Acclaimed director Johnnie To (The Heroic Trio, The Mission) is on top form with slam bang action-thriller Running Out of Time and its equally electrifying sequel. Expert hostage negotiator Ho Sheung-sang (Lau Ching-wan, Black Mask, Mad Detective) is drawn into a psychological game of cat-and-mouse when a criminal mastermind with weeks to live (Andy Lau, Infernal Affairs, House of Flying Daggers) decides to take on the entire Hong Kong Police Force. There’s more to his plan than meets the eye, but can Inspector Ho figure it out and catch him in time? He’s got 72 hours to try. A huge box office hit, Running Out of Time swept the 19th Hong Kong Film Awards and spawned a popular sequel in Running Out of Time 2, in which Lau Ching-wan returns as Inspector Ho – this time in pursuit of a sophisticated art thief with a taste for drama and theatrical flair.
For thoughts on the Running Out Of Time Collection, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Running Out Of Time and Running Out Of Time 2 come to Blu-Ray from Arrow Video with a fetching 1080p transfer sourced from high definition masters restored and provided by Fortune Star. Both of these presentations are quite enjoyable as they avoid digital manipulation with the preservation of the natural film grain which allows for distinct texture throughout. There is a consistent sense of clarity and detail throughout these films which especially shines through in the daytime exteriors. The transfer could likely be a bit more favorable for shadow detail, but that does not prove to be a major issue. Even if this could be improved, there are no major issues with macroblocking and banding.
Skin tones are natural and lend themselves to showcasing an amazing amount of detail in closeup. There are also subtle details in the production design that are visible here for the first time from tiny details in the police headquarters to small facets of the costumes. Colors are rich and vibrant as certain elements really pop off the screen. Arrow Video has done a really admirable job of bringing these films to a larger audience, as most of the print damage has been cleaned up without messing with the natural look of the film. Those who have been waiting for these two should feel quite happy about this Arrow Video release.
Audio Quality
The Running Out Of Time films come with DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio tracks in both Cantonese and Mandarin, plus lossless LPCM English mono (Running Out of Time) and lossless DTS-HD MA English 5.1 (Running Out of Time 2). While all of these tracks sound pleasing, we recommend staying away from the English language tracks for artistic purity. The optional English subtitles are formatted clearly in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Dialogue comes through nice and clear for both films with a keen focus on the center channel. The mix does a good job of balancing all of the key exchanges with the memorable score and sound effects so that nothing ever gets overwhelmed. The music featured here sounds more fleshed out and richer in the surround sound mix. The track handles the sounds of cars moving through the city and other environmental noises perfectly in the surround channels. The track has some notable activity in the rear channels that properly conveys the largely urban setting. The low end does not give the most intensive workout, but it provides a little bit of texture. These tracks do everything that is asked of them.
Special Features
The first-pressing of the Arrow Video Blu-Ray of the Running Out Of Time Collection includes a booklet featuring the essay “On The Edge: Connection, Isolation, and Identity in Running Out Of Time 1 & 2” by writer David West. This essay provides great context to the film and Hong Kong cinema as well insights into the director and the themes of the story. The on-disc special features are as follows:
Running Out Of Time
- Audio Commentary #1: Hong Kong film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) provides an informative and entertaining commentary in which he discusses how this film fits into the career of Johnnie Tos, offers background information on the performers, explains certain production elements, delves into some of the stylistic flourishes employed and much more that is of great value. Djeng is always a great source of information in every commentary track.
- Audio Commentary #2: Writers Laurent Courtiaud and Julien Carbon provide a commentary track moderated by Hong Kong film expert Stefan Hammond which provides some greater context to the story, how they became involved with Jonnie To, the layers they tried to bring to the story, working within Hong Kong cinema and more.
- Interviews
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- Julien Carbon & Laurent Courtiaud (2003): A 22-minute interview with the screenwriters originally filmed for the French DVD release in 2003 in which they discuss how they came to work with Johnnie To, the comedic elements that were added into the script, adapting the narrative to fit the Hong Kong audience, characters they brought to their characters, the filming locations, moments that had to be improvised and more.
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- Julien Carbon & Laurent Courtiaud (2005): Another 37-minute interview with the screenwriters originally filmed for the UK DVD release in 2005 in which they discuss being French writers working in Hong Kong, their appreciation for Hong Kong films, the inspiration for this film, working with Johnnie To, their impressions of the characters and performers, the recognition they have received for the film and more.
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- Johnnie To: A 12-minute interview with the director originally filmed for the French DVD release in 2003 in which he discusses working with the French screenwriters, the unique qualities of Hong Kong cinema, the chemistry between the lead performers, the difficulties of making the movie and more. ,
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- Lau Ching-wan: A 25-minute interview with the actor originally filmed for the French DVD release in 2003 in which he discusses getting involved with the project, the aspects that most appealed to him, his personal dynamics with his costar, the changes with the sequel, thoughts on movies outside of this franchise and more.
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- Raymond Wong: A 28-minute interview with the composer originally filmed for the French DVD release in 2003 in which he discusses his early foray into music, how he collaborated to achieve certain musical moments, thoughts on certain films outside of this franchise and more.
- The Director’s Overview Of Carbon and Cortiaud: An eight-minute featurette originally made for the UK DVD release in 2005 in which many of their collaborators offer insights into working with the French screenwriters.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided here.
- Image Gallery: A collection of posters, lobby cards, and promotional stills from the original release of the movie is provided here.
Running Out Of Time 2
- Audio Commentary: Hong Kong film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) provides another deeply informative commentary in which he discusses how this film compares to the original, offers background information on the performers, explains certain production elements, delves into some of the changes this go around, and much more that is of great value. Worth seeking out for fans!
- The Making Of Running Out Of Time 2: A six-minute featurette from the time of the film’s production in which the performers discuss their roles in the sequel, what they are doing to inhabit these characters, their collaboration with one another and more. Nothing of too much substance, but decent enough.
- Hong Kong Stories: A great 50-minute documentary from 2003 by director Yves Montmayeur exploring Hong Kong cinema through the point of view of screenwriters Julien Carbon and Laurent Courtiaud. It is interesting to get an idea of how an outsider can fare in the HK film industry, the experiences of working for Wong Kar-wai, Tsui Hark and Johnnie To, and much more that is very worthwhile.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided here.
- Image Gallery: A collection of posters, lobby cards, and promotional stills from the original release of the movie is provided here.
Final Thoughts
The Running Out Of Time Collection features two movies that are highly entertaining adventures, even if one of them is clearly superior. Johnnie To knows how to craft a brisk, engaging action film which flourishes when it comes to character development and careful plotting. The performances are a strong appeal for this one, as you fall for the characters and become invested in their journey. The sequel makes some questionable creative choices, yet there remains enough that works to keep opinions overall positive. The new Blu-Ray from Arrow Video features a really great A/V presentation and a plentiful assortment of special features. Whether you are an established fan or newcomer, this release is worth seeking out if you want some action-packed fun. Recommended
Running Out Of Time Collection is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Arrow Video has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.