CompleteMartialArts.com - Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection
|
List Price: $39.95
Our Price: $22.95
Your Save: $ 17.00 ( 43% )
Availability: N/A
Manufacturer: Criterion
Starring: Bobbie Au-Yeung, Philip Chan, Yun-Fat Chow, Michael Dingo, Jun Kunimura
|
Average Customer Rating:  
|
|
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9781559408677
Format: Color
ISBN: 1559408677
Label: Criterion
Manufacturer: Criterion
Number Of Items: 1
Picture Format: Letterbox
Publisher: Criterion
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 1998-06-10
Running Time: 126
Studio: Criterion
Theatrical Release Date: 1992
|
|
|
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
Violence as poetry, rendered by a master-brilliant and passionate, John Woo's Hard Boiled tells the story of jaded detective "Tequila" Yuen (played with controlled fury by Chow Yun-fat). Woo's dizzying odyssey through the world of Hong Kong Triads, undercover agents, and frenzied police raids culminates unforgettably in the breathless hospital sequence. More than a cops-and-bad-guys story, Hard Boiled continually startles with its originality and dark humor.
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Unbelieveable!
Comment: This movie takes action to levels not seen before or since, The Tea house shootout will blow you away, After seeing this movie I have been hooked on Chinese action films and you will be too! Buy it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: In a Blaze of Glory..
Comment: As has been stated before, this was John Woo's last Hong Kong cinema work before going on to Hollywood. (In a way, I wish he'd stayed, his HK cinema flicks are masterpieces) This film rightfully takes it's place as one of the greatest action movie ever made. Woo tells the tale of a man working in the Hong Kong police department, Inspector Tequila. Tequila plays at the local Jazz Bar, and, having been dumped, spends a lot of time there. The movie begins with him playing a tune that acts as a sort of theme for parts of the movie. Tequila is on a case to find gun runners smuggling Chinese weaponry into the province, and ends up killing a lieutenant in the crime organisation, but not without loosing his partner. Embittered by his loss and inability to help more in the teahouse shootout, he proceeds to disobey orders to leave the case. Meanwhile, the other protagonist, a mob killer (won't say much, it spoils a major plot twist) makes a hit on a man who betrayed his boss, Uncle Hoi, to a major competitor by the name of Johnny Wong. Alan (the killer) will play a major role, and though the film may be rated by some as a stereotypical buddy cop action movie, it's nothing of the sort. Gunfights ranging from raiding a gun shop to saving a hospital make this an electrifying epic, and a fitting swan song to Woo's HK cinema flicks. I highly recommend this, but you might want to keep the kiddies away.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best there ever was, is, and will be. . .
Comment: A quick note on the new Dragon Dynasty edition: To me, the skewing of the aspect ratio was quite noticeable. I thought there was something wrong with my TV or DVD. Until I got on the interweb and found others were having the same issue. The people all appear to have gained 15lbs. (maybe they all just started college). And the use of the dubtitles is pretty bushleague considering it's a DD release. If you have either of the previous offerings there's no need to replace them with this one unless you must have the extras.
"Hard Boiled?" I think not. We simply like to refer to this film as "John Woo/Chow Yun Fat: Unleashed And Fully Funded". Because that is exactly what this film is. The Scorsese and DeNiro of Hong Kong come together for the single greatest display of cinematic action in the history of the medium. And they certainly had to go through enough to get there. "Once A Thief". Two "A Better Tomorrow" flicks. "The Killer". How many classics does one have to turn out in HK before they finally agree to just let you at it?
Either way, HB is a film that sees John Woo at the peak of his action powers. The action is so loose, so massive, and so intricate that it may never be matched again. What's funny to think about is that this film only has three action sequences. That's it. It just so happens that the first one is about the size of any other major action film's closing action finale. After that, they just get bigger. Once you get to the third one, you can sit back and just watch the genius unfold for over 30 minutes solid.
But there is more to this film than just the action. The story is pretty engaging. I've always thought "The Killer" had a bit of a silly story. The hitman doing one last job so as to pay for eye surgery was always a little cheesy (don't get me wrong, it is probably the movie that would be occupying the "greatest action movie" slot had "Hard Boiled" not been made). But the story of a rogue cop and an undercover cop playing cat and mouse and eventually coming together to set it right plays out brilliantly. Also, one thing I rarely see mentioned is just how excellent Tony Leung's performance is. *mild spoiler* When he has to kill his own guy in front of the boss to keep his cover, and walks toward his boss in slo-mo with the smile on his face and then, as soon as he passes the boss, instantly goes to the verge of tears, that is incredible. That is first-rate, all the way. No amateur or stock action star could pull off that performance. *end spolers*
While I've always thought that the action in "The Killer" had a little more artistry and grace to it than "Hard Boiled", HB's action is pretty much fueled by rage and testosterone. It's possible that there have been modern-era wars that had less shots fired than this film. But the action in this film has what must be the most creative "bullet ballet" sequences ever. It's one thing to just have big and long action spots. But the massive puzzle that John Woo assembles here is like a "how-to for gun-fu". The centerpiece of this all being the several-minute, uncut, hand-held single shot that follows our two protagonists through the hospital, into and elevator, up a floor, and out onto a new floor, all while firing guns, reloading, diving, grabbing more guns, dodging, co-ordinating, etc... It must have taken a week just to set that shot up and rehearse it. That shot should go down in the history books.
There's really nothing more to say than just buy it. Seriously. Do you like action movies that have people shooting at one another? Great. This is the best one ever made. When I dropped this movie on the arthouse dorks in my film school, even they had to admit that it surpassed any and all other action flicks ever committed to celluloid (or digital, nowadays). See, the fact that it's Asian and subtitled means you can slip it past your artsy friends. So it's a win/win for everyone. Oh yeah, and Chow has to work on keeping his girlfriend happy, too. So, it's a romance as well. Now you can watch it with your girlfriend, too. It's such a brilliant movie that everyone wins. See, how can you go wrong?
One last thing I forgot to mention, if you have a "Y" chromosome, it is mandated that you see this film. I heard a rumor that Jewish boys have to watch this after their Bar Mitvah to fully complete the process of becoming a man. Some African tribes send their boys into the wilderness with nothing but a spear and a portable DVD player with this film on it in order to attain the "rights of manhood". It doesn't matter how old you are or what you do for a living. If you haven't seen this, you're not a man, yet. I think you get the point.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Hard Boiled Delivers
Comment: A great action movie. John Woo delivers in this film. Also check out The Killer.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Woo's Finest.
Comment: It is debated whether or not John Woo's films lost a touch when he came to America. Well even if you don't like his newer films, this movie should not be missed. Amazing shootouts leaving you wonder where they get 50 round magazines for pistols...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|