The multi award-winning "Beast Cops" finally hits UK DVD, and it's really been worth the wait. Made back in 1999, this viciously exciting and brutal action thriller stuns with its ferocity. It's made all the better with a DVD release that really enhances the film.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Picture There's no point trying to pick flaws here. The image is consistently sharp, clear, and beautiful to look at.

Sound This movie was exciting on the old stereo VHS release, but what a revelation it is in the 5.1 mix on this new DVD. Crank this beast up and thrill to a track that envelops and disorientates you into the dark mood of the film.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Audio Commentary When will Bey Logan trip up and give us a crap commentary? Not here it seems. It's not often that he has company, but here he shares a track with director Gordon Chan. As they've recently been working together on Jackie Chan's new movie "Highbinders", their rapport is easy, and with Logan's encyclopaedic Hong Kong movie knowledge, he's able to ask suitably interesting questions. The main revelation is just how small the budget was, and how old school cheap film-making tricks resulted in this minor epic.

Cast and Crew Interviews Director Gordon Chan, and stars Anthony Wong and Stephanie Che sit in for all new interviews for the DVD. Wong's piece is just strange - there's no getting around it. Clearly an expert in chewing gum to irritating excess, he lists such influences as De Niro, Pacino and McDowell on his acting. Che, meanwhile, discusses what it was like to work on this, her first movie, and Chan reveals some of the tricks he used in the making of the film.

Additional Extra Features A photo gallery, original and new UK promo trailer for the movie, plus a promo trailer for "2000AD", and a Hong Kong Legends trailer gallery. Wrapped up in moodily cool animated menus, this is one DVD that you must own if you're thirsty for action with a seductively brutal twist.

Region: 2
Chapters: 32
Ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Extra Features: Scene selection, animated menus, and multiple languages and subtitles.

This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-S57 DVD player.