My favorite film of 2011

What they say: A new take on the Hong Kong action classic that launched Chow Yun Fat to international stardom, director Song Hae-seong’s remake of A Better Tomorrow features an all-star class including Seung-heon Song, Kang-woo Kim, and Jin-mo Ju. In the treacherous world of the black-market weapons trade, honor and vengeance go hand in hand. Adapted from writer/director John Woo’s original screenplay.

What I say: John Woo and his “Heroic Bloodshed” films changed action movies forever. When Woos A Better Tomorrow dropped in 1986 it was like a megaton bomb. The ripples from these films were instantly felt around the world. These blood soaked tales of brotherhood, duty, honor, redemption and of course violence, lots and lots of violence really struck a chord. The bar was raised for action movies and most never measured up, at least in my opinion.

So naturally when I heard that a remake of A Better Tomorrow was Imminent, I was worried. I avoided reading about it, I avoided watching the trailer, and I forgot about it. Then one day I was in Wal-Mart and there it sit. A Better Tomorrow (2010). I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Could it measure up? I finally could not take it anymore and decided to check it out.

Wow. As I sit here at my computer, images from the film flitting through my mind, I am still reeling. This was what I missed. This is what I have been aching for in an action film. This is my favorite film of this year. Korean director Hae-sung Song has just jumped to the top of my must watch list. I look VERY forward to his next project. The film is thrilling, dizzying, in its splendor. The gun play is incredible, the acting immaculate, the screenplay fantastic. If you know me at all you know I never gush like this. THIS is the real deal. And I couldn’t be happier to admit I was wrong. In some ways I think I prefer it to the 1986 version. And that my children, is high praise from me.

So it’s obvious I loved the film, but what about the Blu-Ray? The picture quality is astonishing. The level of detail is ungodly, and colors pop like they are alive. My head was literally spinning from the beauty on display here, and if any film deserved this treatment, this is it.

As gorgeous as the picture quality and cinematography was, the true star of the presentation was the sound. I have never heard such an effective DTS-MA HD track in my life. 5.1 channels of aural bliss. The gun battles are especially well done as it sounds like you are really in the middle of the crossfire.

I could sit here and gush for hours and pages, but I think you get the point. I will wrap up simply. A Better Tomorrow is the best film of the year and the best Blu-Ray of the year. Period.

BUY THIS NOW!