The Long Arm of the Law - Parts 1&2: Deluxe Collectors Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Hong Kong, 1984 (Long Arm of the Law), Hong Kong, 1987 (Long Arm of the Law: Saga II)
Directors: Johnny Mak (Long Arm of the Law), Michael Mak (Long Arm of the Law: Saga II)
Cast: Chen Jing, Kong Lung, Ben Lam Kwok Bun, David Lam Wai, Ng Hoi Tin, Shum Wai, Wong Kin, Wong Yan Tat, Yeung Min, Tommy Wong Kwong Leung (Long Arm of the Law), Alex Man Chi-Leung, Pauline Wong Siu-Fung, Elvis Tsui, Ben Lam Kwok-Bun, Yuen Yat-Choh, Stephen Chan Tak-Gwong, Chiang Lung, Lee Ying-Git, Ng Hoi-Tin, Yip San, Kirk Wong Chi-Keung, Wong Chi-Keung, Shing Fui-On (Long Arm of the Law: Saga II)

Release Date: November 20th, 2023 (UK), December 12th, 2023 (USA)
Approximate running times: 106 Minutes 3 Seconds (Long Arm of the Law - Hong Kong Cut), 105 Minutes 9 Seconds (Long Arm of the Law - Export Cut), 90 Minutes 19 Seconds (Long Arm of the Law: Saga II - Hong Kong Cut), 87 Minutes 23 Seconds (Long Arm of the Law: Saga II - Export Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: 18 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese (Long Arm of the Law - Hong Kong Cut, Long Arm of the Law: Saga II - Hong Kong Cut), DTS-HD Mono English (Long Arm of the Law - Export Cut, Long Arm of the Law: Saga II - Export Cut)
Subtitles: English (Long Arm of the Law - Hong Kong Cut, Long Arm of the Law: Saga II - Hong Kong Cut)
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £29.99 (UK), $44.95 (USA)

"Return to the mean streets of the 1980s for a pair of ghetto real crime dramas that redefined Hong Kong cop movies. Based on real events in the then Crown Colony, the ‘Long Arm of the Law’ films depict the threat posed by former Mainland Chinese soldiers crossing the border to stage hyper-violent crimes in broad daylight. These films are a stunning blend of cinema verité with bone-crunching Hong Kong stunt sequences. ‘Long Arm of the Law 1 & 2’ left local audiences shell-shocked when first released, and still retains its raw impact today. Don’t miss the chance to see a double bill torn from the most savage era in reel and real Hong Kong history!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

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

Long Arm of the Law comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.8 GB

Feature: 29.2 GB

This release uses seamless branching for the two versions.

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

Long Arm of the Law: Saga II comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.5 GB

Feature: 20.4 GB (Hong Kong Cut), 20 GB (Export Cut)

The sources used for these transfers are in great shape. Though there are few moments early on in Long Arm of the Law that are not as strong as the bulk of the transfer, and the opening moments of Long Arm of the Law: Saga II feature footage from Long Arm of the Law that obviously comes from a lesser source, these two instances are our outliers since the bulk of these transfers range from great to excellent. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong throughout, and compression is solid.

Audio: 4.25/5

Long Arm of the Law, the Hong Kong cut, comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles.

Long Arm of the Law The Export cut comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English. There are no subtitles for this version of the film.

Long Arm of the Law: Saga II, the Hong Kong cut, comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles.

Long Arm of the Law: Saga II, the export cut, comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English. There are no subtitles for this version of the film.

All of the audio tracks are in great shape. Dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise action sequences sound robust. That said, there are a few minor sibilance issues on the Cantonese language track for Long Arm of the Law: Saga II.

Extras:

Extras for Long Arm of the Law include a Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with director Johnny Mak (9 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), a conversation with action director Billy Chan and screenwriter Philip Chan (37 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Philip Chan titled From Hong Kong Police to Big Circle Gangs (28 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Michael Mak titled Family Business (16 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Hong Kong film expert Frank Djeng for the Hong Kong cut.

