7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
The Imperial Court orders Minister Yang to bring down a ruthless crime syndicate by sending undercover agents to the clan and disintegrating them from the inside.
Starring: Wah Yuen, Lung-Wei Wang, Fei Ai, Dick Wei, Chuen ChiangForeign | 100% |
Action | 28% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Mandarin: LPCM 2.0 Mono
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Well, ladies and germs, it seems to be another day ending in "y", and you know what that means: there's another Shaw Brothers film being released on Blu-ray that needs reviewing! Just the day before yesterday (both a word and day that coincidentally also end in "y"), I mentioned in our The Golden Lotus Blu-ray review how seemingly endless the releases of Shaw Brothers films in high definition seem to be (with more coming, as that linked to review mentions). If The Golden Lotus may strike some as a positively weird outing from the studio, it's probably a given that To Kill a Mastermind fits more snugly into the perceived "category" that Shaw Brothers productions typically tended to be pigeonholed in, namely an action heavy enterprise filled to the brim with scheming both inside and outside of "official" court channels, all in a(n) historical context that offers typical Shaw Brothers blandishments like elegant production design and appealing cinematography. Still, it's probably the kinetic proclivities of this particular film, which the back cover states has been "famously difficult to see", which may be of the most interest.
To Kill a Mastermind is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. The back cover of this release states this was culled from an "HD transfer of the original negative". This is an often great looking presentation, but I have to say to my eyes it didn't quite make it to the levels seen in 88 Films' simultaneously released Blu-ray of The Golden Lotus. The color timing here can have a slightly yellowish undertone at times, and several scenes that are mired in mist and the like can show pretty splotchy yellow grain. That said, the palette is still decently healthy, and detail levels on the nicely appointed sets and costumes can be excellent.
To Kill a Mastermind features LPCM 2.0 Mono audio in the original Mandarin. This is another kind of high, tinny sounding track, something that is especially noticeable in the Shaw Brothers masthead music and opening theme. As things progress, the brightness of the high end can be at least marginally better, but you can still hear it in, for example, the cue underscoring the entrance of the focal three to Supreme Leader fairly early in the film. Lower sound effects like gongs resonate better, as do some of the sound effects accompanying fight sequences. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly, though sync as they say can be loose. Optional English subtitles are available.
You've seen a lot of To Kill a Mastermind before, and arguably more viscerally, in any number of other Shaw Brothers films. There are nicely staged fight scenes in abundance here, which may be enough to attract interested eyes, along with the previous rarity of finding this title in anything approaching watchable shape. Video is generally solid, though I found this transfer to be a bit less consistent than The Golden Lotus. Audio is listenable, if awfully bright and thin. 88 Films provides only a stills gallery and some packaging/insert offerings in the supplements category, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.
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