REVIEW

DVD Review: Above the Law

Written by Chris Beaumont
Published May 28, 2007
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Extras. This Dragon Dynasty release has a nice selection of extras.

  • Commentary. There is a commentary track with Bey Logan, a Hong Kong cinema expert. I have heard a few of his tracks, and they are always quite good. He offers a lot of interesting information about the film, the actors, and a lot of surrounding information. There is never dead air, and he is an engaging speaker.
  • Interviews: There are a trio of new interviews, averaging 15 minutes each, with Yuen Biao, Cynthia Rothrock, and Peter Cunningham. They are all quite good as they reminisce about the making of the film and their careers. Very nice inclusions.
  • Alternate Ending. As is the case with many Hong Kong films, there have been a number of different versions of the film. This film had a Mandarin version and a Cantonese version whose differences are not only in language, but in content, with different endings. This is a twenty-minute segment beginning with the Rothrock/Sheperd fight and runs right through the end showing the way the ending differed. While the fights are pretty much the same, the fates of the stars are rather different. As for other changes, listen to the commentary track as many other changes are pointed out.

Bottom line. This is a great action film, lacking in story, but fortunately that is not what I was watching this for. It shows a number of performers at the top of their game. The fights are fantastic, and are really the thing you want to watch in this movie. The story is kind of fun in a goofy kind of way, and director Corey Yuen plays up the comedy aspect onscreen as Rothrock's bumbling sidekick. If you are a fan of martial arts movies, this is one not to miss.Recommended.

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Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about entertainment when he isn't sitting in a movie theater. He is known around the office as the "Movie Guy" and is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Interests include science fiction, horror, and metal music. His writings can be found at Draven99's Musings.
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DVD Review: Above the Law
Published: May 28, 2007
Type: Review
Section: Video
Filed Under: Video: Foreign Language, Video: Action
Writer: Chris Beaumont
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