DVD & BLU RAY REVIEWS
Reviews by JAIME PINA
Magic Cop
Media Asia Film/88 Films/MVD
I know it sounds ridiculous but this 1990 film comes off like what would have happened if Hong Kong producers brought Sam Raimi and company over to film a live action version of Dr. Strange right after the success of Evil Dead. It is a batshit crazy film about drug cartels using zombies as mules. The police reluctantly call in a detective who specializes in using sorcery to solve cases. It seems he is shunned even though he gets the job done because the other cops think it’s weird. So he teams with two detectives, one who trusts him and the other a non believer, and as they start to see weird shit unfold the film sparks both laughter and thrills and it ends with a battle with the undead that is quite a climax.
Lam Ching-ying stars as the occult detective and he is fun to watch as he puts up with no one’s mess and may seem like a grouchy dad until he commences with the serious martial arts moves. It is also amusing watching him create his magic using fire and incense. There is a romantic side to the story with the magic cop’s niece and the non-believer to keep things mushy but it doesn’t distract too much. There is action, a mystery and horror with a little comedy also.
The disc comes in a slipcase with a poster. The film can be viewed in Cantonese mono or home video stereo mix or with English dubs in surround or 2.0. I watched the Cantonese mix and was happy with my choice. Also included are a Taiwanese cut with a different score, interviews, commentary and a trailer.
The Postman Fights Back
Fortune Star/88 Films/MVD
This 1982 action drama was directed by Ronny Yu, a Hong Kong filmmaker known in the US for directing Bride Of Chucky and Freddy Vs. Jason. There are no fantasy elements in this period piece and it moves a little slow but the fight scenes are great and the excellent acting keeps things going.
Bryan Leung plays a regular guy who delivers mail in his province. There is a railroad coming in soon and he knows that a post office will follow and he will be out of a job. He gets talked into an illicit delivery with two friends and someone sent by the job boss played by a young Chow Yun-Fat. As they encounter attacks along the way it becomes clear that they have been set-up. The skirmishes are good but when the big reveal occurs toward the end and the reckoning and final ass beating comes it is powerful and worth the wait. The actors and choreographers stage an exciting fight that takes its time with ebbs and flows and a banging finish. The disc comes in a slipcase with a reversable cover and poster included. The film is in Cantonese and there is also an English cut with an alternate score. Extras include commentaries, archive interviews with Chow Yun-Fat, Ronny Yu and Leung Kar-Yan, a trailer and more.
Hard Boiled II: The Last Blood
Media Asia Film/88 Films/MVD
The only connection this film has to the original Hard Boiled directed by John Woo and starring Chow Yun-Fat is the use of the title. And there are scenes in a hospital. But much like the John Woo thriller this film is action-packed with amusing characters and exciting set pieces. In the kickass opening we learn about Interpol agents going after terrorists who are hatching a plan to assassinate the visiting Daka Lama. In the airport, the Daka Lama bumps into a young girl and feels a connection with her and it is revealed that they have the same birthday so he declares they will share a similar destiny. When the assassination attempt goes down both are injured and when it is learned that they have the same rare blood type the agents and terrorists both scramble to find the blood donors. While the agents work to keep the donors alive they also try to keep the terrorists from stopping blood from being delivered. The thrills in this film are many and if you like intense Hong Kong cop action this is one I can highly recommend. The disc comes in a slipcase with a reversible cover and a poster is included. The film is in Cantonese or English 2.0 mono. Extras include commentaries, Hong Kong and English trailers.
Taxi Hunter
Media Asia Film/88 Films/MVD
In this 1993 Herman Yau directed film, Anthony Chau-Sang Wong plays a nerdy man who is moving up at his job, has a pregnant wife and seems like a decent guy who wants no trouble. After a couple of very bad experiences involving morally corrupt taxi drivers his life changes drastically. Actor and director take us on a journey of loss, triumph, bad decisions and eventually madness and it is a tough ride but there are several moments of sweetness shown by the protagonist on his wild trip.
Taking elements from films like Falling Down and Taxi Driver and filtering them through another culture’s sensibilities, Taxi Hunter is a highly weird film that moves quick and keeps the viewer fully engrossed in wondering what will happen next. Wong does a superb job on taking the audience on an emotional roller coaster ride as you want to root for him but also see the darkness enveloping him. There is a lot of action, shootouts and blood with intense drama sprinkled with humor.
Taxi Hunter looks and sounds fine. It is a dark film as most of it takes place at night so a certain murkiness is almost mandatory. The disc comes in a slipcase and a poster is included. The film is in Cantonese with English subtitles and has a commentary, includes interviews with action choreographer James Ha and Anthony Chau-Sang Wong, a trailer, and more.