Running Out of Time Collection

Summary

“How much time do I have?”

Arrow Video has recently released two films by acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Johnnie To – Running Out of Time and its sequel Running Out of Time 2. Criterion recently released To’s film Throw Down on Blu-ray, so hopefully we can expect more of his filmography will be given stateside Blu-ray releases in the near future. Running Out of Time was a very popular picture for the Hong Kong based director. For screenplay duties, To enlisted the help of two French screenwriters; Julien Carbon and Laurent Courtiaud. Their unique French sensibilities combined with Johnny To’s stylized direction translated into an enjoyable film. I would guess that many people who purchase this set are for the most part hoping to revisit the first film in the series. For the sequel, screenwriting duties were not performed by Carbon and Courtiaud. The film was codirected by Wing-Cheong Law, as opposed to solely by Johnnie To. The difference in quality is fairly obvious between the two films. I am happy that Arrow has done their normal due diligence to give both films the royal treatment in this set. As a completist, I also appreciate the opportunity to own both films for a reasonable price.

Running Out of Time

As the film begins Cheung (Andy Lau,) a man in a black suit wearing dark sunglasses, walks to the rooftop of a building. Cheung has been given by his a doctor a terminal diagnosis with only four weeks to live. Across town, police surround a building wherein people are being held hostage. Officer Ho (Ching Wan Lau) arrives on the scene. Two robbers in masks hold a number of hostages inside the bank. Ho listens to a tape recording of the negotiations done prior to his arrival by his incompetent superior Chief Inspector Wong Kai Fat (Shiu Hung Hui.) Dismayed by the prior attempts, Officer Ho walks inside the bank and begins negotiations with the nervous robbers. One hostage has already been killed, and tensions are high. Ho manages the situation perfectly despite its complexities (which I will not spoil here.) Leaving the bank, Ho walks to a street vendor and grabs some food. Cheung discretely takes photos of him. Cheung has clippings of the actions of Ho and other news clippings of the Special Duties Unit of the police force. Cheung walks into a finance company and proceeds to hold a man at gun point. He tells everyone else to leave the building. Cheung performs a few quick actions within the building that have purposes later on. Ho arrives on the scene and heads to the roof where Cheung holds the man hostage. Ho moves past his incompetent superior and begins discussions with Cheung. Cheung tells Ho that they will be playing a game that will take three days. The film progresses from there as Ho tries to capture Cheung, while Cheung works his own plan.

Running Out of Time is a fun and enjoyable film. The film is lighthearted and has a good sense of humor. The film is not very violent and is never gruesome. It keeps the audience guessing enough to keep things interesting as the plot unfolds. The picture moves quickly. The film is directed stylishly by Johnnie To, which works for and against the picture. Most of his stylistic flourishes work, although some of the directorial techniques used in the film have not aged particularly well. The central performances are solid and the characters are likable and well fleshed out. Ching Wan Lau is great as the resourceful Inspector Ho. Andy Lau is also very good in the role of Cheung. Their chemistry onscreen is the key to the success of the film, and is also one of the reasons the second film has so much difficulty measuring up. The French aesthetic applied towards a Hong Kong cops-and-robbers film sets Running Out of Time apart. The film’s writing by Courtiaud and Carbon is very well balanced. The film is playful, but many of the plot machinations would fit into any cops-and-robbers picture. The sly humor of the picture does not get in the way of the action or distract from the plot. Everything the film sets out to do, it accomplishes. I really enjoyed Running Out of Time, and would definitely recommend checking it out.

Running Out of Time 2

Running Out of Time 2 is a classic case of a sequel that fails to live up to the promise of the original. In the sequel, Inspector Ho finds himself once again playing a game that takes three days against a magician (Ekin Cheng.) Like many sequels, it is a little too similar to the film that preceded it (three day formula, Ho versus a clever but lighthearted thief,) while missing elements that made the prior picture work (the sly humor of the first film, the French sensibilities, chemistry between the two lead actors.) On top of all of that, the film has a dated CGI eagle that feels incredibly out of place. I would not go as far as to say that the movie is terrible or anything, but I would say that there is a big leap in quality between the two films.

Video

Arrow Video says in the booklet:

“Running Out of Time and Running Out of Time 2 are presented in their original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with original Cantonese and Mandarin 5.1, English mono (Running Out of Time) and English 5.1 (Running Out of Time 2) audio options. The films were restored by Fortune Star, who supplied the masters for this release.“

Both films arrive on the format with good looking transfers. Fine detail is pretty good, and I did not notice any glaring compression issues. As is usually the case with Arrow, the quality control is of no issue. Fans should be happy with how the films look.

Audio

Arrow Video have provided a  DTS-HD MA 5.1 tracks in either Cantonese or Mandarin. The first picture has an English mono track, and the second picture has an English 5.1 track. I watched the films in Mandarin, and thought the mix sounded great. There are some well choreographed action sequences that take advantage of the surrounds, and the films were properly immersive.  

Supplements:

Running Out of Time:

• Audio Commentary with Asian film expert Frank Djeng
• Audio Commentary with Screenwriters Julien Carbon & Laurent Courtiaud
• Interviews
• Two interviews with Julien Carbon and Laurent Courtiaud 
• Johnnie To 
• Lau Ching-wan 
• Raymond Wong 
• The Director’s Overview of Carbon and Cortiaud 
• Theatrical Trailer
• Image Gallery

Running Out of Time 2:

• Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng
• The Making of Running Out of Time 2
• Hong Kong Stories 
• Theatrical Trailer
• Image Gallery

Overall Scores:

Video – 4.25/5 

Audio – 4.5/5

Supplements – 4/5

Overall – 4.25/5

Running Out of Time is a well made and enjoyable Hong Kong cops-and-robbers film from director Johnnie To. The film benefits from a sly script by French screenwriters Laurent Courtiaud and Julien Carbon. Running Out of Time has a great cast with strong chemistry between lead performers Andy Lau and Ching Wan Lau. The sequel to Running Out of Time is entertaining, but pales in comparison to the original film. I appreciate that Arrow has gone out of their way to provide both films for fans and completists in one affordable edition. Buy the set for the first film, and consider the second film a bonus. Arrow Video has provided good looking transfers with very good audio for both films. The supplemental features are pretty in depth. The set gathers a good amount of supplements from the numerous DVD releases of the film in the past. I am glad to have this release in my collection. Recommended.