Customer Reviews

John Woo Collection VHS 2-Pack

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I don't understand this at all. While I know that these are the greatest action movies made so far on film, the sound transfer is mono.

It won't deter the action, or your appreciation of John Woo's genius. But if you do want the DVD Dolby 5.1, surround sound versions, you need to find the MEI AH Laser Company copies of these films.

There is no commentary, just the film itself. But the video transfer has the same quality.

hassan@pipeline.com

If you want to read about the content of these films, there are plenty of other reviews on this site to help you out. I'm reviewing the sound quality.

MONO?! Two DVD films in mono?? I'm sorry, but the sound quality on these discs are really terrible, especially the English dubbed version. Also, although it's not the manufacturer's fault, the English dubbing over both discs are atrocious. "JEFFREY! JEFFREY! WHERE ARE YOU, JEFFREY?!"

That's basically all I have to say on the content of these discs. I suppose I'm happy with them, but what choice do I have? The criterion editions are out of print in case you folks who are looking for them didn't know.

This is an excellent, affordable deuce of John Woo classics. They are an interesting pair, showing different facets of John Woo's directorial style. While primarily known for his action, I find John Woo more compelling for his ability to weave a good story and compelling characters into action scenes. This is what separates his movies from the American equivalent.

"The Killer" is a story driven, personal, Shakespearian epic of honor and loyalty. Chow Yun Fat and Danny Lee are flip sides of a coin, one a cop, the other a paid killer, who find themselves drawn into an unavoidable admiration for each other. The violence in this film is poetic rather than gratuitous. The ending is personal and the deaths are meaningful. I find this to be the superior film.

"Hard Boiled" is the counterbalance to "The Killer." It is sheer, over the top violence. Shotguns fire the famous "John Woo Bullets" that explode upon impact. Sub machine guns never run out of ammo. In this film, Chow Yun Fat is the hard boiled policeman and Tony Leung Chiu Wai is an undercover agent that may have gone too far. Like "The Killer," these two dangerous characters gain a grudging respect for each other. Unlike the "The Killer," "Hard Boiled" finds it's big finish in a Hollywood style extravaganza of blood and bullets on a major scale.

Again, this is a really great package with interesting commentary and a few features. Who knew that John Woo's films are influenced by the American musical? I recommend "A Better Tomorrow" to follow up this great set.

After seeing both of these films on video, I wished with all my heart I'd seen them on the big screen. Despite John Woo's success with "Face/Off," after seeing "Hard Boiled," I realized just how much the American movie system dumbed down his work. "The Killer" is a nifty little thriller more about friendship, loyalty, and redemption than about filling flying bodies with lead in slow motion. While some of its scenes are a bit trite, the overall message is sincere, heartfelt, and punctuated with an almost Shakespearean tragic ending. (4 of 5 stars) "Hard Boiled," though, is the perfect action movie. No car chases or aerial stunts are to be found here, but I assure you that it goes through MANY shell casings with extreme grace and style before its operatic denoument. Chow Yun Fat gives a more wrenching performance in "The Killer," but here he exudes his famous charisma like a fire hydrant in summer. "Hard Boiled" is every action fan's dream come true. (5 of 5 stars) Overall: 4 1/2 stars for the two films together.

I don't understand the other reviewer. The Killer is, with Die Hard, the best and most influential action movie of the 1980s, period. Sure, the budget is visibly tighter, but there's more energy and drama in here than just about any action flick ever made!

Hard-Boiled was made later and is essentially just a setup for a one-hour-long shootout -- which is great! It has some of the best-designed (and bloodiest) action scenes ever made, but it's not perfect.
Note: I have the Video versions, not the DVD.

If you have heard much talk about Woo's movies, but you have yet to experience any for yourself, then these two movies are *BY FAR* the best examples of his work you could wish for.

For the uninitiated, John Woo's movies always bear the same credentials, and these two are no exception: Non-Stop, masterfully realized action, and a terrible script that could have fallen from Satan's very backside:

DIALOGUE TAKEN FROM HARD BOILED -"It's a paper Crane. I make one every time I kill somebody. What do you think, should I make you one?" -"No Thanks." - etc etc.

What his Movies lack in script-polish and the like, they more than make up for in the dream-like directing, and astoundingly intense cinematography.

The Killer's bizarre, and often surreal action sequences, will leave you begging for more of the same, yet, if you're new to Woo's wonderous blend of traditional storyline coupled with truly jaw-dropping action sequences, you may doubt his credentials somewhat. From the opening scene in the Yun Fat's hideaway Church, to the terrible Mickey Mouse gags, right through to the bizarre combination of Japanese love songs playing along to some rather gruesome gunfights; The Killer is a must-own. It's a fine example of Woo's work prior to Hard Boiled, which is a good thing, because...

