Review of Full Contact

Introduction

Ringo Lam is a name synonymous with Hong Kong action cinema and when teamed up with Chow Yun-fat and Simon Yam, you get the feeling that something `good` is going to happen. Yun-fat worked with Lam on the tense City on Fire and Prison on Fire so there was already some pedigree. Ringo Lam continues to make his brand of action films both here in the West as well as East and made a string of films with direct-to-video regular, Jean-Claude Van Damme. Together with Yun-fat in this outing are Hong Kong superstars Simon Yam acting as a gay sociopath and Anthony Wong. Plenty of bullets and gunplay are the order of the day in this actioner, so kick back, let the so-so story of revenge and betrayal (a Chinese staple) wash over you and go for the ride.

Video

Full Contact comes with a 1.85:1 widescreen enhanced video transfer and for the most part it`s fine if a little grainy. Colours are well reproduced as is the detail and contrast is boosted a little too. There is a little print damage but it`s minor and doesn`t detract from the film; there aren`t any noticeable problems with compression either.

Audio

This has English and Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks. Steer clear of the English dubbed track unless you`re looking for a laugh though. Even though this is has a 5.1 track, most of the sound is spread across the front speakers with little action to excite the rears. Dialogue comes out well, and bass isn`t too bad either.

Features

Easy to navigate HKL menus with a few extras:

• Audio Commentary - Bey Logan provides his usual wonderful insights into HK film and is joined by Gary Daniels. This was a nice unexpected surprise as Daniels is not credited with anything on this film or the DVD and it was very good to hear him with Logan. This is without doubt the highlight of the disc.

• Ballistic Kiss (widescreen enhanced) (20:57) - This is a behind the scenes expose of Hong Kong gunplay techniques. If you enjoy HK action films, then this nice little insight into weapons, blood packs and explosions the HK way will be enjoyable. You get a look at how the action scenes are prepared, from concept to execution and I thought it was very interesting.

• Malice Aforethought (widescreen enhanced) (12:29) - This is an interview with action actor Simon Yam where he talks about working with Ringo Lam, and his gay character in the film. It`s interesting and thankfully doesn`t last too long.

• Muscle Heat (widescreen enhanced) (15:07) - One thing which wasn`t expected was an interview with bodybuilder/actor Frankie Chin, but here it is. He comes across as an interesting chap and talks about his early film career getting into film as well as production on Full Contact.

• Trailer Gallery - This contains the UK Promotional and International Theatrical Trailer. There is also the usual Future Attractions covering other HKL and Premier Asia titles.

Full Contact comes with clear and easy to read English subtitles.

Conclusion

Full Contact wasn`t a film that I experienced before and my first taste of a Chow Yun-fat film started with The Killer and Hard Boiled. Clearly Full Contact can`t compete with these two, but it`s no less entertaining if you take it for what it is: an outrageous, silly and over-the-top action film.

Simon Yam has the best part in the film playing the gay sadist opposite Yun-fat; there`s something about Yam`s performance, which shows how much he must have relished this part. His costume is flamboyant as you would expect and his characteristics campy, but he`s no less brazen than Yun-fat and is handy with guns and a bit of violence. All the characters have their amusing traits as you witness scenes with Bonnie Fu, the short-skirted nymph, or Frankie Chin as the over muscled heavy. Betrayal, violence, guns, revenge…need I say anymore?

Full Contact was made to entertain, and it manages to do this to a certain extent. Where I find it fails is in its suspension of disbelief and dialogue, but that said, I still laugh when I watch it and having watched it a couple of times already, the film`s lo-rent charm is rubbing off on me. Fair audio and video with a better than average selection of extras, including the brilliant audio commentary, makes this DVD a worthy consideration for those that love Hong Kong action cinema.