NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Film Movement Blu-ray (July 2024): Film Movement have transferred Yimou Zhang's Shanghai Triad to Blu-ray. We reviewed Sony's 2000 DVD HERE and have compared captures below. There were a few issues with that early DVD - from digitization to the heavy gold/yellow hue of the SD presentation. I have a feeling much of the film was shot with a soft focus but the director's abundant visual style is always prevalent via the 1080P. I have no idea how it looked theatrically, and can't speak to the colors, but I was pleased with this Blu-ray video on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate which include sequences of appealing texture.

NOTE: We have added 68 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Film Movement use a linear PCM 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. There are off-screen murders, rain and musical numbers performed. Otherwise Shanghai Triad is reasonably passive without challenging bass. The score was by Guangtian Zhang (his first composure credit - and after he was sentenced to three years of re-education through labor for political and moral misconduct.) It is quite good, with a 'Main Theme', The Eyes of Shui Sheng, Lilac Menuet, False Pretenses and performance numbers sung by Gong Li, available on CD HERE. It sounded clean with perhaps a noticeable sync issue at times. Film Movement offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray.

The Film Movement Blu-ray offers supplements. Trouble in Shanghai is a 20-minute video essay by author Grady Hendrix (These Fists Break Bricks: How Kung Fu Movies Swept America and Changed the World.) He talks about Yimou Zhang's films being intentionally interpretive with blank spaces and unexplained events and he discusses three way to read Shanghai Triad. As a 'gangster film' with a moll, rival gang etc., a 'coming of age' film and a secret political critique or is it a representation of the Li/Zhang relationship? There is also a trailer and a 16-page liner notes booklet with an essay by John Berra (Directory of World Cinema: American Independent) and color photos.

Yimou Zhang's Shanghai Triad is based on Li Xiao's 1994 novel Rules of a Clan set in the 1930s Shanghai criminal underworld over the course of a week. The Chinese title "Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao" refers to a traditional Chinese lullaby "Row, row, row to Grandma Bridge" - a song sung by Gong Li in the film. She plays a Shanghai nightclub singer, Xiao Jinbao. Men have a tendency to fall under her seductive spell including her teenage manservant, Tang Shuisheng, whose perspective we see much of the film's story. Jinbao is also the mistress of the ruthless, and old, Triad Boss (played by Li Baotian) named 'Tang'. He has out-deceived Song, his number two man who was also having an affair with Jinbao. Yimou Zhang is one of my favorite directors and while not his best - it is still an effectively realized crime-drama. He is a master cinematic storyteller. Shanghai Triad was the last collaboration of Gong Li and Zhang Yimou until working together again, 11-years later, in 2006's Curse of the Golden Flower. I really enjoyed watching Shanghai Triad in the improved a/v and the visual essay was observant if somewhat controversial. There is also a liner notes booklet. The Film Movement Blu-ray is certainly recommended! A keeper for me.

Gary Tooze