Hard Boiled
Criterion Collection US RC0
Fox Lorber US RC1
Mei Ah Remastered Edition Hong Kong RC3
Tartan Remastered Edition (2004) UK RC2

The Criterion DVD is overcontrasted, vertically cropped (~ 1,91:1 aspect ratio), with a very soft picture, severe edge enhancement (pic#3), flat colors and a blueish tint (pic#1). The Fox Lorber transfer from the same master has better framing, contrast and detail, but is too bright and suffers from edge enhancement. The Mei Ah transfer shows very good detail and contrast, but coloring is off most of the time (pic#1, pic#5). Combing effects occur when deinterlaced in WEAVE mode (pic#2). Lots of dirt and print damage are present in these transfers (pic#4). The new Tartan transfer from a cleaned up low contrast 35 mm print is very well framed with excellent contrast, good detail level and good (if somewhat oversaturated) colors (pic#5). During the opening credit this presentation is letterboxed (page 2). In spite of this and frequent compression artefacts (pic#2) this is the best transfer.

transfer ranking:
Tartan Remastered Edition (2004) UK RC2
Mei Ah Remastered Edition Hong Kong RC3
Fox Lorber US RC1
Criterion Collection US RC0

Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection USA - RC0 (NTSC) 4:3

Hard Boiled - Fox Lorber USA - RC0 (NTSC) 4:3

Hard Boiled - Mei Ah Remastered Edition Hong Kong - RC3 (NTSC)

Hard Boiled - Tartan Remastered Edtition (2004) UK - RC2 (PAL)



Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection USA - RC0 (NTSC) 4:3

Hard Boiled - Fox Lorber USA - RC0 (NTSC) 4:3

Hard Boiled - Mei Ah Remastered Edition Hong Kong - RC3 (NTSC)

Combing effects possibly due to incorrect progressive flag (only in 'force weave' setting)

Hard Boiled - Tartan Remastered Edtition (2004) UK - RC2 (PAL)



Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection USA - RC0 (NTSC) 4:3

Hard Boiled - Fox Lorber USA - RC0 (NTSC) 4:3

Hard Boiled - Mei Ah Remastered Edition Hong Kong - RC3 (NTSC)

Hard Boiled - Tartan Remastered Edtition (2004) UK - RC2 (PAL)



Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection USA - RC0 (NTSC) 4:3

Hard Boiled - Fox Lorber USA - RC0 (NTSC) 4:3

Hard Boiled - Mei Ah Remastered Edition Hong Kong - RC3 (NTSC)

Hard Boiled - Tartan Remastered Edtition (2004) UK - RC2 (PAL)



Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection USA - RC0 (NTSC) 4:3

Hard Boiled - Fox Lorber USA - RC0 (NTSC) 4:3

Hard Boiled - Mei Ah Remastered Edition Hong Kong - RC3 (NTSC)

Hard Boiled - Tartan Remastered Edtition (2004) UK - RC2 (PAL)

screen captures by 'man-eater'

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