Revenge of the Green Dragons Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Revenge of the Green Dragons" by Lionsgate Films boasts an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The video transfer shows a generally satisfactory layer of grain, accommodating the film's gritty aesthetic with meticulous fidelity. A significant portion of the film occurs in low-light conditions, which somewhat restrains the exhibition of fine details. However, when scenes shift to brighter, outdoor environments, the sharpness, and clarity of the image improve significantly. The transfer's organic appearance effectively translates the director's vision of a claustrophobic atmosphere filled with looming shadows and murky greens and yellows. Despite being confined to a BD-25, the transfer avoids notable compression artifacts.

The video maintains a visually engaging depth, ensuring a compelling visual experience with moments that preserve the dated 80’s aesthetic while seamlessly transitioning to more modern scenes. Black levels are robust, providing contrast against the dimly lit backdrop without falling into crush territory. This is crucial for maintaining the film's gritty, grime-laden ambiance. Color reproduction varies as intended—remaining muted during high-tension scenes of violence and reviving under vibrant neon lighting for specific interior or exterior scenes. Flesh tones are rendered authentically, offering life-like hues unless purposefully altered during instances of intense action.

Minor noise and artifacts are present, likely inherent to the film's original source, contributing a stylishly gritty texture rather than detracting from the overall visual quality. These elements combine to deliver an atmospheric presentation that remains true to the thematic demands of the narrative while leveraging the technical capabilities of Blu-ray to their fullest extent.

Revenge of the Green Dragons' DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track offers a dynamic and aggressive auditory experience, aptly reflecting the film's high-octane narrative. The soundscape is bustling with the vivid noises of a frenetic cityscape, punctuated by the visceral sounds of gunfire and instances of brutal violence. The dialogue, which flip-flops between Cantonese and English, is predominantly clear, with optional subtitles available for non-English sections and forced yellow subtitles for English moments. Although accents occasionally pose a minor challenge, the audio fidelity remains exemplary with no discernible issues.

The soundtrack’s dynamics are exceptional, deftly transitioning between booming action sequences and quieter, more introspective moments, enhancing the overall realism. Low-frequency extension is robust, particularly illuminating the intense scenes of gang warfare. The surround sound presentation is immersive; rear channels effectively capture the ricochets of bullets and screeching cars, creating an enveloping 360-degree audio field. Mark Kilian's overwrought score contributes to the rich surround activity, ensuring that every action-packed moment resonates with intensity. Dialogues are consistently well-reproduced, maintaining clarity throughout and firmly anchoring this technically proficient audio mix.

The Blu-ray extras for "Revenge of the Green Dragons" provide a substantial behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process. The audio commentary with Directors Andrew Lau and Andrew Loo is introspective, though occasionally difficult to hear over some film segments. Deleted scenes are short and offer insight into the film's final cut decisions. "The Not So American Dream: The Cast" features candid and humorous interviews with the main actors, blending insightful and offbeat moments. In "Stitches in Time: Costume Design," designer Elisabeth Vastola elaborates on developing the film’s period-specific look. "A Claustrophobic World: Production Design" shows how Wing Lee recreated 1980s New York City.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Director Andrew Lau and Co-Writer/Director Andrew Loo: Insight into shooting, budget concerns, and actor interactions.
• Deleted Scenes: Brief scenes showing narrative exclusions.
• The Not So American Dream: The Cast: Interviews revealing cast dynamics.
• Stitches in Time: Costume Design: Overview of period-specific costume development.
• A Claustrophobic World: Production Design: Discussion on recreating 1980s NYC.

"Revenge of the Green Dragons" presents a compelling yet erratically executed narrative set against the 1980s backdrop of illegal immigration and gang activity in Queens, New York. The opening montage, featuring historical political figures discussing immigration, immediately offers an intriguing contextual primer that reflects ongoing debates. Despite these strong thematic roots, the film predominantly feels like a rehash of various gangster tropes. Executive Producer Martin Scorsese's involvement raises expectations, but the film remains largely underwhelming in comparison to his previous works such as "Gangs of New York."

Inspired by a factual account from The New Yorker, the film chronicles the tumultuous journey of two Chinese youths, Sonny and Steven, who become embroiled in gang culture. Despite frenetic pacing and intense action sequences, the narrative suffers due to convoluted character introductions and a lack of coherence in its story development. Notable performances by Alex Fox and Justin Chong as Sonny, and Michael Gregory Fung and Kevin Wu as Steven depict their transformation into hardened gang members. However, key plot developments often occur abruptly, sacrificing depth for the sake of momentum.

While the film aims to shed light on the limited opportunities leading immigrants to crime, it frequently gets sidetracked by gratuitous violence and a disjointed love story. Ray Liotta’s portrayal of FBI agent Michael Bloom adds little beyond a caricature of racial prejudice. Ultimately, "Revenge of the Green Dragons" attempts to deliver both poignant social commentary and visceral action but ends up offering an uneven blend that fails to do justice to either. For viewers seeking sheer thrill from over-the-top action and graphic violence, it may suffice, yet it remains a missed opportunity to meaningfully explore some very real and nuanced issues.

"Revenge of the Green Dragons" arrives on Blu-ray with a conceptually intriguing premise delving into the dark side of the American Dream. At its core, it explores the harsh realities of socioeconomic disadvantage but falters significantly in its execution. The narrative, despite moving at a breakneck pace, suffers from underdeveloped plotlines and heavily relies on clichés that dilute its thematic impact. Ray Liotta delivers as well as he can given his character’s limitations, but other performances struggle, excelling more in action sequences than in delivering convincing dialogue.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray presentation is commendable. The video quality is generally strong with clear visuals that effectively capture the gritty and intense atmosphere the film aims for. The audio mix supports the high action content seamlessly, providing an immersive experience. Extras and social features included are moderate and do not add significant value but are adequate for the average viewer.

There are simply too many hoary clichés running through "Revenge of the Green Dragons" that undercut what is at its core a fascinating tale of socioeconomic disadvantage being morphed into a rather vicious interpretation of the American Dream. Liotta does what he can with his unlikable character, but some of the other actors are better in their action elements than delivering dialogue. The film moves at a breakneck pace, which has both its benefits and detriments. There are all sorts of plot issues that are never fully explicated or developed, but at least the action comes consistently furiously enough to provide momentary distractions. Technical merits are generally very strong for those considering a purchase.