A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES
DVD Review by David Blackwell

DETAILS: 110 minutes, 6 deleted scenes, 6 short featurettes, theatrical trailer
VIDEO: 2.35:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)
AUDIO: Mandarin 5.1 DTS, 5.1, 2.0 Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, Spanish

STUDIO: Tartan Video/ Media Asia Films/ Tathe Film Investment/ Focus Films/ Beijing Forbidden City Film
RELEASE DATE: 7-24-2007

A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES is a high caliber drama. The story, characters, and music score all combine together to make one of the best films coming from China. Feng Xiaogang has crafted a tale mixed with action, sadness, change, and an interesting gallery of characters.

The film revolves around Bo (Andy Lau) and Li (Rene Liu) who are partners in crime and passion. Li decides she wants to quit stealing after they steal a BMW. Bo resists quitting. Li is tired of stealing. On a train journey, Bo and Li make friends with the naive Fu Gen aka Dumbo (going home with his fortune of 60,000). They must protect him from a world where a thief can be anybody and a gang of thieves (lead by Uncle Bill) who want Fu Gen's money. A series of kung fu ballet fights, double crosses, conversations, and surprises follow.

A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES isn't without it's flaws. Two grating Chines pop songs mar a near perfect film score. It fails to wrap up Dumbo's story at the end more effectively. The cop on the train could have been developed a little bit more. However, this film is engaging from start to finish.

SPECIAL FEATURES: 6 deleted scenes cut for pacing are included (still they are great to watch). The play all function didn't work on my disc. THE MAKING OF A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES conists of 6 short promo full featurettes that sometime repeat material in another featurette before it. The original theatrical trailer and Tartan previews for OLDBOY, NATURAL CITY, and two others warp up the disc.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES is a very engaging tale of double crosses, change, and surprises. The only major flaw on the disc I received is that I had to activate the English subtitles for the film and the deleted scenes.

this DVD Review is (c)8-17-2007 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com