Supercop: Two-Disc Ultimate Collection (1993/Dragon Dynasty/Genius DTS DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: B Extras: C Film: C
I have
never been a Jackie Chan fan and never will, but Stanley Tong’s Supercop (1993) is always sited as one
of his best films, maybe because it combines comedy and martial arts in a new
way or is lucky enough to pair him with Michelle Yeoh. It was even issued in the old 12” LaserDisc
format by Criterion, but it is still as mess and for fans only as he plays a
cop and she a fed.
There is
some chemistry as their characters battle yet another drug ring (as if there
were no other evils in the world to battle) and though they do their own
stunts, the script is pretty run of the mill.
Yeoh actually outperforms just about everyone and steals what little
movie is here. Fans will like it and
some who are into martial arts will enjoy it, but it remains as overrated as
ever and except for Yeoh, there is little to recommend.
The
anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image is colorful and looks like it comes from
a new print, but it is still somehow a bit softer than it should be. Fortunately, the DTS 5.1 mix is very
impressive and the default highlight of the set, easily outperforming the Dolby
Digital 5.1 mix and is better than even what Criterion offered.
Extras on
DVD 1 include another informative feature length audio commentary by film
scholar Bey Logan, who makes watching this easier, than DVD 2 adds separate
on-camera interviews with the leads, another with Tong and a fourth with Chan bodyguard/training
partner/Co-Star Ken Lo. Yes, I even
liked the extras a little more.
- Nicholas Sheffo
