Extraordinary Mission Blu-ray Review

"Extraordinary Mission" is presented on Blu-ray with a 1080p AVC encoded transfer in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, utilizing footage captured digitally with Red Epic Dragon cameras. The Blu-ray exhibits sharp and clean daylight shots that enhance the film's visual appeal. The intricately detailed close-ups showcase every drop of sweat and grime, illustrating the rugged environment and its characters vividly. Notably, the night shots feature a pronounced gold hue, contributing to a distinctive color grading style. However, some scenes are affected by mild banding and slight crush, which marginally detracts from the overall quality.

The presentation generally offers high-quality renditions of fine details, though certain dark sequences exhibit softness and occasional digital artifacts that may resemble upscaled visuals. The color grading strategy, characterized by a gold and green palette, influences the overall tone—occasionally resulting in washed-out black levels during night scenes. Despite these minor imperfections, outdoor sequences—with their complex details like foliage and water—are impressively rendered. The Blu-ray transfer, derived from a 2K Digital Intermediate (DI) possibly culled from higher resolution captures, generally provides a visually engaging and satisfactory viewing experience for fans of the film.

Extraordinary Mission features a nicely vigorous sounding DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that has a lot of low end courtesy of both LFE and regular use of kind of rolling synth pads in the lowest frequencies that spill through the surround channels. Things like car (and other vehicle) chases offer great opportunities for excellent immersion and well placed effects. Dialogue (including some voiceover narration by Lin Kai) is rendered cleanly and clearly on this problem free track.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track provided by the Blu-ray of Extraordinary Mission delivers a robust and engrossing audio experience. This mix offers profound low-frequency effects (LFE), contributing to a pronounced and immersive atmosphere. Particularly notable are the synth pads that contribute to the ambient soundscape, offering a nuanced and well-rounded audio presence. The surround channels are adeptly utilized, enhancing scenes such as vehicular chases by creating an enveloping auditory experience that significantly uplifts the on-screen action. Meanwhile, dialogue clarity remains uncompromised, with Lin Kai’s voiceover seamlessly blending into the mix without distortion or noise distractions.

'''Extraordinary Mission has an immersive and lively DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, resplendent with resonant low-end frequencies. The low frequencies are robustly supported by meticulous LFE integration, and ambient synth pads significantly enhance the surround sound field, providing an expansive auditory environment. Action sequences, especially those involving vehicles, shine with precision placement of sound effects that deliver heightened realism and engagement. Throughout it all, dialogue and voiceover segments are pristinely delivered, maintaining clear audibility against the dynamic backdrop, ensuring no loss in narrative clarity. This mix efficiently balances impactful effects with clear vocal reproduction to create an all-encompassing sound experience.

The audio mix on Extraordinary Mission’s Blu-ray is propelled by a vigorous DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which ensures a substantial low-end presence enhanced by LFE and rolling synth pads. This combination underscores action-packed scenes, such as vehicle chases, with immersive precision. The balanced use of surround channels integrates these elements holistically, immersing viewers more deeply into the film's diegesis. Dialogue reproduction is consistent and clear, with no discernible issues, allowing voiceovers and spoken lines to be delivered cleanly within this dynamic soundscape.

The Blu-ray of "Extraordinary Mission" presents a tepid selection of extras, primarily comprising a standard Electronic Press Kit (EPK) and a short trailer. The "Making of Extraordinary Mission" offers a basic, yet informative, glimpse into the film’s production process, featuring concise interviews, minimal behind-the-scenes footage, and interwoven film clips. Despite the brevity, the insights provided add some value for enthusiasts interested in the movie’s internal mechanics. Equally straightforward, the included trailer briefly encapsulates the film’s core action elements without much in-depth content.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making of Extraordinary Mission: Basic EPK with brief interviews, film scenes, and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Trailer: Quick snapshot of the film's highlights.

"Extraordinary Mission," directed by Alan Mak, stands out as one of the most compelling action/thriller/cop movies emanating from China in recent years. The film stars Xuan Huang as Lin Kai, an undercover cop who is disavowed by his superiors and tasked to infiltrate a sophisticated heroin cartel led by Eagle, played by Yihong Duan. Despite initial hesitations due to its thematic similarities with "Operation Mekong," the movie surpasses expectations, delivering a narrative replete with intense drama and thrilling action sequences. What sets it apart is Mak’s skillful direction that cleverly balances suspense with an explosive finale, solidifying the film's position as a noteworthy entry in the genre.

The film’s structure is noteworthy for its division into three distinct parts. The first two acts offer a gripping cop drama filled with subterfuge and multilayered secrecy that keeps viewers engaged. The third act unequivocally catapults the movie into high-octane action territory. This 40-minute climax involves intricate stunt work, relentless firefights, and compelling choreography, earning the film accolades such as Best Action Choreographer and Best Special Effects at the Jackie Chan Action Movie Awards. The juxtaposition of dramatic tension and action-packed resolution makes for an engaging viewing experience, amplified by Fletcher Poon’s exceptional cinematography that breathes life into the visually captivating yet perilous setting of the Golden Triangle.

While "Extraordinary Mission" does not bring revolutionary changes to the undercover cop trope, it does infuse a necessary grit and realism. The performances are robust, with Xuan Huang bringing depth to Lin Kai and Yihong Duan portraying a convincingly menacing Eagle. The film also broaches the topic of addiction and corruption within police ranks, adding layers to its already rich narrative. Despite some narrative predictability and a somewhat disorganized timeline, the film’s engaging plot twists and high-quality production make it a must-watch for fans of action thrillers looking for a modern yet nostalgic action cinematic experience.

"Extraordinary Mission" is a solid addition to the undercover cop thriller genre. Directed by Alan Mak and Anthony Pun, the film features strong performances from Yihong Duan, Xuan Huang, and Yueting Lang. The movie excels in delivering a balanced mix of action-packed sequences and emotionally intense drama. Notably, it stands out for its robust editing, a notable achievement given the often-mixed results in Chinese cinema. Despite its conventional storyline, "Extraordinary Mission" manages to engage the audience through its well-executed set pieces that keep the adrenaline pumping.

From a technical perspective, the Blu-ray release of "Extraordinary Mission" is impressive. The video quality is solid with a 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio, although some minor oddities can be noticed occasionally. Audio performance in Mandarin DTS-HD MA 5.1 is exceptional, providing an immersive experience that enhances the overall impact of the film. The subtitles are clear and accurately translated, ensuring accessibility for non-Mandarin speakers. However, the Blu-ray extras are limited to a single behind-the-scenes featurette and a few previews, which might leave fans desiring more.

In conclusion, while "Extraordinary Mission" may not redefine its genre, it offers a competent and engaging action thriller experience. The high-quality audio and good video presentation on the Blu-ray are commendable, although the paucity of extras is a slight drawback. This film is certainly worth watching for fans of the genre, providing enough excitement and drama to satisfy its audience. With its polished technical specs and engaging content, "Extraordinary Mission" is certainly a valuable addition to any action-thriller enthusiast's collection.