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

ADDITION: Eureka Blu-ray (May 2021): Eureka have transferred Hark Tsui's Time and Tide to Blu-ray. It is cited as being a "1080p presentation on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK". The video transfer is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate and looks very strong. One shouldn't denounce the filmmakers various lens and techniques as flaws in this adept HD presentation. Hark Tsui utilizes a variety of visually diverse techniques and edits to produce this marvelous film experience. There are unique camera angles, slight distortions, filters and much more. The 1080P seems like an excellent replication of his film. There are scenes with extreme detail and others more hazy or look worn to give an impression or create atmosphere. This looked great on my system in-motion - solid colors, excellent contrast and occasional depth.

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Eureka offer the choice of two DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround tracks (24-bit) in the original Cantonese / Mandarin OR an English language DUB. The former is very robust making the film's many action sequences - explosive, exporting deep bass, bombastic and surprisingly separated. The score is equally kinetic and effective by Jun Kung (as Joventino Couto Remotigue) and Tommy Wai. Eureka offer optional English subtitles (SDH and regular - see samples below) on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.

The Eureka Blu-ray offers two commentaries. The first is by writer, producer, and director Tsui Hark and he is in top form detailing various proposed cuts and plots twists and so much more to do with the production and final film. The second is a new one by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival). I enjoyed this as I did his commentary on Johnnie To's Throw Down Blu-ray from Eureka's The Masters of Cinema sub-label. His provides some astute analysis that helped me appreciate the film even more. After that is an original trailer and the package has two limited edition products; a collector’s booklet (2000 copies) featuring new writing by Chinese-language film expert and author Stephen Teo and an O-Card Slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling.  

Hark Tsui's Time and Tide is excellent. Personally, it continuously evoked Wong Kar Wai's Chungking Express for its visual energy, interconnecting of personal stories and variety of disparate depictions of Hong Kong. This, obviously, explored violence, martial arts with crime, embracing law and/or responsibilities, trust, time as underlying themes. It's a film I was so happy to have seen on the Eureka Blu-ray. The commentary supplements were very valuable and it comes in a great package. Strongly recommended!

Gary Tooze