Chungking Express
by Kar Wai Wong
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Actor: Brigitte Lin, Faye Wong, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Valerie ChowDirector: Kar Wai Wong
Cinematographer: Christopher Doyle
Cinematographer: Wai-keung Lau
Writer: Kar Wai Wong
Editor: Chi-Leung Kwong
Editor: Kit-Wai Kai
Editor: William Chang
Producer: Pui-wah Chan
Producer: Yi-kan Chan
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Cantonese (Original Language), Unknown; English (Subtitled)
Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-05-21
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Miramax
DVD Reviews of Chungking Express
DVD Review: One of my absolute Favorites, foreign or otherwise!
Summary: 5 Stars
Why do I love this film so much? I'm an Indie and foreign film lover so, that helps. Overall though, I enjoy the honesty in each of the film's love stories, three in all that subtly intertwine with each other. Quirky love at it's finest! The actors are stellar in this cast: Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Brigette Lin & musician Faye Wong in her debut role. A lighthearted look at life's relationships, this film is gem that shouldn't be missed. If you enjoy Punch Drunk Love, Lost in Translation and everything in between, try Chungking Express. DVD Review: One of the best movies of the nineties.
Summary: 5 Stars
Gotta be honest. I love Amelie to tears, but this movie did the fanciful young girl romance earlier and maybe even better. That's not for me to say though. Check it out on your own.DVD Review: Love and Laughter
Summary: 4 Stars
It's easy to see why this film catapulted Wong Kar Wai's status and is considedered one of the best films of the nineties. Not being a fan the first time through, the blu ray resparked my interest for this film so I decided to give it another chance. Lucky for me I made that choice.
The first half of the film is rather funny dealing with a heart broken cop who runs into a blond wig wearing woman whom he falls for exactly 57 hours later. This is great stuff. The comedic timing of Kaneshiro and Lin are spot on. The smooth transition from the first story to the next is also marvelous. Wong's direction of this film is fresh and invigorating and gives a new meaning to say chick flicks. I prefer the first part over the second however many will tell you they like the second story which deals with a cop who, you can tell is pretty good at picking up women, but the one that interests him now catches him off gaurd so to say. Either way you look at it both stories are great and you get a little bit of everything which makes this a very special film. The blu ray release is perfect and I'm sure it's pretty much exactly how Wong Kar Wai would want anyone to see this film. Picture quality 5/5 Audio quality 4.5/5
DVD Review: The Blu-ray version is AWESOME!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I really love this film. "CHUNGKING EXPRESS" is the ultimate pop art film that won a lot hearts when it was first released and continues to this day. And not only has the film jumpstarted the film careers of Wong Kar-wai, Christopher Doyle, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Faye Wong (despite having an awesome music career), "CHUNGKING EXPRESS" is one of those non-action Asian films that has continued to become a fan favorite for fans all over the world.
This film is now part of the Criterion Collection and when Criterion's name is on a film release, you know that you're going to get a quality release.
So, what did Criterion do for this release?
VIDEO & AUDIO:
Criterion is known to making their final masters to what the director's had in mind. In this case, presenting the director's requested aspect ratio of 1:66:1.
The new high definition transfer according to Criterion was created on a Spirit 2K Datacine from a 35 mm internegative and a 35 mm interpositive. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris and scratches were removed using the MTI Digital Restoration System and Pixel Farm's PF Clean. For a film that is nearly 15 years old, the goal for Criterion was not to give a crisp and clear picture but to make sure that the requested aspect ratio was successful and removing all the dirt and scratches that have plagued previous releases of the film.
Oh, and I just have to say that things that were cut out of the US VHS/DVD release are intact in this Blu-ray version. But as far as video quality goes, you will find the colors noticeable especially at the bar when you see the CD's in the jukebox spin and see the vibrant colors.
I have caught a few instances of color pulsing (due to the older print) and there were no artifacting. As for the audio, the original soundtrack was remastered by Tuu Duu-chih at 3H Sound Studios in Taipei under the supervision of Wong Kar-wai. According to Criterion, the audio restoration tools have been used to reduce clicks, pops, hiss and crackle.
The audio is what I loved about this release. While watching the film and knowing that the majority of the film is dialogue-driven and as expected during the music scenes, to hear the music really become prominent but what I didn't expect to hear, which put a smile to my face is the rear surround and hearing the people talking, the cars beeping and while the front speakers were busy with scenes such as the lady in the blonde wig with the Indian smugglers, you hear the whole life of the city come alive through the rear surround.
