World of Wong Kar Wai
-
- Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:34 am
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
yes, beside the frame problem (bad conversion to 1080p24) the resolution although HD is not that good and I think that my French DVD is better even if this is an SD version.
did someone "work" on a fan-re-edit using the outtakes footage of "The Zone" (it reminds somehow "Stalker")- on the French DVD there is a lot of unused outtakes - as seen on the various trailer.
Of course it's SD, that's why a Criterion High-Res Blu-Ray with all these bonus would be great.
I would like to see a re-edit of the movie which would focus on the narrative Sc-Fi movie using the tunnel scene, these zone travelers like in Tarkovsky Stalker, etc...
There's an atmosphere of torpeur, lethargy in the movie which reminds me Tarkovsky.
Not that I don't like WKW edit; but I would be curious to see an alternate edit.
did someone "work" on a fan-re-edit using the outtakes footage of "The Zone" (it reminds somehow "Stalker")- on the French DVD there is a lot of unused outtakes - as seen on the various trailer.
Of course it's SD, that's why a Criterion High-Res Blu-Ray with all these bonus would be great.
I would like to see a re-edit of the movie which would focus on the narrative Sc-Fi movie using the tunnel scene, these zone travelers like in Tarkovsky Stalker, etc...
There's an atmosphere of torpeur, lethargy in the movie which reminds me Tarkovsky.
Not that I don't like WKW edit; but I would be curious to see an alternate edit.
-
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:09 am
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
Needs:Close The Door, Raymond wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2020 9:50 pmSo it seems there's a chance this will include:
Janus Films titles:
AS TEARS GO BY
DAYS OF BEING WILD
CHUNGKING EXPRESS - #453 - DVD & Blu-ray OOP
FALLEN ANGELS
HAPPY TOGETHER
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE - #147 - DVD is in print but Blu-ray is "Currently Unavailable" at the CC website
THE HAND - a new director’s cut / segment from "Eros"
jwo17 source:
2046 via Sony
What about... ???
ASHES OF TIME - Sony / DVD only (US)
MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS - Weinstein Co. / DVD only (US)
THE GRANDMASTER - Lionsgate / DVD & Blu-ray
-Ashes of Time original cut in SD or whatever they can find
-2046
-Removal of all mention concerning Blueberry Nights.
otherwise, the run up to that incredible poo stain is unimpugnable.
- feihong
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 12:20 pm
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
I know Criterion isn't likely to do this, but if anyone could even find an old print of Ashes of Time in its Hong Kong cut it would be more than welcome.
Recently some people on Youtube uploaded a 20-minute section of the Moon Lee/Yukari Oshima movie "Dreaming the Reality," in a print they had scanned themselves. It was filthy with dirt and scratches, but it still looked great. The rights holder put the kibosh on them uploading later segments, but my point is that the film was not only very watchable, but really gorgeous, with beautiful color, exciting crispness, etc. It didn't matter that it was like seeing the film in a grindhouse. So I think a scratchy old print of Ashes of Time would be infinitely better than that scummy Redux cut.
Recently some people on Youtube uploaded a 20-minute section of the Moon Lee/Yukari Oshima movie "Dreaming the Reality," in a print they had scanned themselves. It was filthy with dirt and scratches, but it still looked great. The rights holder put the kibosh on them uploading later segments, but my point is that the film was not only very watchable, but really gorgeous, with beautiful color, exciting crispness, etc. It didn't matter that it was like seeing the film in a grindhouse. So I think a scratchy old print of Ashes of Time would be infinitely better than that scummy Redux cut.
- dwk
- Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 6:10 pm
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
Criterion included the original cut of Police Story 2 that was from a theatrical print. The question really is does Wong Kar-wai want that version on the set (assuming Ashes of Time is going to be a part of the set.)feihong wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 4:02 pmI know Criterion isn't likely to do this, but if anyone could even find an old print of Ashes of Time in its Hong Kong cut it would be more than welcome.
Recently some people on Youtube uploaded a 20-minute section of the Moon Lee/Yukari Oshima movie "Dreaming the Reality," in a print they had scanned themselves. It was filthy with dirt and scratches, but it still looked great. The rights holder put the kibosh on them uploading later segments, but my point is that the film was not only very watchable, but really gorgeous, with beautiful color, exciting crispness, etc. It didn't matter that it was like seeing the film in a grindhouse. So I think a scratchy old print of Ashes of Time would be infinitely better than that scummy Redux cut.
