DVD DETAILS
Hong Kong region free DVD
DVD COVER
  • Front
    front cover
  • Back
    back cover
DISC
  • Distributor
    Universe Laser & Video Co.
  • Region Code
    All
  • Running Time
    114 mins
  • Rating Category
    III
PICTURE
  • Aspect Ratio
    1,85:1
  • Anamorph
    No
  • Subtitles
    English
    Chinese (Traditional)
    Chinese (Simplified)
SOUND
  • Language(s)
    Mandarin
    Cantonese
  • Format
    Dolby Digital 5.1
EXTRAS
  • Trailer
  • Cast info
ABOUT THIS DVD

Another Universe DVD, but this one doesn't quite live up to their standard.

The film has a grainy, rough look that suits the story well, but may bother DVD enthusiasts. Artifacts are present frequently throughout the film. Blacks seems solid but shadows lack definition. Often dark parts of the image will go totally black, with no sign of details.

A special technique is used in some of the fight scenes. The result is a slow motion-like blurring of the image. These scenes are, for some reason, specially troublesome in terms of artifacts, displaying a hazy filter that kind of sticks to the camera and is quite visible in fast camera pans.

But Hong Kong by night is beautifully rendered in vibrant colors, making it easy to forgive these shortcomings. Strong colors have a tendency to bleed, but in my opinion this simply adds to the unpolished look of the film. The print is relatively clean, with only occasional specks or hairs. Not too bad.

Subtitles are in white with a black edge. They move VERY fast (especially in the beginning), and I often had to rewind to catch every bit of the dialogue. The grammar and language is less than perfect, but not distractingly so. Once you get over how fast they move, you should be okay.

There are 8 chapters, with moving images, a trailer, and profiles for 3 of the leads.

David Bjerre