The golden era of Hong Kong action cinema, particularly the 1980s and 90s, produced some of the genre`s most unforgettable films. Fans can now look forward to a cinematic treat as the entire “A Better Tomorrow” trilogy is being released on 4K Blu-ray. This comprehensive box set, meticulously restored by Shout Factory, is priced at $100 and will be available starting November 18. Additionally, John Woo`s seminal film “Hard Boiled” will receive its own 4K Blu-ray Deluxe Edition, launching on November 4. While its initial preorder price has seen a notable increase to $65, it`s customary for such prices to adjust closer to the release date, with charges only occurring upon shipment.
A Better Tomorrow Trilogy: A 4K Restoration
Co-directed by legendary filmmakers John Woo and Tsui Hark, all three “A Better Tomorrow” films have undergone a magnificent 4K remastering process, utilizing the original camera negatives. Each film will be presented with stunning Dolby Vision and HDR-10 compatibility, allowing viewers to experience the visuals in unparalleled clarity. Audio options include the original Cantonese language track and an English dub, both in DTS-HD Master Audio mono. For those preferring the original audio, newly translated English subtitles are also provided. The box set further enhances its appeal with an exclusive poster, featuring newly commissioned artwork.
This collection is rich with bonus features, offering dozens of brand-new extras. These include insightful audio commentary tracks and interviews with renowned film critics, key cast and crew members, and even celebrated directors like Gareth Evans of “The Raid” fame. A significant highlight of this set is the long-sought-after workprint of “A Better Tomorrow 2.” This version, re-edited by producer Tsui Hark, includes an additional 30 minutes of footage and was once believed to be lost. Although Woo himself has referred to this sequel as the “black sheep” of the trilogy (with the third film later directed by Hark), he has also spoken highly of its climactic gunfight as a pinnacle of his cinematic work. Furthermore, the Taiwanese cut of “A Better Tomorrow 3” is included, providing about 10 extra minutes of extended scenes. This comprehensive seven-disc collection provides both 4K UHD and 1080p Blu-ray editions of each film.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of features for each disc in the “A Better Tomorrow” trilogy:
Disc 1: A Better Tomorrow (4K)
- Audio commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong film critic at EasternKicks (New)
Disc 2: A Better Tomorrow (Blu-ray)
- Optional English subtitles newly translated for this release (New)
- Audio commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong film critic at EasternKicks (New)
- Better Than the Best – an interview with director John Woo (New)
- Between Friends – an interview with producer Terence Chang (New)
- When Tomorrow Comes – an interview with screenwriter Chan Hing-ka (New)
- Thoughts on the Future – an interview with filmmaker Gordon Chan (New)
- Better and Bombastic – an interview with filmmaker Gareth Evans (New)
- Trailers
- Image gallery
Disc 3: A Better Tomorrow 2 (4K)
- Optional English subtitles newly translated for this release (New)
- Audio commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong film critic at EasternKicks (New)
Disc 4: A Better Tomorrow 2 (Blu-ray)
- Optional English subtitles newly translated for this release (New)
- Audio commentary with James Mudge, Hong Kong film critic at EasternKicks (New)
- A Tumultuous Tomorrow – an interview with director John Woo (New)
- Better Than Ever – an interview with film historian Frank Djeng (New)
- Trailers
- Image gallery
Disc 5: A Better Tomorrow 3 (4K)
- Optional English subtitles newly translated for this release (New)
- Audio commentary with critic and author David West (New)
Disc 6: A Better Tomorrow 3 (Blu-ray)
- Optional English subtitles newly translated for this release (New)
- Audio commentary with critic and author David West (New)
- Third Time Lucky – an interview with screenwriters Yiu-Ming Leung and Foo Ho Tai (New)
- All Our Tomorrows – an interview with Hong Kong filmmaker and academic Gilbert Po (New)
- Nam Flashbacks – an interview with Vietnam War researcher Dr. Aurélie Basha i Novosejt (New)
- Theatrical trailer
- Image gallery
Disc 7: A Better Tomorrow 2 and 3 (Bonus Blu-ray)
- Long-lost A Better Tomorrow 2 workprint featuring over 30 minutes of never-before-seen footage
- A Better Tomorrow 3 – Taiwanese cut
The A Better Tomorrow Saga: A Brief Overview
“A Better Tomorrow,” released in 1986, introduced Chow Yun-fat as the iconic Mark Lee, a character grappling with themes of duty and honor when his close associate, a senior Triad gangster named Sung Tse-Ho, seeks his help in avenging a family member`s murder. This critically acclaimed film was a massive success, laying the groundwork for John Woo and Chow Yun-fat`s eventual transition to Hollywood.
