Hard Boiled (Two-Disc Ultimate Edition)

Set Contains:

Dragon Dynasty's two-disc "Ultimate" edition is a welcome alternative to the out-of-print Criterion Collection DVD released in 1998. On disc 1, the film is presented in a pristine anamorphic transfer that's every bit as crisp and colorful as Criterion's non-anamorphic transfer was. For purists, a disc-to-disc comparison reveals a very minor difference: The film's original theatrical aspect ratio was 1:85:1, and because this edition is enhanced for viewing on 16 x 9 widescreen TVs (16 x 9 being roughly equivalent to 1.78:1), the result is a very slight image cropping on top, bottom, and sides. (In any case, these are nitpicking differences that only the most exacting videophiles will notice.) Dragon Dynasty's release also uses English "dubtitles," so named because they're taken from the English dub-script written for the film's original English-language dubbing track; while previous DVDs may have offered a more accurate translation from the original Cantonese, Dragon Dynasty's DVD is certainly the most accessible version for those who don't plan on collecting every DVD of Hard Boiled that's ever been released. And while the feature-length commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan may be lacking in critical insight, it's obvious that Logan is a devoted and well-informed fan of the "heroic bloodshed" genre of Hong Kong action films, and his knowledgeable commentary is filled with relevant details that place Hard Boiled in a thorough historical context. (And yes, Logan really is playing a drinking game during his commentary, downing a shot of liquor every time Anthony Wong appears in a different-colored sport coat!)

The special features on disc 2 consist primarily of in-depth interviews with Hard Boiled's core creative team. The absence of Chow Yun-Fat is regrettable, but in the 38-minute "Baptism of Fire" featurette, director John Woo goes into great detail (speaking in English) about how he wanted to create a screen hero like Clint Eastwood or Steve McQueen; how he refined Chow Yun-Fat's "cool" image on screen; how he constantly wanted more gunfire and bigger explosions; and the daily conditions that affected the filming of Hard Boiled. Woo's long-time producing partner, Terence Chang, is the subject of the 25-minute "Partner in Crime" interview, and he brings a producer's budget-minded perspective to his often humorous discussion (in English) about bringing Woo's vision to the screen . In a 15-minute interview, former Hong Kong undercover cop Philip Chan discusses (in English) his co-starring role in Hard Boiled, his experiences working with Woo, Chow Yun-Fat, and others in the cast, and his astute observations about the film's lasting impact. "Mad Dog Bites Again" is a 25-minute interview (in Cantonese) with Hard Boiled villain and action coordinator Kwok Choi, whose onscreen presence is one of the film's most memorable ingredients. The "Location Guide" featurette takes its cues from Bey Logan's commentary, as Chinese-Canadian actress Kea Wong (who played Jubilee in the second and third X-Men movies) hosts a present-day tour of Hong Kong locations (some now gone, some still remaining) used in Hard Boiled. Also included: the film's Hong Kong theatrical trailer and U.S. promotional trailer. --Jeff Shannon