Breaking News | Blu-ray (Chameleon Films)
Chameleon Films’ Blu-ray (Region B) release for Breaking News, a 2004 Hong Kong film from director Johnnie To (Three, A Hero Never Dies), is now available from Goodie Emporium.
The film stars Richie Ren (Bodies at Rest), Kelly Chen (The Monkey King), Nick Cheung (Integrity), Eddie Cheung (Bruce Lee, My Brother), Hui Siu Hung (Naked Killer) and Lam Suet (Undercover Punch and Gun).
Official details:
The premiere of Johnnie To’s Breaking News at Cannes marks the moment when art cinema finally embraced the Hong Kong action genre. Here is a film as intelligent as it is tense as it is well-made. From the breathtaking intricacy of its seven-minute opening take, shot on location in a grungy side street in the New Territories, the complex oppositions that form Hong Kong society are subjected to ruthless scrutiny. The familiar opposition of cops and robbers (led by pop-star Richie Jen) is complicated by a further division between no-nonsense street cops (led by Nick Cheung) and the media-savvy inspector (Kelly Chen).
A stake-out goes wrong and a very public shoot-out leads to an official panic. When the violent, though quietly decent bandits are run to ground in a typically cramped apartment building, it sparks a media circus. Inspector Rebecca Fong (Chen) sees the whole thing as a show, as imagery to be manipulated to her advantage, but the outlaws armed with mobile phones and an internet connection, show that two can play that game. Hong Kong may be a city where media spin is king, but To delves beneath the imagery to the gritty realities that make HK truly unique.
Exclusive Special Features:
- Limited first-pressing collector’s booklet featuring new essays by film writer Hayley Scanlon and film historian Mike Walsh
- New audio commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Frank Djeng
- “A Propaganda Duel” – a newly extended video essay on Breaking News
- Newly translated and improved optional English subtitles
Archival Extras:
- Melbourne International Film Festival 2004 Q&A with Johnnie To
- Behind the scenes
- Deleted scene
- Photo gallery
- Theatrical trailer
Technical Specifications:
- 2.35:1
- 1080p colour
- Cantonese DTS-HD MA 5.1 · LPCM 2.0
- English subtitles
- Region B
- BD-50
Packaged in a Scanavo full sleeved 14mm clear case with a reversible, numbered sleeve that is clean of classification markings and barcode on the alternative side.
This title is now available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!
I don’t know if you guys are aware but Frank Djeng just recorded a commentary with Vincent Lyn for Tiger Cage, and Lyn says it’s for an 88 Films release of Tiger Cage 1-3. I don’t think 88 have formally announced it, but TC 1-3 was on their tease sheet for this year a few months ago. I assumed it would be a reissue of the Vinegar Syndrome Tiger Claws 1-3 but turns out not.
Thanks for the info. Very exciting stuff. 🙂 it’s too bad we are not seeing a splurge like this on the region A side of the world.
Things seem to be changing. In general it seems boutique labels are grasping what a treasure trove HK films are for collectors. Cat III especially seems to be beginning a boom with great releases from Unearthed, Vinegar Syndrome, Error 444, 88 Films etc.
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