravado, action erupts for the sole sake of the audience, and Chan, wielding everything he lays a hand on as a viable weapon, is the only one who seems to have any surprises tucked up his sleeves. Whereas Chan loads each meticulously choreographed fight with anxious energy and convincing spontaneity, Tucker fires from the hip and hopes the high-pitched insanity he brandishes earns a laugh. Had the Friday-alum drawn more inspiration from Eddie Murphy than Martin Lawrence, channeled more Beverly Hills Cop charisma than Bad Boys tantrums, his Detective Carter might be strong enough to last a few rounds with Detective Inspector Lee, and Rush Hour might not be such a lopsided Buddy Cop offering. No such luck. Tucker scrambles over the top of over-the-top -- at Ratner's insistence, no doubt -- and the resulting verbal diarrhea and raspy dry heaves are enough to make anyone sensitive to his antics nauseous.

Yet somehow, by some strange Ratner-conjured magic, it works. As shamelessly unoriginal as it is, as conventional as it can be, as grating a performance as Tucker sometimes delivers, yes, Rush Hour actually works. How? I've been dropping his name all along: Jackie Chan. Ratner's flashbang action sequences could have been loud, unruly and... well, loud and unruly. But Chan fuses each dust-up and beat-down with such soul, such irresistible fun, that every showdown is fresh, every chase frantic and every shootout thrilling. Likewise, Tucker's ear-piercing presence could have easily drowned out everything around him. But Chan's sincerity subdues his loud-mouthed co-star's bluster in fifteen short minutes, and the two actors, graceful yin and manic yang, prove to be quite the cleverly cast pairing. Their on-and-off camera chemistry is clear and their penchant for trading quick-witted barbs keeps things clipping along nicely, even if racially charged punchlines and familiar stereotypes are played for awkward laughs. With Ratner, the duo become a trio, and an effective one at that. Ratner isn't Hollywood's greatest action filmmaker, but the man knows how to keep things exciting; a feat that isn't as easy as most filmfans tend to think. Chan isn't Hollywood's most nuanced actor, but with so many skills at his disposal, it hardly matters. Tucker isn't the most lovable comedian Ratner could have cast, but it doesn't take long to see why he's earning royalties on a three-film franchise. And Rush Hour? Rush Hour may not take the Buddy Cop crown (or come close enough to touch it), but it isn't a complete bust either.

Rush Hour Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Rush Hour hits the streets with a somewhat consistent 1080p/VC-1 encoded presentation -- soft shots are fairly common, nighttime scenes are problematic, and grain, though clean and refined on the whole, is occasionally a bit soupy -- but, more often than not, Adam Greenberg's original photography seems to be the culprit. Warner's video transfer, on the other hand, is a fairly impressive one, and Ratner's action comedy, now twelve years old, looks pretty good. Vibrant East Asia reds and golds collide with vivid Los Angeles greens and blues in an already colorful image, skintones are cool but lifelike, and black levels are deep and satisfying (minus the muted, noise peppered skies that frame some of the aforementioned nighttime shots). And detail? Soft scenes notwithstanding, most every available detail has been preserved to some degree, fine textures are adequately resolved, object definition is generally sharp and filmic, delineation is decidedly decent, and a few closeups and generously lit midrange shots brush against greatness. The technical image is strong and stable as well. Carter and Lee aren't forced to contend with any significant artifacting, banding or aliasing, and other unsavory anomalies simply aren't a factor. A hint of intermittent ringing and some slight crush creeps in from time to time (just enough to register with some as full-fledged issues), but their presence is so unobtrusive that they never struck me as distracting. Though a far cry from impeccable, Rush Hour's transfer should please any fan armed with appropriate expectations.

Rush Hour Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

If you didn't understand the words coming out of Carter's mouth before, you certainly will now. Rush Hour leaps into the catalog fray with a fully loaded DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track and holds its own, even when the fight is at its fiercest. Dialogue is crisp, precise and perfectly intelligible (at least as intelligible as Lee's English should be), and Tucker's banshee wail has never sound so startlingly shrill. Ratner's fists-of-semi-fury action and Lalo Schifrin's kinetic East-meets-West score are given full run of the soundfield as well, and misadventure upon misadventure unspools with suitable sonic charm. Wood splinters in every direction, errant bullets bury themselves in nearby walls, blows send henchmen flying across the floor, glass shatters overhead, and Schifrin's nimble music embraces the commotion wholeheartedly. The LFE channel responds in kind, granting punches chop-socky oomph, gunshots welcome kick, and hip hop beats throaty menace; the rear speakers rise to the challenge, immersing listeners in every exotic locale, high-security consulate, L.A. hotspot, seedy back room, and spacious convention center Ratner has on tap; and both dynamics and directionality are commanding and convincing. It all amounts to a breezy, bustling experience I frankly wasn't expecting to enjoy as much as I did.

That being said, there are moments when Rush Hour shows its age. Gunfire and impact effects are tinny on occasion (particularly during the climax), obvious ADR runs rampant, and ambience is a bit flat and stagey at times. I have no doubt most of these mishaps trace back to the film's original sound design, but there are a few too many disruptions (negligible as many of them may be) to give every aspect of the audio experience a free pass. Still, kudos to Warner for giving Rush Hour a 7.1 lossless track in the first place. I look forward to the day when such mixes are more common.

Rush Hour Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray edition of Rush Hour doesn't include any new supplemental content, but what it does offer -- two audio commentaries, an extensive production documentary and other notable bonus materials -- should easily entertain fans of the franchise.

• Director's Audio Commentary: Brett Ratner serves up a breezy, anecdotal commentary, covering everything from the film's casting and performances to its stuntwork and visual panache. I have a feeling Chan and Tucker would have helped Ratner deliver a more entertaining chat, but the director holds his own and doesn't leave many stones unturned.
• Composer's Audio Commentary: In a rare move, Rush Hour also includes an isolated score commentary with composer Lalo Schifrin. It certainly won't appeal to everyone, but film score buffs will be eager to dive in.
• A Piece of the Action (SD, 41 minutes): Go behind-the-scenes with Ratner and company in this unexpectedly thorough production documentary.
• Whatever Happened to Mason Reese (SD, 13 minutes): A short film by Ratner with optional commentary.
• Music Videos (SD, 9 minutes): "Nuttin' but Love" by Heavy D & The Boyz and "How Deep is Your Love" by Dru Hill, each with optional director's commentary. The director? Brett Ratner, of course.
• Deleted Scenes (SD, 3 minutes): A series of inconsequential cuts.
• Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2 minutes)



Rush Hour Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 




Rush Hour may be a derivative, late-90s Buddy Cop flick, but that doesn't prevent it from being a whole lotta fun. Say what you will (I certainly did), Chan and Tucker are smartly paired, Ratner knows how to whip up a spirited action-comedy cocktail, and the trio's chemistry keeps the film afloat when comparisons to better genre pics threaten to drag it down. And Warner's oft-delayed Blu-ray release? By and large, it seems as if it was worth the wait. Despite a somewhat inconsistent source, Rush Hour's video transfer is solid, its DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track is engaging, and its supplemental package is primed for the franchise's fanbase. When the price is right, be sure to nab a copy and see for yourself.