So Close - 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 2002
Director: Corey Yuen
Writer: Jeffrey Lau
Cast: Shu Qi, Vicky Zhao Wei, Karen Mok, Song Seung-heon, Michael Wai, Kurata Yasuaki, Deric Wan, Shek Sau 

Release Date: February 26th, 2024
Approximate running time: 110 Minutes 46 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 Mandarin, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK)

"When a gang of assassins murders their parents, two sisters inherit the family business – a state-of-the-art computer surveillance system. Armed with the ability to see around corners and disappear into thin air, the sisters become the most accomplished killers-for-hire in Hong Kong. But when the sisters fulfill a contract and take out a wealthy computer magnate, a beautiful undercover detective is suddenly hot on their tail. Now – loyalties are tested, alliances are questioned and survival becomes the most extreme sport of all." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "HD (1080p) Blu-ray™ presentation in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio."

So Close comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 32.9 GB

Feature: 29.9 GB

My only reference is So Close’s 2003 DVD, which now looks ancient. This new transfer from 88 Films is a marked improvement that obliterates the 2003 DVD’s transfer. That said, the 88 Films transfer looks excellent. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 Mandarin, DTS-HD 5.1 English)

This release comes with three audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Mandarin, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. All three audio tracks sound excellent. Dialog always comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 7 seconds, LPCM stereo English and Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles for Cantonese), an archival Hong Kong promotion featurette (2 minutes 54 seconds, LPCM stereo with music playing over this extra), an archival extra titled Japanese Press Conference (8 minutes, LPCM stereo English, Cantonese and Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival extra titled Yasuaki Hurats’s action commentary (14 minutes 16 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Karen Mok (4 minutes 40 seconds, LPCM stereo English and Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Shu Qi (3 minutes 18 seconds, LPCM stereo Mandarin with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Vicky Zhao Wei (3 minutes 55 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, and a limited edition silver-board glossy O-ring (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Directed by Cory Yuen, whose other notable films are Yes, Madam, Righting Wrongs, My Father is a Hero, and The Transporter.

The narrative revolves around two sisters who work as killers for hire; one sister works on the tech side while the other sister kills the target. Over the years, the two sisters have stayed one step ahead of the law while remaining anonymous. That is, until a new detective on the scene becomes obsessed with uncovering who they are and bringing them to justice.

There are movies that, for whatever reason, we are drawn to, and despite their shortcomings, we return to them over and over again. Case in point: So Close, a film that is a personal guilty pleasure of mine.

When I first watched So Close, I had no connection to the film except that I was into girls with guns action films. Looking back on that first time I saw So Close and now rewatching it all these years later, my knowledge of Hong Kong cinema and those who made So Close has grown substantially.

The thing that most grabbed me when rewatching So Close was where it sat within Corey Yuen’s filmography. Having now seen more than a dozen films that he directed, despite So Close being a slick-looking action film, I would not put it in his top five films. In the same year that he made So Close, he also directed The Transporter, a film that is arguably stronger in just about every way. And yet, So Close is a film that I return to far more often than The Transporter.

The main draw of So Close is three leads: Shu Qi (The Transporter) in the role of an assassin named Lynn, Vicky Zhao Wei (Shaolin Soccer) in the role of Lynn’s sister Sue, and Karen Mok (Black Mask) in the role of a detective named Kong Yat-hung. All three deliver flawless performances; besides looking great, they all more than hold their own when it comes to the action sequences.

When it comes to the action sequences, So Close delivers, and then some. And like most Hong Kong films made in the last 25 years, its action sequences incorporate CGI. Outside of a few moments, the use of CGI is very effective. The most memorable aspect of the action sequences is the use of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s song (They Long to Be) Close to You. Lynn uses (They Long to Be) Close to You as a theme song. The combination of music and her movement are perfectly in sync during her escape after killing her target.

From its opening moments, So Close has an infectious vibe that makes what unfolds all so damn enjoyable. The well-executed narrative does a great job building momentum, and the tragedy leading into the finale does a phenomenal job laying the foundation for an exceptional ending. Ultimately, So Close is a solid example of how to make a female-led action film, and once again, Hong Kong is ahead of the curve when compared to similar films made by Hollywood.

88 Films gives So Close an excellent release that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of archival extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer