Bullets 'n' Babes DVD

Post by Bradavon

Here I'll list the best versions of each of Wong Kar-Wai's films on DVD today, in order of release.

All DVDs are uncut and anamorphic unless otherwise stated. I've mentioned other regions where possible and included some reviews too:

* As Tears Go By (1988) - Region 1 SE, the R4 is only a single layer DVD (the R1 SE is dual layer) and has had bad reviews, the HK DVD does have a DD5.1 remix but the subtitles are awful.

The R1 has considerably better remastered subtitles and it contains the original DD2.0. The PQ on the R1 looks like a port of the HK DVD

The HK SE has a newly created DTS remix but otherwise I don't know much about it (it doesn't contain the original DD2.0). The Tartan UK R2 is also single layer and only contains a Mandarin dub (the newer batches are supposed to have been replaced with the original Cantonese).

Region 4 review - http://www.dvdbits.com/reviews.asp?id=2996
DVD Beaver comparison - http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompar ... rsgoby.htm

* Days of Being Wild (1991) - Region 1 SE, the R4 is only a single layer DVD (the R1 SE is dual layer) and has had bad reviews, the HK DVD does have a DD5.1 remix but the subtitles are awful.

The R1 has considerably better remastered subtitles and it contains the original DD2.0. The HK SE has a newly created DTS remix but otherwise I don't know much about it (it doesn't contain the original DD2.0). The Tartan UK R2 is also single layer and only contains a Mandarin dub (the newer batches are supposed to have been replaced with the original Cantonese).

HK SE review - http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=57655
Region 4 review - http://www.dvdbits.com/reviews.asp?id=2997
DVD Beaver comparison - http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompar ... ngwild.htm

* Chungking Express (1994) - UK Region 2 SE. I'm talking about the Artificial Eye version I shall be calling it the SE for simplicities sake. Followed closely by the R1. Both contain the original DD2.0.

Region 2, UK review - http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=11949
DVD Beaver comparison - http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompar ... xpress.htm

* Ashes of Time (1994) - HK Region 0 OR French R2 - Time to cry! There are only two uncut versions of this available and both are AWFUL. The HK DVD wins purely because it at least it's WS (but non-anamorphic). The R1 has been heavily copped from a 4:3 P&S print, chopping the top and bottom off to create a very fake WS print (this was done to cut off the burnt in subs). The HK DVD also at least contains the original Cantonese DD2.0 soundtrack.

UPDATE: Normally I wouldn't include cut DVDs but considering how bad the Uncut HK DVD is I'm going to make an exception. The French R2 has a vastly superior cleaned up picture and the original audio too, it is CUT by 20 minutes however.

Comparison review (worth reading) - http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=3379
DVD Beaver comparison: http://www.articles.dvdbeaver.com/film/ ... oftime.htm
Info & Cover art for French TF1 DVD - http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/ ... -time.html

* Fallen Angels (1995) - Region 4. It has the best PQ out of all the releases, followed closely by the R1. Both contain the original DD2.0.

DVD Beaver comparison - http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompar ... angels.htm
Another comparison (includes the German DVD) - http://web12.dvd2web.de/fa/fallenangels.htm

* Happy Together (1997) - Region 1 SE but the Region 4 has an exclusive DD5.1 remix + exclusive commentary.

The Region 4 looks to have the same woeful transfer as the UK R2 and it's for this reason I'm recommending the much nicer remastered R1. The R1 has the original Cantonese DD2.0 + Documentary (also found on the R4) -

Region 4 review - http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/Re ... sp?ID=6357
DVD Beaver comparison - http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompar ... gether.htm

* In the Mood for Love (2000) - Region 1 Criterion, it's slightly cropped over the R2 French DVD (which has been cloned to make the UK R2, Spanish R2 and numerous other European DVDs) but does have better PQ. The extras are meatier/more in depth too.

The R2 French DVD is also very good though and contains mostly different extras to the Criterion. Both are stacked with extras!

Extras comparison - http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=1538
DVD Beaver comparison - http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcompar ... orlove.htm

* The Hire: The Follow (2001) - This is not really a WKW film but for completeness sake I'll include it. The only version was the BMW Region 0 DVD. It runs for 11 minutes

* 2046 (2004) - French Region 2 OR UK Region 2 - The French R2 has gorgeous AV and stacks of extras BUT no English subtitles at all. The second best option is the OOP Region 4 LE which had DTS, a commentary, an hour long WKW interview + More and used the French master (currently the best). Disc 1 of the 2 Disc LE set is still available which just contains DTS + a commentary.

The third and current best for people who need English subtitles is the UK R2, it has DTS, lovely Picture Quality (from the French DVD) and a nice selection of limited extras.

The R1 has much better extras to the UK R2 but has slightly weaker Picture Quality and even more important an non-remastered Cantonese DD5.1 soundtrack (the rears are barely used).

UK Region 2 review - http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=57194
Region 1 review - http://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... .php?t=879
DVD Beaver comparison - http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReview6/2046.htm
HK R3 vs. French R2 screen creen captures, French DVD specification can be found on page 1 of this thread (Thanks to Tom) - http://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... 8&start=20
Pro-B's findings on the R1 Non-remastered DD5.1 - http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php ... ge=2&pp=26

* Eros (2004) - HK Region 3 - WKW directed 1/3 of this 3 part feature. It has much more extras than the R1, although they centred around the WKW short only + it has DTS (also not on the R1).

It has English subtitled extras but the English subtitles for the main feature appear for all dialogue including English. The audio is actually English, Mandarin and a little Italian (on the R1 also).

HK Region 3 review - http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=58251
Region 1 details - http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=58074

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Summary

I've detailed above the best versions and why they are the best. However if I were to buy these films (as I have done) I would make some alternations, as follows:

* Region 1 Wong Kar-wai box set - This will save you some cash and contains the best versions, except for Chungking Express and Fallen Angels. I've not seen the UK Region 2 SE CE or Region 4 FA but tbh the Region 1 versions of these are already very good.

The box set contains:

As Tears Go By
Days of Being Wild
Chungking Express
Fallen Angels
Happy Together

* The rest as stated above, except I'd pay under a £5 for Ashes of Time HK DVD. I believe it's caught in long running legal wranglings and for this reason we won't be seeing a better/acceptable version anytime soon. If you don't mind it being cut the remastered French SE is far superior.

AFAIK he's only made one and I thought it was okay to average but considering it was his first film I'm willing to majorly figure him. He also shows us the signs of what a auteur he would become.

DOBW is light years ahead and of course ITMFL+2046 are light years ahead again.

How are the subs on the DOBW Megastar remaster? Got any review links?

Only this one but as he doesn't have any other DVD for comparison it's not a particularly good review:

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=57655

He only briefly mentions the subs.

Personally I'd get the R1 DVDs except for:

2046 - HK LE (or the Korean LE but it's more expensive)
Chunking Express - UK R2
Fallen Angels - R4
Ashes of Time - HK R0 . Both the R1 & HK R0 are utter trash but the HK R0 is better - A decent comparison review: http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=3379

The rest the R1 DVD is the best as far as I can tell. These films sound better in the original DD2.0, although I've not heard the remix on DOBW to say for sure (or As Tears Go By but I wouldn't double dip on that film).

Personally I own:

ITMFL - French LE (but I'd probably get the Criterion now)
2046 - HK LE
Ashes of Time - HK R0
R1 Box set - Which includes the separate Chungking Express R1 thrown in for good measure.

Chungking Express R1 and Fallen Angels R1 aren't vastly inferior to the UK R2 and R4 so I figured I could save some cash and get the box set. I worked out if I bought the others separately on R1 plus Chungking Express UK R2 and Fallen Angels R4 it would cost me about £10 more.

Cheers Brad. Judging by that review and the dvdbeaver comparison featuring the old Megastar release (Which looked better than all the other region releases IMO. Guessing that remaster is superior to the previous release.); I may get the DOBW Megastar remaster somewhere down the line - hopefully the subs are decent. First I'll see if I like Chungking Express and 2046.

Personally I'd get the R1 DVDs except for:

Yeah, I'll be skipping that flick until there's a decent DVD. Are the rights in legal limbo or something?

The 2046 Tartan release at cd-wow was ~$34NZD after discount and the HK LE was ~$33NZD at yesasia. Opted for HK LE cuz of better/more extras, even though the Tartan PQ sounds like it's slightly superior. Plus I wouldn't be surprised if Tartan did a 2-disc SE with the French extras ported over like they did for ITMFL.

I've seen a comparison between the old and new Megastar DVDs of Days of Being Wild and the old one looked better IIRC. That's the one I have and am keeping...

This comparison link may help?

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare7/daysofbeingwild.htm

I'm put off getting the Tartan because its got the wrong language on it.. its' a Cantonese film, not Mandarin

I saw that comparison to and thought the MegaStar came out near the end, the R1 looks nicer.

Going by that comparison the R1 definitely looks the sharpest and the subs also definitely look the best. Funnily DVD Beaver say the Tartan has the best PQ but also complain it's only takes up 3.85Gb of a single layer disc.


What about ITMFL? You should see it before 2046.

It will also bridge the gap nicely between CE and 2046. CE and 2046 are very different but also both uniquely WKW. IMO (& many others) ITMFL is currently WKW's magnum opus.


I think it's the fact it didn't do very well at all at the HK box office and (for example) is the only WKW film to not be picked up in the UK.


I'm not sure they're actually better, don't get your hopes up the HK extras are watch once affairs. Where did you read the Tartan DVD had better PQ?


