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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Drug War

    Featured In Issue 180, October 2013

    Picture3
    Sound4
    WSR Score3.5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Well Go USA
    (Catalog Number):
    WGU01349B
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    Strong violence, drug contens and language
    (Retail Price):
    $29.98
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    107
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    2012
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    10/15/13
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Johnnie To
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    DTS HD Lossless 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Drug War is a tale of a drug cartel boss who, after being arrested in a raid, is coerced into betraying his former accomplices as part of an undercover operation. Manufacturing just 50 grams of meth in China will earn you a death sentence. Timmy Choi (Koo) just got caught making tons. Now he's in the custody of Captain Zhang (Honglei) and has one chance to avoid execution''turn informant and help the cops bring down the powerful cartel he's been cooking for. Over the next 72 sleepless hours, the sting spins out of control, the line between duty and recklessness is blurred, and it becomes unclear who actually has the upper hand. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include the theatrical trailer and upfront previews.

    The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture was photographed in Technovision anamorphic. While natural in appearance, the imagery often exhibits haze and softness. Some scenes, however, are nicely contrasted with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation and colors that are more boldly hued. Fleshtones appear generally natural, except under adverse lighting. Resolution is generally softly focused, with detail revealed in close-ups. Overall, this is a serviceable presentation but otherwise undistinguished. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel Chinese language soundtrack features a nicely recorded music score that spreads across the soundstage and extends to the surrounds. Atmospherics and sound effects sound realistic and effectively enhance realism. Deep bass is present at times in the .1 LFE channel during action sequences. Dialogue is generally well integrated spatially with clear, large font subtitles appearing below the image frame. This is an effectively serviceable soundtrack that projects surround envelopment good fidelity. (Gary Reber)

    Reason #56 Why Readers Love Widescreen Review:

    I am most interested in the formats (audio) of DVDs. I buy a DVD, and then it is re-introduced in a deluxe package some time later. I am not that interested in the extras, but the DVD is invariably upgraded in sound. This is usually DTS ES surround but in some cases DTS ES 6.1 (discrete). Most reviews (Home Theater, Stereophile Guide To Home Theater, Sound And Vision) do not address this situation. I am subscribing to Widescreen Review, hopefully, to solve this problem. I am looking forward to my first issue and a long relationship with your magazine.

    Tom Smith
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