- feihong
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 12:20 pm
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
I wish they could keep WKW out of the equation, honestly–though I know they won't. So much of the Redux seemed to be Wong's own ego, trying to paper over the more youthful–seeming movie he originally made with a pseudo–classy reconceptualization. I wonder if Wong has maybe mellowed on that project over the years, but I kind of doubt it.
-
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:09 am
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
I liked Redux enough to buy the UK Blu, but agreed that it is fussy and stinks of BMW ad revisionism for something that was genuinely exciting, weird and evocative . I don't think anybody watched Ashes of Time for the story, which made the changes that much more intrusive, unlike say Blade Runner, which seems to survive umpteen updates ok.feihong wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 11:30 pmI wish they could keep WKW out of the equation, honestly–though I know they won't. So much of the Redux seemed to be Wong's own ego, trying to paper over the more youthful–seeming movie he originally made with a pseudo–classy reconceptualization. I wonder if Wong has maybe mellowed on that project over the years, but I kind of doubt it.
They won't, but it would be appropriate if they bookended a WKW golden era box with the two versions of Ashes of Time.
- The Fanciful Norwegian
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:24 pm
- Location: Teegeeack
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
I don't see how they could, given that Jet Tone owns all the post-Days of Being Wild work. A Japanese Blu-ray of Happy Together had the original cut as an extra (scanned from a theatrical print), but the differences there are so minor that it doesn't really tell us much about what Wong would be willing to tolerate vis-à-vis alternate cuts.
- whaleallright
- Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2005 12:56 am
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
You could do an entire box set with just the different cuts of either Days of Being Wild or Ashes of Time.
-
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:29 am
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
Are there any original prints of ASHES OF TIME they could use ala POLICE STORY 2? They would probaby have burnt in subs but that is better than nothing.
-
- Joined: Mon May 11, 2020 2:37 pm
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
Wishful thinking: DJ Shadow's Six Days music video and some of the shorts and commercials WKW did for fashion brands and tech companies ("wkw/tk/1996@7′55″hk.net", Motorola, "There's Only One Sun", etc).
-
- Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2020 1:27 pm
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
I hadn't even thougt about possible shorts and extras until now. There's Only One Sun seems like an easy inclusion. The Follow (BMW) is one of my favorite shorts, so that would be wonderful to have in high definition. The Hand extended cut will be a treat. But if they manage to get wkw/tk/1996@7’55’’hk.net in high definition, that would beat all of the rest for me.
-
- Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:51 am
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
While Criterion has been pretty mum about their WKW box, it seems NOVA out of Korea is going to be releasing some of these restorations of 4K UHD discs which they've recently gotten into. Who knows what rights they will get compared to Criterion, or if they will do a box of the UHDs, but this seems like another case where Criterion's outright refusal to go to UHD may have folks looking elsewhere.
- dwk
- Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 6:10 pm
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
The Playlist tweeted that the World of Wong Kar-wai theatrical tour is now scheduled to start on December 4th.
- criterionsnob
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:23 am
- Location: Canada
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
And their Tweet includes a screen shot of 2046, though it still doesn't sound like it's part of the Janus tour.
- yoloswegmaster
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:57 pm
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
Block 2 Films (the distribution arm of WKW's Jet Tone Films) confirmed that Criterion and Sony worked together on the restoration for '2046'. Still no confirmation on Ashes of TIme receiving a restoration.
- FrauBlucher
- Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:28 pm
- Location: Greenwich Village
-
- Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2017 5:35 am
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
So.... is it just me or did WKW's supervision not matter because everything looks yellow as hell? But I also haven't seen the film in a good 5 years or so
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
Many movies have been restored at Ritrovata with someone's approval or supervision but still retain mostly Ritrovata's LUT grading. It might also be that he didn't attend to the latest grading stage and give his approval before the final look was applied. What's interesting however is that the restoration has been indicated as performed by "Ritrovata and Criterion". When Criterion are involved, they usually are for the grading stage, with Lee Kline's involvement. Maybe it's just a prestige brand thing and not a technical partnership here. I wonder.
