DVD Corner

Vengeance DVD Review

“Vengeance” is a pleasant surprise.

Hong Kong director Johnnie To (best known for films like “The Mission” and “Fulltime Killer”) is back with another crime flick. This one is a straight forward story about a father/chef who seeks vengeance against the gangsters responsible for shooting his daughter and killing his son-in-law and two grandchildren. Aiding him in his violent quest are three hitmen. There’s a few more key elements to the story than that, but it’s better that you don’t know that information going in as it makes the viewing experience more rewarding.

Going into “Vengeance,” I knew nothing about the film in advance which actually turned out to be a blessing. “Vengeance” happens to be one of those rare films that winds up being an unexpected treat. As a reviewer, I am rarely surprised by what I see or how a film turns out quality wise, but “Vengeance” is an exception. Granted, it has a typical vengeance/revenge story at the center, but it’s the way the story was told and shot that makes it stand out from the usual fare. Personally, I liked the dark noirish/western tone/look of the film as it made the film visually interesting. It doesn’t hurt that the film offers up some of the best shootouts I’ve seen in recent memory (most notably the night picnic sequence and the suspenseful ending) and also boasts some intriguing main characters. Speaking of the characters, I have to say the cast here is superb. Anthony Wong, Lam Ka-Tung, and Lam Suet shine as the hitmen, but it’s Johnny Hallyday who impresses the most here. Who knew that French pop star Johnny Hallyday could be so convincing in this dark, meaty role?

Summary: If you dig crime flicks or Johnnie To’s films, you should definitely give “Vengeance” a spin.

The 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen is generally impressive. The location shooting in particular really catches the eye. The only downside is that some of the night shots are a little fuzzy.  

The English, French and Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track has a nice mix. I found  no problems here as the audio does a fine job of balancing the quiet scenes and the shootouts.  

Extras: IFC Film trailers, a “Vengeance” trailer and a 10 minute making of featurette that includes behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with the cast and crew, set footage, etc.

December 8, 2010 - Posted by nicklyons1 | DVD review | Johnnie To, Vengeance DVD Review