10kbullets

Crime Story: Limited Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1993
Directors: Kirk Wong, Jackie Chan
Writers: Chun Tin Nam, Chan Man Keung, Chan Lai Lin, Cheung Chi Shing, Teddy Chan
Cast: Jackie Chan, Kent Cheng, Law Kar-ying, Blackie Ko, Ken Lo, Pan Lingling, Christine Ng, Chung Fat

Release Date: October 28th, 2019
Approximate running time: 107 Minutes 27 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, LPCM Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: OOP

"Troubled Hong Kong CID inspector Eddie Chan (Jackie Chan) is assigned to oversee the safety of controversial businessman Wong Yat-Fei (Law Kar-Ying), who is then kidnapped. A major investigation is launched and leads to Taipei and back to Hong Kong but, unbeknownst to Chan - his new partner, Inspector Hung (Kent Cheng) is an accomplice to the crime, throwing the authorities off the trail.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Brand New 2K Remaster from The Original 35mm Negative."

Crime Story comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 36.1 GB

Feature: 26.5 GB

The source used for this transfer looks excellent; it is a marked improvement over Crime Story’s previous Blu-ray releases. Flesh tones look correct; color saturation, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid.

Audio: 4.5/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English), 4.75/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 English)

This release comes with four audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese, a LPCM mono mix in English, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. All four audio mixes are in excellent shape. Dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Range-wise, all four audio tracks sound great. That said, the two mono tracks offer a better sound experience than the two 5.1 tracks. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language tracks, removable English SDH for the Cantonese language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), scenes from Singapore version (6 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director Kirk Wong (10 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with screenwriter Teddy Chan Talk-Sum (7 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with stuntman Bruce Law (24 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with assistant director P'ng Kialek titled Looking for a new Direction (19 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Police Story on Crack! Mike Leeder on Kirk Wong's Crime Story (7 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with filmmaker Arne Venema and Hong Kong film expert Mike Leeder, reversible cover art, a slipcase (limited to first pressing), and a 40-page booklet (limited to first pressing) with production stills and promotional materials for Crime Story.

Summary:

Co-directed by Kirk Wong, whose other notable films are Love to Kill, Organized Crime & Triad Bureau, and Rock N'Roll Cop. Crime Story’s action sequences were directed by Jackie Chan. Also, Crime Story is based on the events surrounding the 1990 kidnapping of Chinese businessman Teddy Wang.

The narrative revolves around a police inspector suffering from emotional distress after being involved in a shootout. His paths cross with a wealthy businessman who is kidnapped and held for ransom. Not believing that the kidnappers will safely return the business even if the ransom is paid, the police inspector is in a race against time to locate the missing man.

When one thinks of the films of Jackie Chan, the two things that spring to mind are elaborate action sequences and an ample amount of humor. Then there are films like Crime Story, in which Jackie Chan ventures outside of his comfort zone and does a gritty, more realistic crime film. Though the character inspector Eddie Chan has elements that were tailored towards Jackie Chan’s strengths, a reason why this character stands apart from the type of character Jackie Chan usually plays might have to do with Jet Li being the actor originally lined up for this role.

The thing that immediately grabbed me when watching Crime Story is how great all the performances are, especially Jackie Chan (Dragons Forever) in the role of police inspector Eddie Chan. He does a phenomenal job conveying the various emotions his character goes through. Another performance of note is that of Kent Cheng (Once Upon a Time in China) in the role of Detective Hung Ting-bong, a character that is the polar opposite of police inspector Eddie Chan.

Though there are not as many hand-to-hand fight sequences in Crime Story. The three main action sequences are all exceptional. That said, the stunt work is on par with Jackie Chan’s most memorable moments. The most impressive fight sequence is the finale, which takes place in a building engulfed in fire.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where Crime Story does not deliver in spades. The briskly paced narrative has plenty of twists that keep you on your toes, and there is an ample amount of tension. Another strength of the narrative is how it builds momentum. Ultimately, Crime Story is a perfect blend of action and melodrama that fans of 1980s and 1990s Hong Kong action cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

Crime Story gets an excellent release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and an abundance of extras, highly recommended.

Note: 88 Films has rereleased Crime Story in a standard edition.