The Project A Collection: 4 Disc Deluxe Limited Edition – 88 Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Dates: Hong Kong, 1983 (Project A), Hong Kong, 1987 (Project A Part II)
Director: Jackie Chan (Both Films)
Cast: Jackie Chan, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Yuen Biao, Dick Wei, Lee Hoi-san, Mars (Project A), Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung, Bill Tung, Rosamund Kwan, David Lam, Carina Lau (Project A Part II)

Release Date: October 15th, 2024
Approximate Running Times: 105 Minutes 48 Seconds (Project A - Hong Kong Cut), 115 Minutes 24 Seconds (Project A - Extended Taiwanese Cut), 106 Minutes 36 Seconds (Project A Part II - Hong Kong Cut), 98 Minutes 9 Seconds (Project A Part II - Export Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10 (Both Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Atmos Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, Dolby Atmos Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono English (Project A - Hong Kong Cut, Project A - Extended Taiwanese Cut), Dolby Atmos Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese Hong Kong Remix, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese Remixed, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese Japanese Mix, DTS-HD Mono Mandarin Remixed (Project A Part II - Hong Kong Cut), DTS-HD Mono English (Project A Part II - Export Cut)
Subtitles: English (Project A - Hong Kong Cut, Project A - Extended Taiwanese Cut, Project A Part II - Hong Kong Cut)
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region A (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: $99.95

Project A: "Dragon Ma (Jackie Chan, Rush Hour) is a lieutenant in the 19th-century Hong Kong marines. Pirates have been terrorizing local waters, with assistance from the corrupt authorities. Dragon Ma hopes to defeat the evil pirate clan led by Sanpao (Dick Wei), but his plan is short-circuited. Ma then teams with a navy admiral (Hak Suen Lau), a police captain Tzu (Biao Yuen) and a crafty thief (Sammo Hung) in a new round of high-seas battles with Sanpao and his pirates." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Project A Part II: "Corrupt police inspector Chun (David Lam) has made himself the most powerful law enforcement officer in Hong Kong by staging high-profile arrests of the criminals and mobsters with whom he's in cahoots. The British authorities know Chun is a dirty cop but have not been able to infiltrate his inner circle. Enter fearless and incorruptible military policeman "Dragon Ma" Yun (Jackie Chan), who comes back to his hometown to pose as Chun's new right-hand man and take down both cops and criminals." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4k UHD, Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about Project A's transfers, "Brand new 4K remaster of the Hong Kong cut from the original negatives. Brand new 4K remaster of the extended Taiwanese cut from the original negatives."

Project A comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 87.8 GB

Feature: 84.4 GB

This release uses seamless branching for the two versions. 

Project A comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46 GB

Feature: 36.9 GB

Here’s the information provided about Project A Part II's transfers, "Brand new 4K remaster of the Hong Kong cut from the original negatives. Brand new 4K remaster of the export cut from the original negatives."

Project A Part II comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 90.8 GB

Feature: 75.1 GB

This release uses seamless branching for the two versions. 

Project A Part II comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.9 GB

Feature: 33.3  GB

This release uses seamless branching for the two versions.

Even if you are familiar with these two films, these new 4K transfers will be a revelation. Flesh tones look correct, colors look perfect, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic. Also, this is another exceptional encode from Fidelity in Motion.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese Hong Kong Remix), 5/5 (All Other Audio Tracks)

Both versions of Project A come with five audio options: a Dolby Atmos mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, a Dolby Atmos mix in Mandarin, a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin, and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language track.

Project A Part II, the Hong Kong cut comes with five audio options, a Dolby Atmos mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese (Hong Kong Remix), a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese (Remixed), a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese (Japanese Mix), and a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin (Remixed). Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language track. 

Project A Part II, the export cut comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English.

There is an abundance of audio choices; you really can’t go wrong with any of them; they all are in great shape. That said, the only lesser track is the Cantonese mono track labeled Hong Kong remix for Project A Part II; it lacks the range the other tracks have. Dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when they should. It should be noted that midway through the end credits of Project A Part II, there is an audio drop.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc for Project A include Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer 2 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Lunar New Year introduction (3 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and FJ DeSanto for the Hong Kong cut, and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng for the Hong Kong cut.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc for Project A include a stills gallery (48 images - stills/posters), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer 2 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Lunar New Year introduction (3 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), Japanese version ending (2 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese, nop subtitles), outtakes (24 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with music from the film playing in the background), a behind the scenes archival featurette titled The Making of Project A (11 minutes 453 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with music from the film playing in the background), an interview with screenwriter Edward Tang titled Plan B (15 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Project A collector Paul Dre titled Project Collector (16 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with composer Michael Lai titled Can’t Stop the Music (17 minutes 27 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Dick Wei titled The Pirates Den (13 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with actor Yuen Biao titled The Elusive Dragon (18 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with Grandmaster Lee Hoi-san titled Master Killer (22 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with stuntman Mars Cheung titled Dancing with Danger (15 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with Mars Cheung titled Jackie Chan’s Best Stunt Double (14 minutes 35seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles),an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and FJ DeSanto for the Hong Kong cut, and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng for the Hong Kong cut.

Extras on the 4K UHD disc for Project A Part II include a stills gallery (36 images), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 9 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), Export theatrical trailer 2 minutes 14 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), Tai Seng trailer (1 minute 41 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and FJ DeSanto for the Hong Kong cut. 