The other interesting thing is that my understanding is that the restoration is quite recent, probably no earlier than 2018, but Ritrovata was already dialing down their yellow LUT intensity, so I'm surprised to find it this visibly here.
But that's only a Youtube trailer, so we'll see more precisely when it hits the market. Except if there's a last minute pandemic accelaration forcing me to reconsider, In The Mood for Love will be one of the movies I'll see at Lyon Festival next month, which should already give me a good idea.
The other interesting thing is that my understanding is that the restoration is quite recent, probably no earlier than 2018, but Ritrovata was already dialing down their yellow LUT intensity, so I'm surprised to find it this visibly here.
But that's only a Youtube trailer, so we'll see more precisely when it hits the market. Except if there's a last minute pandemic accelaration forcing me to reconsider, In The Mood for Love will be one of the movies I'll see at Lyon Festival next month, which should already give me a good idea.
-
- Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2017 5:35 am
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
Can't wait for your feedback Tenia if all plans go through.
One thing I've always wondered why exactly does/did Ritrovata always apply a yellow tint to whatever they restored? Is it just one person making that decision and is that decision based on some reasoning that a yellow push makes it look more vintage? This I have been confused about for quite a while.
One thing I've always wondered why exactly does/did Ritrovata always apply a yellow tint to whatever they restored? Is it just one person making that decision and is that decision based on some reasoning that a yellow push makes it look more vintage? This I have been confused about for quite a while.
- dwk
- Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 6:10 pm
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
I don't think the color grading on these was handled by Ritrovata, but I can't remember where I read that.
- yoloswegmaster
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:57 pm
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
Someone linked a facebook post from Ritrovata on the first page saying that a company called "One Cool Production" was in charge of the color grading. I saw another post somewhere saying that WKW himself was also supervising the color-gradings.
-
- Joined: Tue Oct 10, 2017 3:53 pm
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
In the Mood for Love: Reloaded
Looks intentional, maybe he’s trying to make it more like 2046.
And maybe it’s just my internet, but what’s with all the artifacts? Definitely doesn’t look 4k.
Looks intentional, maybe he’s trying to make it more like 2046.
And maybe it’s just my internet, but what’s with all the artifacts? Definitely doesn’t look 4k.
-
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2013 1:13 pm
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
Honestly it doesn't look that much more yellow than I remember it as being. Then again, can't account for my memory or the print I saw being correct either!
- The Fanciful Norwegian
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:24 pm
- Location: Teegeeack
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
I think this may have been the version that was shown at the Lumière Festival in 2017 as part of their Wong retrospective. I can't find anything specifically confirming that, but in the masterclass Wong did there (also featuring an amusing appearance from Christopher Doyle in the audience), Thierry Frémaux said they would be screening a "restored copy" of the film that still hadn't arrived, implying it was a new restoration and not the older 2K scan used for the Blu-rays. I suppose it could've been a new 35mm print but that seems less likely.
The trailer tops out at 1080p. Combine that with Youtube's terrible compression and it's not going to look much like 4K.
-
- Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2020 1:27 pm
Re: Forthcoming: Wong Kar-wai Box
It's a good question. Some have (half jokingly?) wondered if the team there has improperly calibrated monitors. Someone there may also have a particular preference or perception that results in yellowish tint. From my understanding, some film stocks fade to a yellowish color with age. So a film like Dragon Inn from the late 60's has faded yellow and lost some of it's color. The restoration and grading is supposed to reverse the yellow tint and bring back the original color. But it can be hard to know exactly how much yellow to remove if you don't have some sort of reference print or someone from the original production to assist you (Dragon Inn had neither and its release retained too much yellow). In the case with these Wong Kar Wai films, there should be no excuse as there are many references available, and the director and both cinematographers are all alive and available. If the color grading was really handled by a different studio, then perhaps they are susceptible to the same or similar issues. If the new grading is the director's intent, it would wouldn't be the first time he chose to alter a film after the fact, but I'm not sure if fans would be on board with this.black&huge wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:29 pmCan't wait for your feedback Tenia if all plans go through.
One thing I've always wondered why exactly does/did Ritrovata always apply a yellow tint to whatever they restored? Is it just one person making that decision and is that decision based on some reasoning that a yellow push makes it look more vintage? This I have been confused about for quite a while.