Triad Underworld

BLOOD BROTHERS
[Tian Tang Kou]

(Hong Kong - 2007)

DVD aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Theatrical aspect ratio: 2.39:1 (Super 35)
Theatrical soundtrack: Dolby Digital

John Woo's name features heavily on the packaging for this inauspicious DVD release from First Look Pictures, though the film was actually helmed by debutant director Alexi Tan who struggles to contrive an authentic Hong Kong blockbuster. The plot is loosely based on Woo's magnificent BULLET IN THE HEAD (1990), in which three childhood friends (led by the ubiquitous Daniel Wu) travel to wartime Shanghai in search of fame and fortune, only to suffer a variety of emotional traumas whilst in the employ of a ruthless gangster. Tan's film lacks the scope of Woo's masterpiece, but the period decor and heartfelt melodrama provide note-perfect counterpoint to explosions of high-kicking violence.

Unfortunately, First Look's DVD is a travesty of colossal proportions and should to be avoided at all costs. Filmed in Super 35 for a 2.35:1 release print (and transferred at that ratio for its Asian home video debut), First Look's US disc has been cropped to 1.78:1. Worse still, the image hasn't been 'opened up' from the original Super 35 frame, it's been cropped from a 2.35:1 element, with severe image-loss at either side of the picture at all times. To add insult to injury, the closing titles of the main feature *and* the accompanying trailer are both framed correctly, which rubs your nose in the fact that the rest of the film is so obviously compromised.

To make matters worse, the only English subtitle option for this Mandarin-language film is for the deaf and hard of hearing. Which is fair enough if you *are* deaf or hard of hearing, but the majority who *aren't* are therefore required to suffer on-screen descriptions of various sound effects, many of which last an extremely long time indeed.

In short, the disc should be recalled and remastered, and anyone who has already bought a copy of this initial version should be reimbursed or supplied with a 'corrected' replacement.

I don't usually write to many negative reviews for products but I thought I'd say something about this disc which I picked up today when I spied it in a local store. Now right off let me say I'm not going to bash the film. I grew up watching John Woo films so his name lead me to this but I'm not going to critique him or the film. Rather a word of warning on the disc itself. I bought it rather hastily because of Mr. Woo's name attachment and I've been mulling over a decision to pick up an all region copy for some time. However seeing that it would recieve an American release I waited and was somewhat suprised to find it in a store today. I bought it as fast as I could. So fast indeed that I didn't notice printing on the packaging stating that the film only contained English audio. Thankfully though thats a small misprint as the film does have the original Mandarin audio. But upon watching the movie two more flaws perk up. One are the subtitles annoyingly more captions as every line gets a little connotation like captions would say if character Mark is speaking highlighting him by (Mark) before the dialogue. I've also seen several previews for the film on Youtube and could feel something off with the framing of the image. Now I know I should take something from the IMDB with heavy skepticism but when trailers show an image to be 2:35.1 the same as listed in the technical specs on the IMDB but the image presented on DVD is somewhere in the 1:85.1 range greatly limiting the image composition I do tend to think something was mucked up in the DVD. In short First Look Studios dropped the ball with this release. I don't expect extra features to rival the original release but couple bad subtitles with a cropped image and I can't recommend the release, especially when its going for a full retail price. Hopefully First Look will rectify this error.

In the realm of Asian crime drama, the Hong Kong thriller "Triad Underworld" (Gong wu) has never been considered a stand-out in a very overcrowded genre. Maybe that's why this 2004 release hasn't had a North American distribution deal until now. It's a shame really--far less interesting movies have made that leap in a much quicker timeframe. Nevertheless, those that enjoy the genre should find this an appealing addition. In truth, nothing in regard to plotting hasn't been covered in countless other films--but the movie succeeds with a narrative sleight-of-hand that is very effective. It's a surprisingly clever film with impassioned performances and good action set pieces. That makes it an easy recommendation for fans of Triad mayhem. If these Asian shoot-em-ups, however, are not you're cup of tea--you might want to start with some of the classic examples of the genre to get your feet wet.

One of my favorites, Andy Lau, plays the mob boss. When a hit is ordered on his life, the grounded leader must contend with his volatile best friend (Jacky Cheung) and a trio of opportunistic associates. Lau and Cheung, having grown up together, have very different management styles and there is heated discourse about the best way to handle the complexities of the night before them. The scenes between the friends have an escalating tension that is riveting. The highpoint of the entire movie is a dramatic discussion at a dinner table that seems to be floating through the air. It's a simple visual device that ratchets up the drama in an extraordinary way. In addition to this story, we also see a young gangster who agrees to take on his first hit. As a single evening unfolds, everyone must contend with the violence that being a part of the Triad brings--and a final bloody showdown is orchestrated with precision.

More than anything, the film's screenplay holds the tale and its intricacies in check. It is smart and twisty enough to entertain even the most jaded of fans. All the performers are terrific, but I especially enjoyed the ferocity that Cheung brings to the table. It is a great counterpoint to the more level headed Lau. The movie begins on a very chaotic note as it introduces all of its characters. In fact, it took a little while for the film to find the right balance--but once it settles into the main story line, the actors are allowed to really sell the narrative. I quite enjoyed "Triad Underworld." Once it takes hold, you'll go with it until the bloody and surprising finale. KGHarris, 9/11.