The Wong Kar-wai thread!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Nov 2005, 20:59

According to EzyDVD and Sword here:

http://madboards.madman.com.au/viewtopi ... 912#513912

The R4 LE has:

deleted scenes 13:40
Aussie interview 58:54

Can anyone confirm this? EzyDVD don't say the WKW interview is an hour but do list deleted scenes.

If this is true it should wipe the floor with the forthcoming R1.

Anyone?

p.s - Neither are listed on Madman's own listing.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 06 Nov 2005, 00:41

I'd go for the R1, since it will probably have the best transfer (aside from the French release) around and the extras sound better (pfft hour-long WKW interview). The R4 transfer is most probably a direct port of the Tartan.

Hopefully the R1 is uncut though, Brad is right about the MPAA practices thesedays (strict on sex, pretty damn liberal on violence). According to the MPAA website the film is R-rated and as is the DVD according to Amazon.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Nov 2005, 11:23

I have an update Eva. The interview is true:

http://madboards.madman.com.au/viewtopi ... 589#514589

Brad: I've just popped the disc in to have a look... the features listed above are indeed correct.

I've asked for clarification that the interview is definitely an hour long but even so the R4 now suddenly has deleted scenes.

And some info on the gorgeous Tin:

Purchased the 2-disc SE the other day and the packaging is superb, probably the best I've ever seen from Madman. Black metal tin with embossed silver '2046' lettering and clear plastic circular window revealing the poster art on the DVD disc within. A black cardboard slipcase with cut-out circular hole slides over the tin, again revealing the poster art on the DVD disc within. The slipcase has the film title printed on the front and the back contains the blurb, awards, critic quotes, festival entries and DVD specs as you would expect.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Nov 2005, 11:25

Here's what we know so far. I'll only mention what's different between each DVD (i.e - They all have Cantonese DD5.1 + Anamorphic):

R1

Alternate ending
Deleted scenes
Behind the scenes of 2046 featurette (I'm guessing it's the 37 minute Making Of.)
Interview with Wong-Kar Wai, Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi
"The Music of 2046" branching featurette
Production design featurette
Music montage (I'm guessing it's the "Casta Diva" music video)
Poster Gallery

French R2:

Far to many to list here:

http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=6624
Also here with pictures: http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=56454

UK R2:

Cantonese DTS
Interview with director Wong Kar-Wai (UK Exclusive) (16:29)
Interview with actress Zhang Ziyi (11:50)
Zhang Ziyi "behind the scenes" footage (3:04)
"Casta Diva" music video (7:05)
2003 promo (7:00)
Hong Kong teaser trailer (1:23)
Hong Kong theatrical trailer (2:27)
UK theatrical trailer (2:26)
Bonus trailers: In the Mood for Love; Mysterious Skin; The Machinist
4-page booklet, with film notes by James Mottram

Review: http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=57194

HK as well as Korean R3:

OST CD - As part of the Korean, separate LE on the HK
"Making Of" featurette (36:29)
"Theme Music" featurette (I'm pretty sure this is the same as the ""Casta Diva" above)
"Ziyi Footage" featurette (I'm pretty sure this is the same as the Zhang Ziyi footage above)
"Lovers" clip + 2 Theatrical Trailers

HK 2 Disc LE Review: http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=55636

Australian R4 LE + Standard

Standard

1 Disc
Cantonese DTS
Audio Commentary With Stephen Teo (author of "Wong-Kar Wai" BFI)

Would BFI stand for British Film Institute?

LE

2 Discs
The same as above plus:

Zhang Ziyi On Set (3:07)
Zhang Ziyi Interview (11:51)
The Making Of 2046 (36:29)
Casta Diva Music Video (7:05)
Original Theatrical Trailers, Teasers & 2003 promo
Australian Exclusive Uncut Interview with Wong-Kar Wai (58:54)
Deleted Scenes (13:40)

As you can see many of the extras have come from the HK R3 (which came out first) but some are exclusive. The French R2 looks to be the best but if you need English subtitles the R4 LE looks gorgeous. The R1 is only on 1 disc (as far as we can tell) so I can't see it beating the R4 LE which has DTS + a commentary anyway.

