7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Amid the neon-drenched nightclubs and gambling dens of Hong Kong's nocturnal underworld, the fates of three wandering souls—a former judo champion now barely scraping by as an alcoholic bar owner, a young fighter intent on challenging him, and a singer chasing dreams of stardom—collide in an operatic explosion of human pain, ambition, perseverance, and redemption.
Starring: Louis Koo, Aaron Kwok, Tony Ka Fai Leung, Eddie Cheung, Jordan ChanForeign | 100% |
Drama | 38% |
Martial arts | 19% |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.42:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Cantonese: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Mandarin: Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
Mandarin (Traditional), English
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Johnnie To's "Throw Down" (2004) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Hong Kong-based distributors Kam & Ronson Enterprises. The supplemental features on the disc include the film's original theatrical trailer and a standard making of featurette. In Cantonese, with optional English and Traditional Mandarin subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Place your bets
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.42:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Johnnie To's Throw Down arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Hong Kong-based distributors Kam & Ronson Enterprises.
The high-definition transfer appears to have been struck from the same master that was prepared for the old R3 DVD release of the film. Generally speaking, detail and clarity are pleasing, especially during the darker sequences, but depth and fluidity tend to fluctuate. Colors are stable, but saturation isn't always convincing. Furthermore, there are traces of light sharpening corrections. Some compression artifacts are also present. Typically, most of them could be seen during close-ups (see screencapture #9). The partially good news here is that the majority of the film is quite dark and none of these artifacts ever become seriously distracting. There are no traces of excessive denoising. Finally, when blown through a digital projector, the film remains tight around the edges. All in all, considering how problematic some releases of older Hong Kong produced films have been, I think it is fair to say that Throw Down actually looks quite good in high-definition. Owners of the R3 DVD release should consider upgrading it. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: Cantonese Dolby TrueHD 7.1 and Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1 EX. For the record, Kam & Ronson Enterprises have provided optional English and Traditional Mandarin subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
There have been quite a few releases with elaborate new lossless audio tracks which have been somewhat disappointing, but the Cantonese Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track is in fact quite good. It has very good depth and pleasing fluidity. Generally speaking, the sound is also well rounded and stable. Dynamic movement, however, is somewhat uneven. There are a few sequences with sudden spikes in dynamic activity that feel unnatural. Occasionally, the dialog also gets pushed back while the action gets extra dynamic support. Still, overall this is indeed one of the better 7.1 tracks I've heard on a catalog release.
Dedicated to the great Akira Kurosawa, Johnnie To's Throw Down is a deeply atmospheric film that many consider to be one of the Hong Kong auteur's best. I have to agree. It is quite complex but not overwhelming and very stylish. The film deserves a much better release, a special edition at the very least, but currently only the Hong Kong-produced Blu-ray release reviewed here is available on the market. My advice to you is to consider picking it up before it goes out of print. RECOMMENDED.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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