Peking Opera Blues (1986)
Director - Tsui Hark
DVD Released by : Mega Star
Player reviewed with : Sony S3000
Receiver reviewed with : Sony 925
Features:

Interactive Menus

Scene Access
Filmogrophies and Bios
Trailer
Cantonese or Mandarin Soundtracks
English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, Spanish, and Thai
Subtitles
Dolby Digital 5.1
Not enhanced for 16 x 9 TVs
Running Time : 102 mins.

By reading the DVD case one is swept away with quotes from the Village Voice proclaiming that Tsui "out-Spielbergs Spielberg". I wouldn't compare the two. Both are incredibly talented individuals but they have different styles. The one thing I must admit they do share is the ability to get great performances from the actors. After watching many Tsui Hark films, I would have to say that this is one of his best. It is very balanced between the action, comedy, and drama. If you are looking for a Kung Fu movie, this isn't for you. Peking Opera Blues is more plot-driven and a little slower paced than most of the other movies reviewed here but it is perfect the way it is.

The movie is about a general's daughter (Brigitte Lin) who is secretly conspiring against him. In trying to steal secret papers, she meets up with the daughter of a Peking Opera House (Sally Yeh) and a woman who is just interested in stealing a box of gold and jewels (Cherie Chung).

Peking Opera Blues is highly recommended. Though not flawless, the DVD is definitely worth having. This is a movie you will want to see more than once. It's a true classic.

The picture quality is acceptable. The colors are a little washed out at times but not distracting. There is some very noticeable splices between scenes. There are probably about three of these. Overall not a bad transfer. I have watched this on the large screen TV and the picture is still acceptable. There aren't any major artifact or other imperfections in the transfer.

The sound is a 5.1 remix. Most of the sound comes from the front speakers as with most of these "remixes". The sound is pretty well mixed with the dialogue never being drowned out by music or sound effects.
I had watched the movie in Cantonese with the English subtitles. The actors sometimes talk fast and the subtitles appear and disappear just as fast. This is most noticeable in the beginning of the film. The subtitles were well timed with the dialogue.

The menus are pretty well done. The music can get annoying after awhile because it starts everytime you make a choice. The disk includes 3 trailers and the usual filmographies and production notes.