It's a pity the R4 doesn't hear from Tony Leung but you can't have everything.

p.s - R4 LE IN STOCK here, for AUD $37.16/£15.55 delivered:

http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/782696

Cheapest I can find it.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Nov 2005, 11:59

EROS R1 details have been uploaded. WKW directed 1 of the 3 shorts:

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=58074

Interestingly if you look closely at the rear cover (found on DVD Answers) you will see it actually says:

"English, Mandarin Chinese and Italian with English subtitles".

So fingers crossed it's in the OST. The extras are very lame, the HK R3 has:

1) Inspiration of Eros - Wong Kar Wai
2) To perform the whole life of a woman in 40 minutes - Gong Li
3) From a stranger to an excellent tutor with Wong Kar Wai ? Chang Chen

Which are at least related to the film, it also has DTS. I'm happy with my R3 LE (has the extras).

p.s - The cover art is vastly better though.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 09 Nov 2005, 20:08

Madman have updated their website to confirm the hour long interview:

http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalo ... ethod=view

I really hope I've not missed out. I placed an order with EzyDVD but they've now cancelled my order saying they can now long supply the DVD.

I've placed another order with Atlantic DVD who said they had stock BUT today have now changed their website to having no stock. The thing that pisses me off is they have that really annoying verificaiton check where they charge you $1 and won't send the DVD out until you confirm this. I didn't know this when I placed the order, they should really tell people first!

This takes days to appear on my statement and then get back to them. I really hope this stupid system hasn't meant I've missed out.

There are two more websites I've managed to find where I maybe able to source a copy but after that it's to late

p.s - Why do Madman make their LE's so dam Limited. I see the point of Limited but this is silly!

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 10 Nov 2005, 11:02

Looks like I missed the boat on the R4 LE then *yawn*. The R1 will probably have the best picture quality, the HK LE (which I have) transfer leaves alot to be desired.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Nov 2005, 13:21

Yeah I'd get the R1 now.

The R4 without disc 2 (i.e - standard) is probably not worth it.

p.s - Atlantic are able to source me a copy, the last their supplier has

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 11 Nov 2005, 13:50

It's shipped too. I'll post about it when it arrives.

I should rename this thread "The Brad and Eva Show"

Anyway back OT taken from the Madman boards:

"The deleted scenes are messed up.
The running time for the deleted scenes are a total of 6:35. The rest is just the MV. So we get 2 MVs in the extras dis Rolling Eyes
The deleted scenes also have NO english subs and forced french subs.

Why didnt MM world cinema obtain all the deleted scenes?"

My thoughts:

"That doesn't sound good.

Are you sure this is not how the deleted scenes are supposed to be presented? i.e - It's how they are on the other DVDs? I agree no English subs is very lazy though. The WKW interview has English subs right?

I still think this looks better than the R1, HK/Korean R3 and UK R2. If the deleted scenes particulary interest you I'd wait for the R1.

p.s - MV means Music Video I assume?"

Source: http://madboards.madman.com.au/viewtopi ... 233#516233

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 18 Nov 2005, 11:25

My 2046 LE arrived last night.

The interview is lovely, the qualtiy is first rate and really interesting (as is the commentary).

It's a pity the deleted scenes don't have English subs. It must be a mess up when authoring the DVD as there is actually English subs, it's just they don't actually appear (you can select English subs).

That said considering the rest of the extras it really doesn't bother me. The Zhang Ziyi interview is new (not on the UK R2 or HK R3) and looks like it came from the French set, as she introduces herself in broken French. Before speaking in Mandarin.

The PQ of the film is also first rate, a marked improvement over the HK R3. I don't know much about Film to PAL, NTSC to PAL but I'd be very surprised if it's NTSC to PAL. The quality is lovely.

The DTS is nice but only marginally better than the DD5.1.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 18 Nov 2005, 11:54

@Brad: talking about the R4 LE, does the PQ resemble the R3 HK or the French edition ?

( https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... 8&start=20 )

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 18 Nov 2005, 14:39

The French edition on the PQ definitely but it's hard to say on the SQ front as the DD5.1 soundtracks sound about the same to me. I'll double check tonight now I have screen captures to compare it with.

I've got a feeling Madman soured the French DVD. Some of the extras come from it, as does the tin. The Zhang Ziyi interview and deleted scenes definitely do (they only have burnt in French subs). They then went and added 2 extras (interview + commentary).

