A-1 Headline (A1 tou tiao) (Blu-ray Review)

December 8th, 2009 Blu-ray-au Posted in Blu-ray Movie Reviews | Comments Off

A-1 Headline (A1 tou tiao) (Blu-ray Review)

Gordon Chan and Chung Kai Cheung’s thriller “A1 tou tiao” a.k.a “A-1 Headline” (2004) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Hong Kong-based distributors Panorama. Amongst the supplemental features offered with this release are: an exclusive interview with Gordon Chan and Chung Kai Cheung; an exclusive interview with Anthony Wong; Gala Premiere Footage; trailers and more. With optional English subtitles. Region-Free. …

Video

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Gordon Chan and Chung Kai Cheung’s A-1 Headline arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Hong Kong-based distributors Panorama.

I have mixed feelings about this transfer. There are a number of scenes throughout the film where edge-enhancement is fairly strong. As a result, fine object detail and clarity vary. Contrast levels are not a serious issue of concern, but they are definitely not as con…

Audio

There are three audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1 and Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1. I opted for the Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and later on did a few random comparisons with the Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1 track for the purpose of this review.

There are no serious technical flaws with the Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track to report in this review – the bass is strong, the surround channels not overly act…

Supplements

Note: All of the supplemental features are placed on a separate Region-Free SDVD. Unfortunately, optional English subtitles are not offered for them.

Interview – an exclusive interview with Gordon Chan and Chung Kai Cheung. The two directors discuss the message of their film, the specific shooting techniques they favored, the script, etc. In Cantonese, with optional English subtitles. (11 min, 480/60i).

Interview – an exclusive interview …

Final Words

Gordon Chan and Chung Kai Cheung’s A-1 Headline should appeal primarily to those who believe that any film with Anthony Wong in it is worth seeing. While I have a great deal of respect for the Hong Kong actor and typically enjoy his work, A-1 Headline left me unimpressed. RENT IT. ……

Read full review: Blu-ray.com