Extras on the Blu-ray disc for Project A Part II include Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 9 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), Export theatrical trailer 2 minutes 14 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), Tai Seng trailer (1 minute 41 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), Japanese ending (3 minutes 59 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), Full-Screen Jackie Chan Recording Session (2 minutes 33 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival documentary focusing on three members of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team titled Someone Will Know Me (13 minutes 12 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Chan Wai-Man titled The Big Boss (19 minutes 40 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with fight choreographer Anthony Carpio (25 minutes 25 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and FJ DeSanto for the Hong Kong cut.

Other extras include reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster for Project A, a double-sided foldout poster for Project A Part II, six double-sided collectable art cards, and a 100-page booklet with cast & crew information for both films, an essay titled  Labor of Love: Jackie’s Plan A Worked Out written by Thorsten Boose, an essay titled Project A, No Plan B: A Look into how Project A I & II Defined The Jackie Chan 1980s Style written by Paul Bramhall , an interview with assistant director Roberta Chow titled Someone Will Know Me conducted by Thorsten Boose, and archival images.

Summary

Project A: His superiors order the coastguard sergeant to infiltrate and bring pirates, who are wreaking havoc on the waters surrounding Hong Kong, to justice.

Jackie Chan's career did not take off as a highly celebrated action star in Hong Kong cinema until he started making films in which he had complete control. Though Jackie Chan had directed three films before Project A, he did not have the resources that he would with this film. Like most martial arts films of the 1970s and early 1980s, Project A is a period-set film. Unlike the majority of those films, its sets and costumes are epic in scale. That said, it is an important film in the evolution of Jackie Chan, the filmmaker.

Content wise, Project A has many of the elements that would become staples of the Jackie Chan films that followed it. Notably, its connection to Police Story, which bears many similarities to Project A, is that in both films, Jackie Chan portrays a law enforcement officer whose willingness to break rules gets him into trouble with his superiors. Of course, the main draw of a Jackie Chan film are the action set pieces, and Project A delivers many jaw-dropping moments that fans of Hong Kong action cinema are sure to thoroughly enjoy.

Standout moments include a bar scene fight between the coast guard and the police. This is one of many inventive fight scenes, and moments of slapstick, including a running gag of a plate of spaghetti repeatedly landing in the same person's face, reinforce this scene. The scene where Dragon Ma, who has recently been reassigned to the police, enters a club that's owned by a gangster, and when the gangsters refuse to comply with the police, all hell breaks loose. And a finale in the pirates hideout on a secluded island provides a very satisfying conclusion to the events that have just unfolded.

Though Jackie Chan (Twin Dragons) is the main attraction, he surrounds himself with a spectacular supporting cast. Jackie Chan is once again cast in the familiar role of a mischievous character named Dragon Ma, and he delivers an exceptional performance that perfectly balances humorous and dramatic moments. Other notable performances include Biao Yuen’s (On the Run) portrayal of Captain Tzu, a rival of Dragon Ma who becomes an ally, and Sammo Kam-Bo Hung’s (Eastern Condors) portrayal of Fei, an old friend of Dragon Ma’s who is known for his thievery. That said, the entire cast is great in their respective roles.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Project A does not excel. Kinetic pacing greatly aids a well-executed narrative by propelling the story towards an unforgettable finale. And though the action set pieces deserve all of the recognition, one must not overlook how pitch-perfect the humor is. Ultimately, Project A is an extraordinary film that deserves its reputation as one of Hong Kong action cinema’s high water marks.

Project A Part II: The police recruit Dragon Ma to investigate a corrupt police superintendent.

Four years after Project A, Jackie Chan would return to familiar territory with Project A Part II. Though the narrative’s main focus starts off with Dragon Ma investigating police corruption, by the end of the film, he also encounters pirates from Project A who want to avenge their former leader by killing Dragon Ma and Chinese revolutionaries, whom Manchu loyalists are trying to find and arrest.

Content-wise, Project A Part II carries over the core elements from Project A. In many instances, Project A Part II magnifies them, and nowhere is this clearer than when it comes to the action set pieces. Also, humor once again plays a significant role in the story that unfolds.

Standout moments include a scene where Dragon Ma and his men go to arrest a wanted gangster. They arrive and find themselves quickly outnumbered. Despite this setback, what ensues is an exceptional demonstration of Hong Kong cinema’s stunt work. Other standout moments include a scene that takes place at a woman’s apartment, and as the scene evolves, more people enter the apartment. When multiple characters arrive at an apartment, those inside hide every time a new person enters. Needless to say, this scene grows in absurdity as it progresses. Project A Part II saves its best action set piece for its finale. Dragon Ma and two women run through buildings and jump from rooftops. At one point during the finale, Dragon Ma chews hot peppers and uses his spit as a weapon to blind the bad guys.

Besides Jackie Chan’s (Drunken Master) phenomenal performances, he again surrounds himself with an impressive supporting cast. Not only does this performance show off his martial arts prowess, it gives him ample comedic moments to shine. Rosamund Kwan's (Once Upon a Time in China) and Maggie Cheung's (In the Mood for Love) portrayals of Chinese revolutionaries, and Bill Tung's portrayal of a police commissioner whose ineptitude channels his inner Jacques Clouseau are other performances of note.

From a production standpoint, Project A Part II is a film in which everything falls into place. Its briskly paced narrative ensures there is never a dull moment, and everything comes to a head with an exceptional action-heavy finale. Despite there being a lot of crossover between Project A Part II and its predecessor, the result is a film that never feels like a retread. Ultimately, Project A Part II is one of the rare examples of a sequel that is on par with its predecessor.

88 Films The Project A Collection is an impressive release; both films have never looked or sounded better, and there is a wealth of insightful extras. To call The Project A Collection a definitive release would be an understatement; it is arguably one of the best home media releases any film has ever received, highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer