Heart of Dragon Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Heart of Dragon," brought to us by Arrow Video, boasts an AVC encoded 1080p transfer that stays true to the original 1.85:1 ratio, and accompanies it with the film's initial Cantonese, Mandarin, and English monoaural soundtracks. This release draws its restoration from a 2K resolution, meticulously applied to both the original Hong Kong Theatrical Cut and the Extended Cut initially seen in Japan. These restorations, contributed by Fortune Star and supplemented by elements from Shochiku Co., Ltd., aim to rejuvenate the film while preserving its essence. According to the included Arrow's insert booklet, these remasters were derived from the original negative, ensuring that fans receive a presentation as close to the filmmaker's intent as possible.

Visually, the Blu-ray release impresses with a vivid color palette and significantly enhanced details throughout. The packaging clarifies a meticulous effort in maintaining original film elements, presenting an overall attractive look with particular attention to the finesse in costume patterns and fabric textures. However, it's worth mentioning that the few additional scenes integrated from the Japanese version occasionally exhibit a subtle dip in quality. Moments of what appears to be chunky, pixelated grain are rare but noteworthy, potentially distracting from an otherwise crisp and filmic appearance.

In terms of technical execution, this Blu-ray excels in offering depth of field and maintaining detail integrity during dynamic camera movements, especially notable in outdoor sequences and action scenes that frame the narrative. While most of the film benefits from a tight resolution of grain contributing to its authentic film look, occasional lapses do occur. These minor inconsistencies slightly mar an otherwise exemplary restoration effort, deserving a commendation with a rating of 4.25 for its visual fidelity and commitment to restoration excellence.

The Blu-ray release of "Heart of Dragon" presents a diverse auditory experience across its various cuts, all utilizing DTS-HD Master Audio Mono for its delivery. For aficionados of the original, the Hong Kong Cut provides options in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English, catering to a broad spectrum of preferences. Meanwhile, the Extended Japanese Cut offers a nuanced choice between Cantonese tracks - with or without the original Hong Kong score - in addition to English. This range ensures that viewers can experience the film in a manner that best suits their linguistic and auditory preferences, enhancing their viewing pleasure.

However, it's important to note that while the audio options are comprehensive, they are not without their flaws. Across the board, there is a tendency for the audio to come across as slightly harsh in the upper registers. Moreover, listeners might encounter occasional minor distortions such as a slight crackle during some of the musical segments. These issues, though relatively minor and not detracting significantly from the overall experience, are nonetheless present and worth considering for audiophiles seeking pristine audio quality.

The differentiation in audio quality among the languages is subtle but observable. The English audio track offers a richer experience in terms of midrange and low-end frequencies, providing a fuller auditory experience. Conversely, the Mandarin track leans towards brightness in its higher frequencies, which might not suit all listeners. Despite these variances, each track maintains a commendable level of clarity in delivering dialogue, sound effects, and musical scores. Additionally, the option for English subtitles adds a layer of accessibility, ensuring that all viewers can fully engage with the film irrespective of their audio preference.

The Blu-ray release of "Heart of Dragon" is an exemplary showcase of how to package a film for home media. Arrow Video's treatment includes both the Hong Kong Theatrical Cut and an Extended Japanese Cut, allowing viewers to choose their preferred version, each presented in high definition. The extras are plentiful and diverse, ranging from behind-the-scenes featurettes to in-depth interviews with key figures like Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, offering fans a comprehensive look into the making and legacy of this film. Notably, the disc features a commentary by Frank Djeng & FJ DeSanto that gives valuable insights into the movie's production and impact. What sets this release apart is not just the quantity of the extras, but their quality and how they cater to both English-speaking audiences with subtitles when necessary and the film's international fanbase with a variety of subtitled content. This Blu-ray release is a must-have for enthusiasts of Hong Kong cinema, blending a respectful presentation of the film with an array of special features that enhance the viewing experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Hong Kong Theatrical Cut & Extended Japanese Cut: Accessible via Choose Version option.
• Commentary by Frank Djeng & FJ DeSanto: Insights into the movie's production and cultural impact.
• The First Mission Behind the Scenes: Featurettes produced by Shochiku for the Japanese release.
• The Making of The First Mission: A detailed behind-the-scenes look with multi-language subtitles.
• The First Mission: Pre-Release Event: An event featurette subtitled in English.
• Archive Interviews: Including interviews with Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Rocky Lai, and Arthur Wong.
• Alternate English Credits: An alternate version of the movie's credits.
• Trailer Gallery: Includes HK Theatrical Trailer, English Export Trailer, Japanese Theatrical Trailer and Teasers, and Fortune Star Re-Release Trailer.
• Image Gallery: A collection of high-definition images from the film.
• Additionally, the set includes an insightful booklet with essays, reversible cover art with a mini poster, and a protective slipcover.

Heart of Dragon," despite its billing and the inclusion of action stars Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, diverts from expectations, presenting more as a deep character study rather than the anticipated martial arts extravaganza. Viewers anticipating non-stop action may find themselves taken aback by the film's nuanced exploration of the relationship between Ted (Chan), a somewhat rogue cop, and his developmentally disabled brother Dodo (Hung). This shift in focus from action to a more emotionally resonant narrative underscores the versatility of Chan and Hung but might disappoint those looking for a straightforward action film. The movie’s engagement with themes of family and responsibility, juxtaposed against the backdrop of a few action sequences that feel somewhat out of place, reflects an attempt to broaden the typical action genre to include more substantial character dynamics.

The movie's presentation on Blu-ray brings to light not only the film's thematic divergences but also language and terminology that have evolved over time. The English language trailer’s reference to Dodo with now-dated terminology highlights the shifting landscape of language sensitivity, paralleling the movie's own narrative of understanding and empathy amidst societal expectations. Furthermore, the disc supplements, including alternate titles and trailers that market the film as a pure action feature, contribute to a dissonance between expectation and reality—a "bait and switch" that adds an interesting layer to its reception.

Despite these thematic and linguistic peculiarities, "Heart of Dragon" serves as a landmark in both Chan and Hung's illustrious careers, showcasing their willingness to tackle more complex emotional narratives. However, the film's oscillating tone and the somewhat jarring insertion of action sequences suggest an uncertainty in fully committing to either the action or drama genres. This Blu-ray presentation encapsulates these contradictions, offering not just a movie, but a reflection on evolving language, genre expectations, and the versatility of its stars.

The Blu-ray presentation of "Heart of Dragon," featuring notable performances by Hung and Chan, showcases a commendable effort in diverging from their usual martial arts genre to explore more nuanced storytelling, even if the result may not resonate as strongly with current sensibilities or expectations for political correctness. While the film itself weaves through moments of compelling emotion—sometimes bordering on excessive—it notably diverges from the anticipated martial arts spectacle, potentially leaving fans of the genre underwhelmed. The technical aspects of the Blu-ray are delivered with a commendable level of quality, complemented by a collection of enjoyable supplementary materials that are likely to appeal to collectors and fans alike interested in deeper insights into the film's production and legacy.

The visual and audio presentation of this release maintains a solid standard, ensuring that the film's mix of drama and action sequences are well served, despite the inherent challenges posed by the film’s age and stylistic choices. The supplements package included provides an additional layer of value, offering an insightful glimpse into the making of "Heart of Dragon," its cultural context, and the creative ambitions behind this unique entry in Hung and Chan's filmographies. These features collectively enhance the viewing experience, offering both entertainment and a richer appreciation for the film's attempts at genre blending.

In conclusion, while "Heart of Dragon" may not entirely satisfy those seeking the high-octane action typically associated with Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung collaborations, its Blu-ray release stands as a solid piece of cinema history. Through its technical merits and engaging supplementary content, this edition offers a noteworthy look at an ambitious endeavor by two of Hong Kong cinema's most iconic figures to stretch beyond their comfort zones—a venture that, despite its flaws, deserves recognition and consideration by fans and cinephiles alike.