As
The Light Goes Out (2014/Well Go USA Blu-ray)
Picture:
A Sound: B- Extras: C- Film: A-
A
band of brothers are dispatched on Christmas Eve to put out a fire in
an abandoned warehouse, but little do they know it would only a small
prelude to a larger disaster that will soon paralyze the entire city
of Hong Kong. When each choice means life or death, they will have
to decide what is more important, following rules and policies or to
save lives. Their courage will be tested, the bonds will be
tempered, but not all them will be coming home in Derek Kwon aka
Chi-kin Kwok's firemen thriller As The Light Goes Out (2014).
After
ten years, two best friends have gone down separate paths, one was
promoted to a chief of a station, while the other remained in the
field. When a fire is put out at a warehouse near natural gas line
supplying the city's main power station, the Chief wanting things to
be quiet believes everything is alright and gives the all clear sign.
What the Chief really wants is to impress the big wigs and VIPs at
the Firemen's Christmas Ball, but a group of grunt firefighters
believes the damaged pipelines could cause an overload to the main
station (and even after being reprimanded) goes against orders to
inspect the lines.
This
is a story about honor of all the firemen around the world, to the
tireless men who risk their lives so other could live, but like the
world all over, it is often those in the field who have a more true
vision of reality than those in who are charge, those in charge are
often blinded by their own arrogance; more worried about their own
position and power. The moral was following rules and policy IS
important, BUT if those in power ignore those who are in the field,
then their decisions are like wisdom without experience. Jackie Chan
makes a cameo appearance.
The
1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image was shot on RED Epic and
RED ONE MX, downtraded a bit in editing, but a solid presentation
with demo shots throughout. The DTS-HS MA (Master Audio) 5.1 mix is
not bad, but this was a 7.1 theatrical film and why it is not that
way here is odd, leaving this trade-down a mixed bag. Trailers are
the only extra.
-
Ricky Chiang
