Exiled – Chameleon Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 2006
Director: Johnnie To
Writers: Kam-Yuen Szeto, Tin-Shing Yip
Cast: Anthony Wong Chau-sang, Francis Ng, Nick Cheung, Josie Ho, Roy Cheung, Lam Suet, Richie Jen, Simon Yam

Release Date: August 31st, 2022
Approximate running time: 109 Minutes 9 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: M (Australia)
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, LPCM Stereo Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $34.95 AUD (Australia)

"Wo (Nick Cheung) unwisely returns to Macau where Boss Fay (Simon Yam) has put a price on his head. His childhood buddy Blaze (Anthony Wong) is given the contract, while another lifelong friend, Tai (Francis Ng) is sworn to defend him. The scene is set for the kind of simmering confrontations that fans of Johnnie To prize so much. As characters loom out of the darkness, the tension is so thick you could pick it up with a pair of chopsticks." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "from the best available existing 2K masters supplied by the rightsholders."

Exiled comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.3 GB

Feature: 32.3 GB

Though the source used for this transfer comes from an existing 2K master, the result is a transfer that fans of this film should be very satisfied with. The image looks crisp, the colors and flesh tones look correct, the black levels are strong, and the compression looks very good.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, LPCM Stereo Cantonese)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese and a LPCM stereo mix in Cantonese. Both audio mixes sound clean, clear, balanced, and robust when they should, most notably when it comes to gun shots. That said, the DTS-HD 5.1 is a slightly fuller track than the LPCM stereo track. Included with this release are removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a photo gallery (47 images-poster/stills), U.S. theatrical trailer (2 minutes 4 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer #1 (1 minute 47 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer #2 (2 minutes 19 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival behind the scenes featurette (6 minutes 21 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival featurette titled The Making of Exiled (12 minutes 2 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with actress Josie Ho titled Exiled Dreams - The Cult Career of Josie Ho (13 minutes 40 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with co-composer Dave Klotz (20 minutes 25 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay titled The Weight of Honor (6 minutes 38 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Hong Kong cinema expert Frank Djeng, a second audio commentary with Frank Djeng titled supplemental, reversible cover without the ratings logo, and a twenty-two page booklet (limited to first pressing) with cast & crew information, synopsis, an essay titled “We’ll Meet Again in the Jianghu’: Johnnie To’s Exiled written by Stephen Teo, and an essay titled A Little Hard Work Never Killed Anybody: The Working-Class Underworld of Johnnie To’s Exiled written by Dylan Cheung.

Summary:

All filmmakers have their own influences. And though they sometimes discuss who they are, The films they make also reveal who their influences are. In the case of Johnnie To and more specifically, his film Exiled, two filmmakers come to mind: John Woo and Sergio Leone.

Content wise, Exiled is equal parts heroic bloodshed and a western, albeit in a modern setting. And it is not surprising that Exiled opens with a spectacular set piece, since Johnnie To’s film’s are filled with such moments. The opening set up in Exiled slowly introduces all of the main players, before erupting into a three way shootout. This is the first of four similar moments where characters find themselves in confined areas surrounded and a hellfire of bullets upon them.

Exiled features a solid cast of actors, many of whom would work with Johnnie To on his other films. The entire cast delivers excellent performances in their respective roles, especially Josie Ho (So Close) in the role of Jin, the wife of the man who's been targeted for death. She delivers a fantastic performance that shines brightest when her character reaches her breaking point. Two other performances of note include Anthony Chau-Sang Wong (Ebola Syndrome) in the role of a hitman named Blaze, and Simon Yam (Dr. Lamb) in the role of a crime boss named Fay. Needless to say, these two actors are scene stealers who make anything they are in all the more entertaining.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where Exiled does not excel. The premise is well-executed, the deliberate pacing narrative keeps things tense, and a spectacular shootout finale puts an exclamation mark on the events that preceded. Ultimately, Exiled is an exceptional film that explores themes like loyalty and betrayal that fans of Hong Kong's heroic bloodshed films are sure to enjoy.

Exiled is part of Chameleon Films' initial slate of titles, and if this release is any indication of what is to come, then fans of Hong Kong cinema should be thrilled. Exiled gets an excellent release from Chameleon Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and comes with an abundance of informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer