The
Gangster (2012/aka Antapal/Magnolia/Magnet Blu-ray)
Picture:
A Sound: B- Extras: C Film: C+
Jod
(Krista Sukosol Clapp) is a promising gangster, deadly in hand to
hand combat, feared and respected by the younger aspiring gangsters
and wanted by the various bosses, whoever has Jod on there side is a
sure win in a fight, but after the death of the Big Boss and Jod
being locked away for 4 years there is a mob war going on who will be
the next Big Boss. All Jod wants now is to live in peace, but in
order to set things right he must face the current group of gangsters
and their predecessors once more in Kongkiat Khomsiri's The
Gangster (2012).
Jod
is considered the made man among the gangsters, but after those four
years of prison, things are different. The mob has actually been
replaced by a corrupt police force and all the remaining mob bosses
are now fighting over who is to be the next chief, while Jod now
tries to avoid violence, he tries to teach the consequences to the
'youngsters' that very person you kill becomes a ghost that will
haunt you for the rest of your life. Knowing nothing else he is
forced to return when his friends and family are threatened.
This
is an Asian mobster movie (shot in Thailand, where we keep getting
interesting feature films) set in the 1950s, the story of once a
gangster... always a gangster; what it means to be a real gangster,
family and loyalty, that is the difference between a common thief or
thug. The movie takes the point of view from two aspiring gangsters
and is narrated by senior citizens who reflect on Jod years later,
that he was the only one 'real gangster'. Well done!
The
1080p 1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image looks extraordinary
throughout with fine detail, great editing and shooting angles that
make sense, while the DTS-HD MA
(Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix is good, but cannot match the imagery
and sometimes is too much towards the front channels, but fits the
film well enough. Extras include making of the film, behind
the scenes, and trailers.
-
Ricky Chiang