Suffice to say, I was quite happy to hear the audio channels used effectively in this dialogue-driven film by taking the city's ambiance and having it come alive. Well done! And for those passionate about the film, hearing the tunes of "Baroque", "California Dreamin'" and Faye Wong's cover of the popular Cranberries song ala "Dreams" is just so fun and how music, even a few songs really made this pop art film truly shine.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
In the past release, we had Quentin Tarentino's introduction to CHUNGKING EXPRESS", this time around with the Criterion release, we have the following:
* An audio commentary featuring Asian cinema critic Tony Rayns who has talked to Wong Kar-wai in regards to certain scenes and also, we learn about how Chinese culture influenced certain situations such as the use of dates and certain phrases in the film. Also, the reason why certain music was used and pretty much how commercials really influenced Wong Kar-wai for this film. A very informative commentary.
* A 1996 episode of the British television series Moving Pictures featuring interview swith Wong and cinematographer Christopher Doyle - This segment was made in 1996 thus the quality despite being in HD, is not too great. But nevertheless, it was very fun to watch this 15-minute segment and watching these interviews with Wong and Christopher. Really awesome details as the two walk into the places where the Midnight Express was shot and also the apartment actually was Doyle's apartment. Very informative.
* Then the US Theatrical trailer which was loved by American critics but unfortunately the film company didn't know how to market the film, thus it didn't do to well in America.
* A booklet featuring a new essay by critic Amy Taubin - For those familiar with Amy Taubin's work on "Sight & Sound", Taubin really gets into the film and definitely writes about the film and its characters in a unique way. Definitely an entertaing read for those who watched the movie. Do not read this booklet first if you haven't seen the film.
The Blu-ray is presented in a digibook type of case with a slip cover.
I've owned so many variations of this film already that I can't help but smile throughout the film and just seeing how beautiful it looks on Blu-ray and how good the sound quality was and hearing so many things all around me.
For those who were expecting a digital remastered version that will have a pristine, crisp and vibrant look as some older Blu-rays have managed to have, the Criterion Edition is beautiful but not spectacularly gorgeous but for those watching a Criterion release, the goal is not to change the film and change the colors.
Their goal was to present the film with the supervision of Wong Kar-wai and Christopher Doyle and how they wanted the film to be. If you watched the original DVD version or previous versions, this film has aged but with the Criterion edition, the video looks beautiful without the scratches and all the dust and looks cleaned up. Personally, I don't know if we'll see the film any better than this presentation. It's truly an awesome release on Blu-ray and absolutely love it!
I really hope that Criterion possibly considers releasing the third story via the film "Fallen Angels"on Blu-ray. Wong kar-wai created the third story for CHUNGKING EXPRESS" but because it would make the film to lengthy, he cut it out and carried it over to his next film, "Fallen Angels". So, knock on wood, I hope that Criterion considers it because the treatment they gave for "CHUNGKING EXPRESS" was well done and definitely enhanced the whole experience for me, I found it quite beautiful.
Perhaps I'm a bit biased because I enjoyed this film so much but overall, this release is solid and definitely recommended!
DVD Review: Chungking Express - Blu-ray Info
Summary: 4 Stars
Version: U.S.A / Criterion / Region-A
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50 / High Profile 4.1
Running time: 1:42:56
Movie size; 31,39 GB
Disc size: 35,37 GB
Total bit rate: 40.66 Mbps
Average video bit rate: 34.75 Mbps
Number of chapters: 26
Subtitles: English
DTS-HD Master Audio English 3654 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3654 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
#Audio commentary
#Episode excerpt from the BBC Television series Moving Pictures (HD - 12m:10s)
#U.S. theatrical trailer (HD - 1m:30s)
#16-page liner notes booklet
Description of Chungking Express
Tasty take-out isn't the only thing served hot at this little fast food place -- the lives and loves of its colorful customers also criss-cross over the counter! From a lovesick cop and a mysterious blonde to a free-spirited girl pursuing a secret love, spicy romance is the specialty of the house! For deliciously crowd-pleasing romance and fun, CHUNGKING EXPRESS delivers!Chungking Express tells two stories loosely connected by a Hong Kong snack bar. In one story, a cop who's been recently dumped by his girlfriend becomes obsessed with the expiration dates on cans of pineapple; he's constantly distracted as he tries to track down a drug dealer in a blond wig (played by Brigitte Lin, best known from Swordsman II and The Bride with White Hair). Meanwhile, another cop who's recently been dumped by his girlfriend (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, from John Woo's Hard-Boiled and A Bullet in the Head) mopes around his apartment, talking to his sponge and other domestic objects. He catches the eye of a shop girl (Hong Kong pop star Faye Wang) who secretly breaks in and cleans his apartment. If you're beginning to suspect that neither of these stories has a conventional plot, you're correct. What Chungking Express does have is loads of energy and a gorgeous visual style that never gets in the way of engaging with the charming characters. The movie was shot on the fly by hip director Wong Kar-Wai (Happy Together, Ashes of Time), using only available lighting and found locations. The movie's loose, improvisational feel is closer to Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless than any recent film--and that's high praise. Quirky, funny, and extremely engaging, Chungking Express manages to be experimental and completely accessible at the same time. --Bret Fetzer
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