| Release | Video Quality | Audio | Aspect Ratio | Verdict | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Reference quality; filmic grain | DTS-HD MA 5.1 | 2.35:1 | Best | | Wild Side (France) | Good, but slight edge enhancement | DTS 5.1 | 2.35:1 (cropped left/right) | Second best | | Panorama (HK) | Poor; heavy DNR, waxy faces | Dolby Digital 5.1 | 1.78:1 (open matte/cropped) | Avoid | | Dragon Dynasty (US DVD) | SD only, interlaced | Dolby Digital 5.1 | 2.35:1 (non-anamorphic) | Obsolete |
In the pantheon of Hong Kong cinema, few filmmakers wield the poetic violence and stylistic precision of Johnnie To. Released in 2006, stands as a towering achievement in the heroic bloodshed genre. It serves as both a spiritual sequel to To’s 1999 masterpiece The Mission and a melancholic elegy to a bygone era of brotherhood, honor, and colonial Macau.
Koch Media used a high-bitrate AVC encode (averaging 28-32 Mbps). Unlike some Asian releases that suffer from macroblocking in dark scenes, the Koch transfer retains filmic grain without digital noise. Shadows in Wo’s apartment – a key location – are deep but detailed, with no “crushed blacks.” Exiled -2006- aka Fong juk -Koch 1080p BluRay x...
Exiled features a stellar ensemble cast, many of whom were frequent collaborators with Johnnie To.
(2006), directed by Johnnie To , is a highly acclaimed Hong Kong action-thriller set in Macau. It is frequently celebrated as a stylistic masterpiece and a "modern-day Western" that focuses on themes of brotherhood, honor, and loyalty. Plot Summary | Release | Video Quality | Audio |
Provides a chilling, menacing presence as the antagonist.
Set in Macau in 1998, a city on the verge of its handover from Portuguese to Chinese rule, "Exiled" follows a group of five former childhood friends turned triad members. The plot is elegantly simple, focusing on Wo (Nick Cheung), a former gangster who has attempted to leave his violent past behind to raise a family with his wife, Jin (Josie Ho), and their baby. However, his old boss, the ruthless Boss Fay (Simon Yam), has not forgotten him and sends two assassins, Blaze (Anthony Wong) and Fat (Lam Suet), to finish the job. Word of the hit reaches two other friends, Tai (Francis Ng) and Cat (Roy Cheung), who rush to Macau to protect Wo. Koch Media used a high-bitrate AVC encode (averaging
If you are a fan of The Killer , A Better Tomorrow , or simply want to see action cinema at its most artistic, Exiled is a must-watch. It is a cool, melancholy, and