I hope so BUT the original ITMFL was dire so a good reason for Tartan to double dip. They only seem to double dip their DVDs which are very popular (i.e - Asian horror or action) and are a mess to start off with.


I own that also but got the R1 too as the subs on both the original Megastar DOBW and ATGB are so awful it barely makes the film watchable.

The R1 subs are miles ahead. I've not done a direct comparison (I should I guess) but I'm just happy the subs are decent.


Apparently they've re-released it with Cantonese but I can't actually find the re-release for sale.

Not that it matters as the R1 is cheaper and is dual layer unlike the Tartan's which are single layer. Not conclusive I know but why pay more for less.

Thats wierd. I've never heard of that.

Shame on you for not looking at DVD Times more often :

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=56545

A Chinese Oddyssey 2002 is a Cantonese film, no? Or rather, 2 cuts made for different markets. AFAIK the HK DVD has both of these.

Run away, Fulltime Killer (aka Gil) is back

Difficult to say.
The presence of Jeff Lau and Wong Kar-Wai at the helm makes it cantonese, but it's half-cantonese and half-mandarin.

Zhao Wei and Chang Chen speak mandarin.
Faye Wong and Tony Leung speak cantonese.

The cantonese version just sounds better to my ears.

It's the same problem with Fly Me To Polaris.
You've got Cecilia Cheung speaking cantonese and Richie Ren speaking mandarin.

There's no original language for these films.

EDIT: I've just read the comments on the DVDtimes review and found out that I've said the exact same thing 5 months ago.

The original language would still be Cantonese, just that one or more actors aren't speaking that langauge. It doesn't invalidate the filmmakers' intent. Personally I would have mixed the languages so that every actor could be heard on the one track, but I guess that's not what Jeff Lau wanted. Both films were released in HK in Cantonese.

I'm not made of money.

Yeah, so I hear. But again, I'm not made of money. When I do buy ITMFL it'll be the Tartan 2-discer.

I said SOUNDS LIKE it's slightly superior. I reached that conclusion after reading both the DVDtimes reviews of HK LE and the Tartan.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll skip the Megastar remaster and get the R1 then. If I like CE and 2046 that is.

Fair enough just make sure you get it. It maybe worth just adding ITMFL to that list as you maybe surprised of the gap between CE and 2046 otherwise.

WKW greatly improved with ITMFL, not that CE is bad (far from it) plus like I said you'll get more out of 2046 if you see ITMFL first.


Fair enough but in this case I don't think there is much between it and the Criterion price wise.


Aren't those written by different people?


Just to clarify I don't own the HK Remaster but the original subs are truly woeful.

First off, this gotten pretty OT of Tartan. Should've these exchanges be split from this thread and made into a separate "Wong Kar-Wai Thread"?

CE arrived yesterday evening (along with Escape from New York SE and Twin Peaks S1 boxset that I ordered.), Will watch it in the weekend.

I've been on a David Cronenberg and pre-90's John Carpenter binge recently. 8 Cronenberg and 7 Carpenter DVDs. Pretty much blown my budget until October - that probably'll be blown too with the release of the German AFOD/FAFDM 4-discer and R1 The Fly SE.

Hmm, yeah. I wanted to get the Tartan 2-discer cuz the dvdbeaver comparisonsays the Criterion's picture is artificially boosted and slightly cropped. But after examining the extras of both sets, the Criterion's offerings sounds better. I've never let trivial stuff (well, not really) like "cinematographer's intentions" stop me from getting a certain better sounding DVD release over another, why should I do so here? I may

Yes. I was making an informed guess. Plus you (Brad) said in the comments of the dvdtimes Tartan review that the HK LE picture was decent.

I found this after a google search:-
Eek! Worse subs than the old Megastar. Fuck the remaster then.

Only problem is the R1 Kino releases are damn expensive for me = $42NZD each. The Naked Lunch and Videodrome Criterions I bought recently off cd-wow were only ~$38NZD. Barebones releases that are more expensive than brimming Criterion SEs = total ripoffs IMO. FFS they shouldn't be anymore than £7/8.

On another notes there's flashing ads for 2046 plastered all over IMDB at moment. Apparently Sony hold the US rights, so expect the eventual R1 DVD to be the best PQ wise. Blah, I won't be double-dipping.

What about Fallen Angels? Isn't that like Chungking Express Part 2 or something?

I've seen a cap comparison of the OLD and NEW Mega Star DVDs and the NEW one looked much worse to my eyes. It was on a link to a Chinese forum so I've no way of finding it. Sorry.

Watched Chungking Express a couple hours ago. I enjoyed it. Reminded me of Lost in Translation.

Something that's universal to all cultures, pop music is awful where ever you go. The Faye Wong song was terrible IMO. At least it wasn't as bad as her god awful "Eyes on Me", the main theme of the craptacular Final Fantasy 8.