World Famous Comics: Wong Kar Wai Collection (As Tears Go By / Days of Being Wild / Fallen Angels / Chungking Express / Happy Together)
Wong Kar Wai Collection (As Tears Go By / Days of Being Wild / Fallen Angels / Chungking Express / Happy Together)
Starring: Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung, Jacky Cheung, Kau Lam, William Chang Directed By: Kar Wai Wong, Sherman Wong Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: Unrated Binding: DVD Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Kino Video Number of Items: 5 Release Date: October 19, 2004 Running Time: 486 minutes Theatrical Release Date: March 08, 1996
Two words: Get it I don't have a lot to add to "Randroid"'s review. Wong Kar-Wai is one of the world's premier directors, making audacious, complex films that grab one's heart. