Long Arm of the Law Blu-ray Review: True Crime Hong Kong Style

These movies were hard to find before 88 Films so both of these are new to me. They are crime capers, the first being two years before John Woo changed everything with A Better Tomorrow, and they’re not the manic lady cop vehicles of the era either.

Long Arm of the Law does have a Mexican standoff and double gunning, but they’re mostly straight crime dramas with striking violence, like a gunshot victim sliding across an ice rink, leaving streaks.

Once again, these Blu-rays look better than some 4Ks. Hong Kong streets and lush rural environs are sharp and bright. Some of the freeze frames are grainier but it’s an aesthetic choice. Long Arm 2 has more shadow which gets closer to 4K’s pure black shadows.

By now we know what Frank Djeng brings to a commentary track. He does both films, full of his usual background material on the production, cast and Hong Kong film industry of the time.

Interviews with Johnny and Michael Mak, screenwriter Philip Chan, action director Billy Chan, sequel costar Ben Lam and sequel stuntman

Cover some of the same ground from each of their perspectives. Common themes include the innovative filming techniques on the streets of Hong Kong, real crime inspirations and the volatile midnight audiences that made the films classics.

The handsome package puts each film in its own case with artistically rendered yet realistic portraits of the ensemble casts. The outer case has yet another collage of the Long Arm of the Law cast. Bring on the sequels, 88 Films.