Hard Boiled is simply the Action fans' Action movie. It doesn't get any better than this. From the moment the opening credits begin, you know the guy holding the Tequila (being "slammed" in close-up)is hard as nails. The action simply doesn't stop. Ever. And it's the kind of action that keeps you rooted to your seat. When Yun Fat's character, Tequila, isn't busy being involved in spectacular shoot-outs, he's either back at HQ arguing with the Super in true 'loose-cannon cop' fashion, or he's pistol-whipping Triad bosses. The finale itself clocks in at almost an hour in length!

If you've seen Van Damme in Hard Target, and Travolta & Cage in Face-Off, you still haven't seen and understood exactly why he is the proclaimed god of action the industry says he is. Simply put, Hard Target and Face-Off are Hollywood-diluted and simply pale when sat aside The Killer and Hard Boiled. This is Woo at his finest.

Hard Boiled is one of (if not THE) best action movie ever. Woo's gunfights are like some kind of lethal, but beautiful, dance, especially the opening scene in the teahouse; I've yet to see a better action scene. The Killer is a little more dramatic, but no less good for it. I love the way that Woo interweaves violence and religion, the last shootout in the church is cool (this was probably the inspiration for the standoff in Face/Off). Of course, how could I forget Chow Yun Fat? He is the man, and although he is often typecast as the "killer with a conscince" I haven't gotten tired of it (even in Anna and the King, he was a bad-a**). If you thought Face/Off and Misson Impossible 2 were cool, The Killer and Hard Boiled blows them away.

"Give a man a gun and he is a hero. Give him two and he is God"

Nothing can quite prepare you for the amount of bullets that are used in this film - all done to an impeccable action style that has still not been beat. If there was ever a Guinness Book of Records for the "Most bullets shot in a film" John Woo's Hard Boiled would be first place for a very long time. It is a terrible shame that this director has only been toned-down by Hollywood. There is not a hope that he would be allowed to do what he has done here with Hong Kong actors to the Hollywood cream of the crop. It seems that it is okay to have a Hong Kong Asian to shoot the hell out of everything but this same action when applied to Western culture would only shock and shame. The same can be said for the star of Hard Boiled - Chow Yun-Fat (Crouch Tiger, Hidden Dragon) who since moving to the West has fired less bullets in all his Hollywood films put together than he does in the first five minutes of this film. Does that really matter? In many ways - Yes it does. Unlike THEIR Hollywood films the gun violence here is not gratuitous. It is artistic and warrented. No one can come away from this film to say that have seen unjustified and unnecessary amounts of actions. It is all integral to the style and plot of this movie. Yes, innocent people do get mowed down in a hail of hot lead and yes the violence is bloody, but is that not what gun violence is? Here you see exactly what guns do to people. Forget Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" - The true message of gun control is right here! The plot is even about the dangers of gun smuggling!

One thing for sure is that there is more gratuitous gun violence in most Hollywood productions than there is here. Here we have a hard boiled cop who is assigned to tracking down gun smugglers. He is a hard boiled cop because he knows how to use his guns. His superiors are using him to fight fire with fire. The action gets going from the word go as the hard boiled cop busts a gun dealing operation. His buddy cops and innocent people get killed in the process. He then goes to extract some revenge and put the big gun runners out of business - only problem is there are literally thousands of them he must cut down. Cue unrelenting battle sequences from start to finish all done in excellent style and slow-mo. You have not seen anything like Hard Boiled before, nor will you again. The ending in the hospital is like DIE HARD with ten thousand times more suspense.

Hard Boiled is also a wonderfully acted movie with excellent first rate action direction. The story is also coherent and good, especially for an Asian production. This is every action fans wet dream. Believe me if you have not seen Hard Boiled then it is about time that you did.

Majestic Filmmaking, not to mention John Woo's greatest film. This is the stuff of Legend with an action hero to root for.

If there is one thing that can be said about this double set of John Woo is that it represents the two faces of his story telling: action/drama(The Killer) and all-out-action(Hard-Boiled). Both are exceptional pieces of work and should be checked out by any fan of action movies, which just makes this an even better buy.

Both display the man's crafts hard at work. The Killer works more around building stronger character relationships where as Hard Boiled is just go-for-broke-shoot-many-people-as-possible cinema(phew!). Both work effectively(esspecially in the action department) because of John Woo's directing and cinematagraphy. He minipulates the camera durring the action to stunningly create involving action. Where as most action movies use just cut-away shoot outs, The Killer and Hard Boiled feature frantically moving cameras to keep the action, well, action. His use of symbolism within the movies help add another layer of depth to keep it from just another superficial affair(though its still not exactly thought provoking). Simply put, The Killer and Hard Boiled show a man at the top of his game. My only complaint is the fact that Mission Impossible 2(yuck)is his reference movie. Other than that, this is a must for any fan of the Woo, film noir, action, or just movies in general.

If you're into action movies and, especially Hong Kong action films starring the kickass Chow Yun Fat, then this set is for you. The video and audio are both really excellent, and it is probably the best two versions of these films released over here in the US to date, in my opinion, in terms of overall value and quality. The films are just great, especially the Killer, my favorite John Woo film to date. It's well worth the money, and you get two quality DVDs for a relatively low price. Definitely give this one a go.