Extras for Long Arm of the Law: Saga II include a Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), a English-language theatrical trailer (1 minute 40 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with stuntman Stephen Chan titled The Iron Fist of Crime (24 minutes 25 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Philip Chan titledAn Offer You Can’t Refuse (8 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Ben Lam titled Man of Action (16 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with director Michael Mak titled Bringing the Action (25 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Hong Kong film expert Frank Djeng for the Hong Kong cut.

Other extras are reversible cover art for each film, a double-sided A3 fold-out poster, and a 40-page booklet with cast and crew information for both films, an essay titled Hong Kong as Battleground: The Long Arm of the Law Saga written by Tom Cunliffe, and archive stills, posters, and lobby cards.

Summary:

Long Arm of the Law: Criminals from mainland China sneak into Hong Kong to pull off a jewelry heist, and when things go awry, they find themselves in a fight for their lives.

Long Arm of the Law is the first film in a series of four. And though each of these films has a similar premise, the characters come from mainland China. That said, they are only linked in theme, with each film having different characters who find themselves caught in the criminal underworld.

The other thing that often comes up when discussing Long Arm of the Law is how it predates many elements that would become integral to heroic bloodshed films that John Woo would become the most prominent filmmaker making them. That said, Long Arm of the Law has elements that fit firmly into heroic bloodshed films. The result is a film that is more melodrama than action, with its minimal moments of violence being more targeted.

Though crime and the dangers that arise from the characters actions play a significant role in the story at hand, a film like Long Arm of the Law can be seen as a fish out of water story, with the four men from mainland China experiencing things in Hong Kong that they would not have if they never left mainland China. Most of these moments are done in a lighthearted way that humanizes these characters, who, without these moments, would be nothing more than cold-blooded criminals.

The most surprising aspect of Long Arm of the Law are the performances, which are all phenomenal. This is truly an ensemble film where no one performance shines brighter than another. Another strength of the performance is the cast's on-screen chemistry.

Despite being a character-driven film, that is not to say that Long Arm of the Law does not have some visually arresting moments. A few moments that stand out are a chase that ensues after the Hong Kong police see the five would-be robbers scoping out a jewelry store, a scene where a character is assassinated in a mall and their dead body falls several stories onto an ice rink below, and an explosive shootout finale in Kowloon’s famed Walled City.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where Long Arm of the Law does not excel. The premise is superbly realized, and the narrative does a great job building momentum towards an amazing finale. Another strength of the Long Arm of the Law is its rawness. Whereas other similar crime-themed films have a more glossy appearance, Long Arm of the Law has a documentary-like vibe. Ultimately, Long Arm of the Law is a solid crime/melodrama that foreshadows heroic bloodshed films, making it a must-see film if you're a fan of this genre.

Long Arm of the Law: Saga II: Three former police officers from mainland China agree to be police informers in Hong Kong in exchange for permanent residence.

Though Long Arm of the Law: Saga II has a different director, Michael Mak, the brother of Long Arm of the Law’s director, Johnny Mak, it retains the same screenwriter and all the core elements that made its predecessor such a memorable film. The main difference is that this time around, not as much time is spent getting to know the characters as they experience new things in Hong Kong. That said, there is not that much action or violence in the opening 40 minutes, but when the bullets start to fly, it is non-stop from there on out.

When it comes to the cast and the performances, once again, the entire cast is phenomenal. The most memorable performance was by Ben Lam (Police Story 2) in the role of King San, an undercover police officer working with three mainland Chinese characters who are now police informers. His character has a gruesome death where he’s tortured and beheaded with an ax. Also, there are several actors in Long Arm of the Law: Saga II that appeared in Long Arm of the Law, albeit playing different characters this time around.

From a production standpoint, Long Arm of the Law: Saga II is a film that maximizes its resources. The premise is well executed, the narrative does a superb job building momentum, and an exceptional ending provides a perfect coda. When compared to its predecessor, Long Arm of the Law: Saga II is a significantly more violent film and more in line with what one considers a heroic bloodshed film. Ultimately, Long Arm of the Law: Saga II is a solid follow-up to Long Arm of the Law that fans of heroic bloodshed films are sure to thoroughly enjoy.

The Long Arm of the Law, Parts 1 and 2, is a solid release from 88 Films that comes with strong audio and video presentations, two versions of each film, and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer