A-1 Headline Blu-ray

A-1 Headline

 (2004)

A-1 Headline Blu-ray offers decent video and solid audio, but overall it's a mediocre Blu-ray release
Ling is a fashion columnist whose ex-boyfriend died in a car accident. Debt collectors Fei and Ma are eyewitnesses on the scene and Fei is certain that Peter's death is more than just an accident. The weird and suspicious act that news Chief Editor Tsang recently displays convinces Ling of what Fei says. Ling pleads for the assistance of both Fei and Ma. With newspaper photographer Kei also volunteering to help, the quartet embanks on a journey to track down the truth. How much truth will tomorrow's headline news reveal?

For more about A-1 Headline and the A-1 Headline Blu-ray release, see the A-1 Headline Blu-ray Review

A-1 Headline Blu-ray Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov, December 8, 2009

Gordon Chan and Chung Kai Cheung's thriller "A1 tou tiao" a.k.a "A-1 Headline" (2004) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Hong Kong-based distributors Panorama. Amongst the supplemental features offered with this release are: an exclusive interview with Gordon Chan and Chung Kai Cheung; an exclusive interview with Anthony Wong; Gala Premiere Footage; trailers and more. With optional English subtitles. Region-Free.

The reporter

Anthony Wong is a terrific actor, but he often appears in films that are, well, rather strange. A few weeks ago I saw him in Ding Sheng's Underdog Knight, an ambitious but ultimately underwhelming film about a man who struggles with a serious medical condition, and had a difficult time figuring out why he chose to be a part of it. Having just finished Gordon Chan and Chung Kai Cheung's A-1 Headline, I am once again pondering a similar question.

A -1 Headline is about a young reporter, Elaine (Angelica Lee, Before the Sunrise), whose boyfriend, Peter, gets killed in a car accident the very same day she decides to break up with him. Elaine befriends an ex-cop-turned-debt collector, Fei (Anthony Wong, Exiled), who agrees to help her find out more about Peter's death. The more the two learn about Peter's last days - as well as his surprisingly long list of ex-girlfriends - the more they begin to fall for each other.

The "mystery" in A-1 Headline could have been effectively used as a pretext to tell a fascinating story about two lonely people looking for soul mates. In fact, until the hour mark, it seemed like A-1 Headline would be precisely that kind of a film. Chan and Cheung, however, had something different in mind, because despite the intriguing personal dilemmas Elaine and Fei struggle with, the focus of attention in their film is indeed on the disappointingly weak "mystery".

This is unfortunate as Wong delivers a memorable performance as a jaded ex-cop who understands perfectly well that his life is irreversibly damaged. He is intelligent and willing to help others, but not himself - on the inside, he is a broken man.

Lee's performance is also good. Her character is young and ambitious; a bit naive as well. For the most part, she is the opposite of Wong's character. She quickly realizes that he has given up on himself and this is exactly what initially draws her into his world.

Tony Leung Ka Fai (Election), Edison Chen (Dog Bite Dog), Eric Kot (Butterfly) and Lam Ka Tung (Sparrow) have small parts in A-1 Headline, but their contribution is largely unimpressive. Aside from Ka Fai's character, a suspicious newspaper Chief Editor, who appears sporadically throughout the film to introduce bits of information from Peter's past, the rest of the men add little of substance to the story.

Some of the best scenes in the film are silent, and Wong appears in all of them. In the larger scheme of things, however, they are also somewhat awkward; it feels like they belong to a different film, one with an entirely different plot construction.

Cheung Ka-Fai's (Dragon Tiger Gate; Ip Man) editing is strong, but the film's problematic script creates a different impression. The finale is predictable; given the strong cast, even slightly disappointing. Also, there are a number of questions that are asked during the first half of the film which Chan and Cheung have simply left unanswered.

Ultimately, Lee and Wong's nuanced performances give A-1 Headline quite a boost, but are not enough to offset the fact that the film's story is disappointingly straightforward. The prospect of possibly seeing the two actors together again in front of the camera, however, is certainly exciting.

A-1 Headline Blu-ray, Video Quality

 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Gordon Chan and Chung Kai Cheung's A-1 Headline arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Hong Kong-based distributors Panorama.

I have mixed feelings about this transfer. There are a number of scenes throughout the film where edge-enhancement is fairly strong. As a result, fine object detail and clarity vary. Contrast levels are not a serious issue of concern, but they are definitely not as convincing as they should be either. Many of the darker scenes exhibit mild to moderate amounts of digital noise. The film's color-scheme is also not overly impressive; in particular, blacks, blues and yellows look pale. What is most annoying about this transfer, however, is the presence of numerous tiny flecks that pop up throughout the entire film. On the positive side, there are no serious stability issues to report in this review. When blown through a digital projector, A-1 Headline remains tight around the edges. All in all, the more sensitive amongst you will likely be underwhelmed by Panorama's high-definition treatment of this fairly recent film. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

A-1 Headline Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 

There are three audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1 and Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1. I opted for the Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and later on did a few random comparisons with the Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1 track for the purpose of this review.

There are no serious technical flaws with the Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track to report in this review - the bass is strong, the surround channels not overly active but effective, and the high frequencies not tampered with. Aside from a prolonged car chase scene, however, there really isn't much in A-1 Headline that would flex the muscles of your audio equipment. The dialog is crisp, clean and easy to follow. There are no disturbing pops, cracks, or hissings to report either.

The Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1 does not possess the dynamic qualities the Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 has, but, if needed, it certainly could be used as a substitute. Frankly, I think that there are probably only a handful of scenes where one would notice its inferiority.

For the record, Panorama have provided optional English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese subtitles for the main feature.

A-1 Headline Blu-ray, Special Features and Extras

 

Note: All of the supplemental features are placed on a separate Region-Free SDVD. Unfortunately, optional English subtitles are not offered for them.

Interview - an exclusive interview with Gordon Chan and Chung Kai Cheung. The two directors discuss the message of their film, the specific shooting techniques they favored, the script, etc. In Cantonese, with optional English subtitles. (11 min, 480/60i).

Interview - an exclusive interview with Anthony Wong. The actor talks about his character, what it was like to shoot the film, the fact that most of his lines were improvised on location, etc. In Cantonese, with optional English subtitles. (6 min, 480/60i).

Deleted Scenes - six deleted scenes with an optional commentary. Not subtitled in English. (480/60i).

CIA Film Forum - In Cantonese, not subtitled in English. (14 min, 480/60i).

Gala Premiere Footage - raw footage from the film's premiere (1 min, 480/60i).

Photo Gallery - a collection of posters and stills from the film.

Trailers - two theatrical trailers. Not subtitled in English. (480/60i).

Directors' Biographies and Filmographies-

A-1 Headline Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation

 

Gordon Chan and Chung Kai Cheung's A-1 Headline should appeal primarily to those who believe that any film with Anthony Wong in it is worth seeing. While I have a great deal of respect for the Hong Kong actor and typically enjoy his work, A-1 Headline left me unimpressed. RENT IT.

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