Dragon Inn Blu-ray Review

Presented in its native aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, King Hu's "Dragon Inn" finds its way to Blu-ray through Criterion's meticulous efforts. This restoration, commissioned by the Ministry of Culture and Chinese Taipei Film Archive in 2013, was overseen by renowned cinematographer Hua Hui-ying and meticulously executed in 4K on an ARRISCAN Archive Gui film scanner from the original 35mm negative. Notably, the restoration work was performed by L'Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, utilizing tools like Revival from DaVinci/Blackmagic and Digital Vision's Phoenix to enhance the picture quality.

Despite the pedigree of its restoration process, there are notable issues. While the color grading supervised by Hua Hui-ying for this release should have been a high point, it retains the anomalies observed in the earlier Region-B release by Eureka Entertainment. Key scenes suffer from collapsed dynamic range—evident in screencaptures #11 and #19—where a pervasive layer of flat grey digital artifact detracts from the film's intended depth. These issues suggest potential LUT misconfigurations during initial data grading, leading to an inorganic image presentation. However, on the positive side, image stability is excellent and free from distracting large debris or conventional age-related imperfections.

The video presentation boasts overall cleanliness, vibrancy, and artifact-free visuals, with grain maintained consistently though never distractingly. It encapsulates the film's original capture technique well. Wide vistas are detailed meticulously, with rocky terrains appearing vivid and close-ups displaying actors' emotions and costumes effectively. This release would have benefited from a jump to 4K UHD, but Criterion's current effort still captures much of Dragon Inn’s visual essence.

The "Dragon Inn" Blu-ray release is equipped with a Mandarin LPCM 1.0 audio track, accompanied by optional English subtitles that are displayed within the image frame. The audio has undergone a full restoration process. However, despite these efforts, certain segments retain a thinness in sound quality. This thinness likely stems from the original recording equipment and the existing audio elements, which may not have been in pristine condition. Nonetheless, the overall audio quality remains respectable given these constraints.

The monaural track presents a robust auditory experience, albeit within the limitations of its single-channel format. Although it would have been desirable for elements to be distributed across a multi-channel setup to fully utilize the back half of the room, the monaural output effectively emphasizes clear dialogue, which is crucial given the film’s fast-paced narrative. The soundtrack's musical elements are subtle and do not detract from the primary focus on verbal exchanges, ensuring that viewers, particularly those relying on subtitles, can follow the storyline without difficulty.

The Blu-ray release of "Dragon Inn" by Criterion offers an exceptional suite of extras that delve deeply into the film’s historical and technical significance. Highlights include Grady Hendrix’s engaging analysis, which meticulously breaks down the action choreography and cinematic techniques employed by King Hu to craft the film’s iconic fight scenes. Accompanying insights from actors Shih Chun and Shangkuan Ling-Fung provide invaluable context on their careers and Hu's directorial approach. The archival newsreel and original trailer further enrich the viewer’s understanding of the film's initial reception. Coupled with a beautifully illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic Andrew Chan, this collection is a must-watch for film enthusiasts and scholars.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: Restored trailer for "Dragon Inn" with English subtitles.
• The Phoenix Rises: Interview with Shangkuang Ling-fung on her acting debut.
• Making History: Featurette with Shih Chun on his role in "Dragon Inn."
• Art in Action: Analysis by Grady Hendrix on King Hu’s martial art style.
• Premiere Newsreel: Archival footage from the film's premiere in Taipei.
• Leaflet: Illustrated leaflet with an essay by Andrew Chan.

Dragon Inn, directed by King Hu in 1967, comes alive on Criterion's meticulously restored Blu-ray. Set in the turbulent eighth year of the Jinghtai Era during the Ming dynasty, the narrative revolves around a ruthless eunuch, Zhao Shao Qin, who wields immense power in the Chinese government. Zhao Shao Qin orchestrates the assassination of Minister of Defense Yu Qian and dispatches assassins to Dragon Inn to kill Yu's children. Their plans are thwarted when the cunning swordsman Xiao Shaozi and the Zhu brothers arrive, leading to a series of engaging confrontations. While some subplots may seem convoluted and characters' motivations obscure at times, the overarching conflict is clear and grounds the action in a timeless struggle of good versus evil.

The film's defining features are its brilliantly choreographed fight sequences, which, despite becoming somewhat repetitive, showcase exceptional athleticism and ingenuity. Dragon Inn's influence extends far into cinematic history, both reflecting and shaping the wuxia genre. The high point in these sequences, such as the acrobatic battle against eunuch Pi (Ying Bai), demonstrates Hu's ability to stage elaborate fight scenes with minimal wire work, a remarkable feat for its time. These fights are complemented by epic widescreen cinematography, capturing the scenic Taiwanese landscapes and contrasting the vibrant costumes of the antagonists with the austere attire of the protagonists.

Criterion’s Blu-ray features a 4K restoration converted to 1080p, with mono Mandarin audio and optional English subtitles. The extensive supplementary materials enhance understanding of King Hu’s technique and his significant impact on cinema. This release underscores Dragon Inn's status as a masterpiece of martial arts cinema, blending engaging storytelling with extraordinary visual and technical artistry.

The Blu Ray release of "Dragon Inn" under review is a mixed bag in terms of presentation quality. While the restoration by L'Immagine Ritrovata offers an accessible window into King Hu's influential 1967 classic, it is not without imperfections. Critics have pointed out color scheme issues and visible digital anomalies that detract from the overall viewing experience. These issues likely would not have surfaced under Criterion's meticulous restoration standards.

Despite these flaws, the engaging narrative and masterful direction by King Hu shine through, making "Dragon Inn" an essential viewing experience for fans of classic martial arts cinema. The film's influence on contemporary directors like Antoine Fuqua and Quentin Tarantino is evident, and the bonus features included in the release offer valuable insights into Hu's techniques and his broader impact on the genre. Notably, the bonus features enrich the viewer's experience, providing context that elevates the film beyond its visual presentation shortcomings.

In conclusion, while the current restoration of "Dragon Inn" may not be the definitive version purists might hope for, it remains a worthwhile acquisition due to its significant bonus features. Criterion's potential future involvement could indeed vault this title to new heights of presentation quality. As it stands, this release allows fans and newcomers alike to appreciate King Hu's cinematic prowess and the lasting legacy of his work. Recommended for its historical and educational value, despite technical limitations.