DVD
Breaking News

Starring: Richie Ren, Kelly Chen and Nick Cheung
Tartan Asia Extreme
RRP: £14.99
TVD3648
Certificate: 18
Available 24 September 2007


When a robbery goes horribly wrong a policeman is witnessed surrendering before being killed. Captured live by the media, Hong Kong's police forces reputation looks to be irredeemably tarnished. When they corner the gang in a labyrinthine apartment block the police see it as an opportunity to orchestrate a media show which will regain them their pride. However in this day and age of Internet access, the police soon realise that they do not have as much control as they would wish, when the gang start broadcasting their own webcam show...

Breaking News (Daai si gin, 2004) is a stylish action film directed by Johnny To, who has been successfully making films since the early eighties. The film has won four awards and been nominated for a further eight.

Breaking News has the distinction of being an action film, with a ludicrous amount of gun fire, which actually has something to say about the media's relationship with law enforcement. Visually inventive from the first seven minute tracking shot, this isn't just another no brainer cop film.

What starts as an action film soon turns into something else. When we join the fun Inspector Cheung (Nick Cheung) who is staking out Yuen (Richie Ren). When he is interrupted by two bumbling street cops all hell breaks loose and Cheung chases Yuen through the streets of Hong Kong. Here we have the signpost that tells us who is the good guy and who the bad. However, this premise does not hold up. Soon, the character of Cheung is relegated to the role of running around and shooting things, whilst Yuen starts to come over as a criminal, but a very charismatic one, with a sense of humour, who takes a professional pride in his work.

The real duel is not between Yuen and Cheung, but between Yuen and the female inspector whose idea it is to hold the siege in front of the cameras. Kelly Chen plays Commissioner Rebecca Fong, who starts out as the hard nosed woman in a man's world trying to make a difference, whose relationship with Yuen changes as she gets to know him.

Ultimately, Richie Ren plays Yuen with such conviction and panache that you find yourself rooting for the bad guy, hoping that he will get away and woo Rebecca, though anyone who has seen Leon knows this is not the way these stories end.

The film has a nice print with the option of stereo, 5.1 or DTS soundtrack, all with English subtitles. There is a behind the scenes featurette, which is little more than a three minute promo for the film, and the original theatrical trailer.

So what we have here is a stylish thriller with something to say. Another little gem dug up by Tartan for your enjoyment.

Charles Packer

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