The Replacement Killers
Columbia/Tristar
2.35:1/Dolby Digital 5.1/2.0
16x9
Region:1
Rated:R
88 Minutes
French Dolby Digital 2.0/Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0
A Music Video of an action film, "The Replacement Killers" stars Hong Kong action hero Chow Yun-Fat in his first American picture alongside
costar Mira Sorvino. Chow Yun-Fat stars as John Lee, an assassin who is asked to repay a debt to a drug lord by assassinating someone important to a police officer
who killed the drug lord's son. He arrives on the scene, but once he sees the son with the father, he can't bring himself to do it.
Lee now must visit Mira Sorvino's character, a passport forger. Sorvino is an unlikely choice for the role, but she does it quite well. She's athletic
and has a nice edge that she brings to the character. She starts off a little awkward, but as the film goes on, her character and performance grew on me.
Of course, the two must team up when the Replacement Killers of the title come after Lee, who takes Sorvino's character as sort of a "hostage" on the journey.
The film is almost non-stop action, which is good and bad. There's generally not much of a script or plot, but the film does stand as an example, almost
a documentary, even, of how to stage a really intense action scene. The bad is that the action and style seem to be trying to copy the style of Hong Kong director(and
also the producer of this film), John Woo. The film's fairly short, though, at 88 minutes. Still, it rarely stops to catch a breath.
Everything is coreographed fantastically, though. The film does at least put forth a good effort. The cinematography, although a little too much like a
commercial, is incredibly striking. "The Replacement Killers" isn't a great movie, but at least it's a wild, entertaining ride for the short time it's
on screen.
The DVD:
Picture: Excitingly rendered 2.35:1 letterboxed picture, as well as a pan/scan version(view the 2.35:1 side to get the true film). Color saturation is absolutely perfect; all of the neon colors of LA are captured perfectly in this digital transfer of the film. Images are razor sharp and wonderfully clear. Contrast is asbolutely perfect. Shadows and image detail are outstanding in what is a wonderful presentation.
Audio: An explosive audio mix full of explosions and non-stop gunfire. Great music that's full of huge bass is all across the film, especially in the opening club scene. This disc seriously rocks a room - it's one of the most incredible sound mixes I've heard on disc. Dialogue is sharp and clear. It's one of those disc where the sound is so great and realistic that you'll duck down every so often. Gunshots fly by from every sound direction; a lot of outstanding sound FX bring you right deep in the middle of the action. The bass is deep and definitely full.
Extras: Trailer and small featurette on the making of the film.
Menus: Nice and easy to navigate, but still basic.
Grades:
Audio:A
Picture:A
Menus:C+
Extras:C-
Film:C+
Overall:B+
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