Violence as poetry, rendered by a master--John Woo's Hard Boiled tells the story of jaded detective "Tequila" Yuen (played with controlled fury by Chow Yun--fat) with brilliance and passion. Woo's dizzying odyssey through the world of Hong Kong Triads, undercover agents, and frenzied police raids culminates unforgettably in the breathless hospital sequence. More than a cops--and--bad--guys story, Hard Boiled continually startles with originality and dark humor. Presented in a widescreen digital transfer with improved subtitles. The CAV edition

Criterion's CAV Special Edition allows detailed, frame--by--frame surveillance of this unique and daring filmmaker and includes:

• Audio commentary by John Woo, Hard Boiled producer Terence Chang, filmmaker Roger Avary and critic Dave Kehr
• Behind-the-scenes footage of Woo on the set of his first Hollywood feature, Hard Target
• The Cantonese theatrical trailer
• Essays on Woo, Hard Boiled, and a genre guide to Hong Kong crime films by David Chute