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The online film magazine Combustible Celluloid offers new movie reviews, DVD reviews, film reviews, actor interviews, actress interviews, director interviews, film books and all things cinema related for the thoughtful and passionate. Online for ten years! Over 3000 reviews!

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Breaking News (2004)

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Media Hype

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Breaking News on (Region 2) DVD

This week's big news is Breaking News at the Balboa (3630 Balboa Street, SF). Reliable, veteran Hong Kong action director Johnny To (Fulltime Killer, Running on Karma) starts Breaking News with an astonishing tracking shot lasting nearly seven minutes that could rank with Orson Welles' much-admired Touch of Evil opener. From there, it explodes into a rapid-fire tale of media in the modern age. A besmirched police department puts on a big show for the media when they corner a wanted gang in an apartment building, sending out live feeds and controlled sound bytes. But of course virtually nothing goes according to plan. Director To still plays by the old school rules and shoots his almost constant action with beautiful speed and clarity; it's his best film since The Heroic Trio (1993). Kelly Chen (Infernal Affairs) stars.

DVD Details: Tartan Video UK was kind enough to let me sample the Region 2 version of this DVD, which looks great. It comes with a behind-the-scenes featurette and a trailer. It's presented in 16x9 anamorphic.

Starring: Kelly Chen, Nick Cheung, Siu-Fai Cheung, Richie Jen, Hui Siu Hung, Lam Suet
Written by: Hing-Ka Chan, Tin-Shing Yip
Directed by: Johnny To
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Language: Cantonese with English subtitles
Running Time: 90 minutes
Date: February 10, 2006