The Wong Kar-wai thread!

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 21 May 2008, 12:10

http://www.screendaily.com/ScreenDailyA ... ryID=39049

" one spectacular water sequence featuring Brigitte Lin looks new. "
" Wong has simply restored, rather than revisited, one of the most remarkable works of his career. "

Yippee !!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 21 May 2008, 21:14

Thanks Tom. It sounds ace. It sounds like the audio has been changed the most.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 22 May 2008, 09:18

Too bad the Frankie Chan score is likely to be axed, it is some great stuff.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 22 May 2008, 09:29

Chan's score is a monumentally important part of Ashes of Time's mood, hopefully Wu Tong as just rearranged bits here and there and kept the main theme (arguably the most reproduced score in HK cinema) in tact. 93min runtime seems to suggest that it is the international version of the film with one or two scenes from the HK theatrical cut inserted into it.

Looks like I won't be getting rid of my HK DVD just yet!

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 22 May 2008, 09:54

They haven't really changed the score. They've just added/replaced a few instruments and modified a few cues.
The big themes (Gone With the Wind, Reminiscence, A Lonely Heart) should still be there.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 22 May 2008, 18:20

They use the Gone With The Wind theme?!

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 22 May 2008, 19:21

Nah, that's just the names of the songs.

Wikipedia has the tracklist:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashes_of_Time

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 23 May 2008, 12:09

Oh OK

Silly me

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 23 May 2008, 12:47

Wong Kar Wai's 'Ashes of Time' Premieres at Cannes

Youtube preview.
Those people have no idea what they're talking about (who the heck is Christian Doyle?!

), but you get to see a couple of shots and sub samples.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 May 2008, 15:51

Cool video thanks Tom. Christian Doyle though

.

Watching it with decent subs will be a revelation.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 23 May 2008, 18:07

I cant wait to pick it up

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 23 May 2008, 18:27

I hope they haven't tried to get rid of the grain.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 23 May 2008, 19:22

Here's a Tony Leung interview from Cannes:

MegaUpload:
http://www.megaupload.com/fr/?d=23NY4ODV

RapidShare mirror:
http://rapidshare.com/files/117089037/LCW.avi.html

Use VLC player if you get a black screen.
The interview has a french voice-over but I've included a rough translation below.
This vid is interesting as it shows many shots with new colour filters at the beginning and at the end (I don't know how accurate the video is, though).

Tony Leung Chiu-Wai: " For me, Ashes of Time is about the desert. All the fighting scenes were shot in the desert. Every day, it took 4 hours to get to the set. I had to do the stunts myself, it was very difficult. I remember I couldn't walk for a week after shooting, that's how tired I was. I play a warrior who somehow finds out that his wife has an affair with his best friend.
I haven't seen the cut yet. I'll discover it tonight when they show it. I don't know what has changed between both versions.

The first time I met WKW, it was in his office. He asked me to be in DOBW, his second film. We spoke for hours, about many things, even my private life.
I shared a lot, I don't even know why.
I was honoured to receive a prize at Cannes, for ITMFL. Especially outside of HK.

As for Lust Caution, it was very nice to shoot under Ang Lee, who is a great director. I have many good memories about the shooting. It was different from the previous parts I've played.
In China they don't rate films. Lust Caution is not for children, and they cut all the love scenes. As a Chinese, I'm very proud that my country gets to do the Olympic games. I'm not sure I'll make it to Beijing as it'll be crowded, but I hope I'll be there. "

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 25 May 2008, 18:47

OK, guys. It's all over.
Found this on IMDB:

I have seen it 3 times in Cannes.
So:

- the redux version is 93 minutes, shorter than the others editions;
- the entire movie is restored in digital and the colors are a bit sature;
- the first images are a little different: Wong has inserted o big yellow-moon;
- Wong has removed the first battle scene!!!
- the main titles & ending titles are different;
- the music is a lot different: Wong has removed the fantastic music from 3 important sequences;
- the editing is a little different in 2-3 scenes;
- Wong has removed the (dead) cat hanged on the wall in the sequence of Huang and Yin;
- Wong has inserted 2 short images of peach blossoms;
- the editing of the final sequence is different: in this new one there is only Leslie Chang;
- the subtitles are a bit different.

Keep your Mei Ah DVDs.
WKW has killed Ashes of Time.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 May 2008, 18:58

Thanks Tom.

I'm split down the middle whether this is good or bad. I need to see it to see for myself. It's director approved which accounts for a lot and the Mei Ah DVD "IMO" is unwatchable. I don't regret selling it.

I wonder why WKW decided to remove those scenes, weird.

WKW has killed Ashes of Time.

That's just a little OTT. You've not seen it yet. "Overall" you may prefer it, overall being the crucial word.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 25 May 2008, 19:12

Those changes remind me of the international cut.
I've seen the international cut. It's fucking horrible.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 May 2008, 19:17

Ah, thanks. You never know you may like the new changes too. I'm just looking forward to watching a watchable version (any version) with readable English subs.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 25 May 2008, 19:42

Shit. Now I need to learn how create a fan version (the french dvd with the missing scenes edited back in).

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 25 May 2008, 19:59

Damn, Hung. You read my mind.
That's what I'm working on right now.

"Ashes of Time remux", by Tom2681.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 May 2008, 20:09

Wouldn't that be bloody hard and to make sure it all syncs up correctly?

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 27 May 2008, 13:08

It's getting worse every minute:

Brigitte Lin doesn't scream in the impressive lake scene.
Wong has removed the first two battle scene!!! So we can't see the first appearence of the horse thieves...

And since the ending features Leslie Cheung only, that means my three favourite shots are gone:

Thanks, Mr Wong Kar-Wai.
Why don't you go back to Chungking Express and remove Faye Wong and Tony Leung, while you're at it?

Bastard...

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 27 May 2008, 13:27

tom2681 wrote:It's getting worse every minute:

Nope, it's getting better every minute. If he had removed two scenes and changed some of the music, then it would've been a problem. Which version to watch? But now, every news update makes you feel better about sticking with the old version. No need to think your head through whether to watch the new, remastered compromise version or not.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 27 May 2008, 13:59

Guess you're right.
Might as well pretend the new version doesn't exist.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 27 May 2008, 14:15

Of course the new edit does nothing to lessen the greatness of the longer HK cut, but it could very well ensure that the HK and Japanese DVDs remain the final digital releases of that edit of the film.

That is most definitely not good news!

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 27 May 2008, 17:38

Wong Kar-Lucas?