I'm keen to find out how the R1 fairs but I really can't see the extras adding up to much. It's only a 1 disc affair for one.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 18 Nov 2005, 15:50

The French edition on the PQ definitely

Well that's good news, then.
(The Mei Ah PQ sucks big time)

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 18 Nov 2005, 21:24

Tom2681 wrote:The Mei Ah PQ sucks big time

I wouldn't really say that. IMO people are to harsh on the PQ of a DVD just because it's not as good as another DVD.

It's not as good as the R4, French R2, UK R2 and probably R1 (I suspect the Korean R3 is a clone of the HK R3) but that doesn't make it bad.

I compared it last night when checking against my R4 and it's okay but certainly not great.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 19 Nov 2005, 11:43

I so regret buying the MeiAh LE and I doubt that I'd be able to sell it (Although I probably wouldn't have bought/seen ITMFL I hadn't have bought it.).

Anyway Brad do you have a DVD drive in your PC? If so, then could you please chuck in the R4 and check to see if there's motion blur? If there is then it's definitely a NTSC-PAL transfer.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 21 Nov 2005, 14:02

You should be able to sell/trade your 2046 LE. I will be soon.

EvaUnit02 wrote:Anyway Brad do you have a DVD drive in your PC? If so, then could you please chuck in the R4 and check to see if there's motion blur? If there is then it's definitely a NTSC-PAL transfer.

I do. How can I check?

I don't watch DVDs on my PC ever so for the odd time I need to check I load the vob into WMP. It's cack but fine considering I never watch DVDs on my PC.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 22 Nov 2005, 02:22

bradavon wrote: I do. How can I check?

By watching it on the PC. The motion bluring of a NTSC-PAL transfer should stick out like a sore-thumb. An easier method would probably be just to compare the running-time of the R4 to that of your NTSC HK LE.

I don't watch DVDs on my PC ever so for the odd time I need to check I load the vob into WMP. It's cack but fine considering I never watch DVDs on my PC.

I never watch DVDs on my PC either, I have access to a 32" wide telly FFS.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 22 Nov 2005, 09:25

@Brad:

Put your R4 DVD in the drive.

Launch a tool called Bitrate Viewer:

http://www.visualdomain.net/files/bitrate14.exe

It will give you the running time.

2:02:48 is PAL.
2:09:12 is NTSC.

if you get:
PAL = Proper PAL transfer.
NTSC = Evil bad crappy NTSC-PAL transfer.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Nov 2005, 16:03

I can check this with my DVD Player surely?

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 23 Nov 2005, 22:58

bradavon wrote:I can check this with my DVD Player surely?

Yup. Just to compare the running-time of the R4 to that of your NTSC HK LE.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 Nov 2005, 19:03

I checked last night and:

A - The R4 looks identical to the French DVD. The R4 looks identical to the bottom picture:

B - It's 2:02:59 so definitely NOT an NTSC-PAL.

Yipeey!

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 24 Nov 2005, 19:36

That's cool then Brad.

2046 LE tin didn't get released in NZ for some reason. Another recent Madman LE 2-discer in a tin, Appleseed (2004) didn't get released in NZ either, but the 2-discer was released in a standard amaray - hopefully the same will happen for 2046.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 24 Nov 2005, 20:19

Brad wrote: definitely NOT an NTSC-PAL.

Yep, give or take a few seconds the R4 could be a port from the French R2.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 Nov 2005, 20:39

11 seconds difference isn't even worth mentioning.

Eva it barely got released in Australia.

I'd be surprised if down the line Madman don't re-release the LE minus the tin.

I'm still looking forward to the R1 coming so we can finally decide on the best version (next to the uber gorgeous French DVD of course).

p.s - Why do Madman have to use yellow for their subs though? It doesn't look right compared to white. It's only a minor gripe.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 28 Nov 2005, 05:39

bradavon wrote:p.s - Why do Madman have to use yellow for their subs though? It doesn't look right compared to white. It's only a minor gripe.

*Shrug* They've been using yellow subs for as long as I can remember (I think the first DVD of theirs that I saw was Eva Vol. 1 released in 2001 and that had yellow subs). I don't see why everyone hates yellow subs, they're perfectly acceptable IMO.