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2.46- random rants Fall 2002
2.47

PROTEGE
DVD Review by David Blackwell
 
DETAILS:   109 minutes, audio commentary, four featurettes, theatrical trailer
VIDEO:     2.35:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)
AUDIO:   Cantonese 5.1,  English 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles:   English, English SDH, Spanish
 
STUDIO:  Dragon Dynasty/ The Weinstein Company/ Artforce International LTD/ Mediacorp Raintree Pictures/ Global Entertainment Group (Asia) LTD/ Film Unlimited
RLEASE DATE:   2-24-2009

PROTEGE is all in the details.  It shys away from the movie stereotypes as it provides no easy answers and show destructive drugs are while painting the drug dealers as real people (with families).  PROTEGE revolves around Nick (Daniel Wu), an undercover cop who has been inside of the operation a Hong Kong crime boss Quin (Andy Lau) for the last few years.   Quin has taken to Nick to the point that he wants Nick to take over and marry his wife's younger sister.  Meanwhile, Nick becomes attracted to Jane (Zhang Jing Chu), a single mother/ heroin addict.   Jane is trying to kick the habit while Nick is trying to bust a herion operation from the inside.   To make maters worst, the husband Jane ran away from has found her (he's a junkie too).
 
PROTEGE features story elements recognizable in many drug related films.  The difference here is that it shows everyone from the drug dealers to the cops to the addicts as human beings.   It shows the attraction and horror of being a junkie.   LIke AMERICAN GANGSTER, it shows every part of the drug operation.   Quin like the head gangster (in AMERICAN GANGSTER) feel they're entitled and they feel justified in selling the drugs.   Given the strict ways in how China handles certain subject matter in their country, the bonus material on the DVD point to the fact that allowing PROTEGE to tackle it is a positive sign (for China and their film industry).   Writer/ Director Derek Yee is a part of a generation of filmmakers who tightly script and direct their films (Johnnie To is another one).   Derek Yee thoroughly researched the subject matter for this film and it shows.   I'm glad he goes in the opposite direction of the typical bad guy stereotypes seen in films like this.   PROTEGE is one of the best films to come from Hong Kong.  It's in the same league as ELECTION and INFERNAL AFFAIRS.
 
SPECIAL FEATURES:
feature audio commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan.  Bey Logan gives a wealth of info on the cast and crew, the film, the locations, and points of the story he had problems with  even though it was for the drama of the story.
 
THE MAKING OF PROTEGE-  cast and crew talk about the film with clips from the production and the film.
UNDERCOVER & OVER THE EDGE- interview with Daniel Wu as he talks about the role, working with director Daniel Wu, and mentioning that Louis Koo is a big Darth Vader/ Star Wars fan
CHASING THE DARGON- interview with Zhang Jing Chu that includes how she played the role, did the love scene, and talked with fomer drug addicts
THE DEALER- an interview with producer Peter Chan as he talks about how independent the director is, picking the right cast, and more.
 
rounding out the extras is the original theatrical trailer.
 
FINAL ANALYSIS:  PROTEGE is down and dirty as it stays away from common movie stereotypes seen in movies about drug dealing.   It is different from many of the Hong Kong films of the past.  check it out.
 
this DVD review is (c)2-24-2009 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com