Its 1987 sequel, “A Better Tomorrow 2,” presented a dramatic plot twist to justify its continuation (kept vague to avoid spoilers for newcomers). True to its predecessor, it delivered an abundance of over-the-top action, intense explosions, and an incredibly high body count as characters unleashed a barrage of bullets.
The trilogy concluded in 1989 with “A Better Tomorrow 3: Love and Death in Saigon,” a prequel set against the tumultuous backdrop of the final days of the Vietnam War. While the narrative may not be its strongest suit, the film is consistently praised for its phenomenal action sequences. Interestingly, creative differences between Woo and Hark led to Woo departing the director`s chair for this installment, with his original script eventually evolving into his 1990 film, “Bullet in the Head.”
Hard Boiled: A Masterpiece Returns in 4K
“Hard Boiled,” released in 1992, stands as one of cinema`s greatest action films and arguably the pinnacle of collaborations between John Woo and Chow Yun-fat. This exhilarating movie features a direct plot: a dedicated police officer driven by revenge against a criminal gang. What follows is a relentless spectacle of chaos, extreme action, and Chow Yun-fat`s effortlessly cool demeanor in every frame, epitomized by the iconic hospital shootout sequence.
Shout Factory`s Deluxe Edition meticulously revitalizes this cult classic with a brand-new 4K scan derived from the original camera negatives. It includes Dolby Vision and HDR 10 support, alongside both Cantonese and English audio tracks in DTS-HD Master Audio Mono. Consistent with the “A Better Tomorrow” trilogy, this release also features newly translated English subtitles and boasts an exclusive 52-page collectible booklet.
This three-disc set also includes a standard Blu-ray version of the film, packed with extensive bonus content. Highlights include several newly recorded interviews with John Woo and other key crew members. Complementing these are multiple new audio commentary tracks featuring film critics and historians, in addition to the acclaimed commentary previously recorded by the Criterion Collection, which includes John Woo, producer Terence Chang, filmmaker Roger Avary, and critic Dave Kehr. Rounding out the special features are deleted scenes, trailers, and an image gallery.
Here’s a full list of features on each disc for “Hard Boiled”:
Disc 1 (4K)
- Optional English subtitles newly translated for this release (new)
- Audio commentary with director John Woo and film journalist Drew Tayler (new)
- Audio commentary with film historian Frank Djeng (new)
- Audio commentary with director John Woo, producer Terence Chang, filmmaker Roger Avary, and critic Dave Kehr (recorded by the Criterion Collection)
Disc 2 (Blu-ray)
- Audio commentary with director John Woo and film journalist Drew Tayler (new)
- Audio commentary with film historian Frank Djeng (new)
- Audio commentary with director John Woo, producer Terence Chang, filmmaker Roger Avary, and critic Dave Kehr (recorded by the Criterion Collection)
Disc 3 (Bonus Blu-ray)
- Violent Night – an interview with director John Woo (new)
- Boiling Over – an interview with actor Anthony Wong (new)
- No Time for Failure – an interview with producer Terence Chang (new)
- Hard to Resist – an interview with screenwriter Gordon Chan (new)
- Boiled to Perfection – an interview with screenwriter Chung Hang Ku (new)
- Body Count Blues – an interview with composer Michael Gibbs (new)
- Hong Kong Confidential – inside Hard Boiled with author Grady Hendrix (new)
- Gun-Fu Fever – an interview with author Leon Hunt (new)
- Chewing the Fat – an interview with academic Lin Feng (new)
- Deleted and extended scenes
- Trailers
- Image gallery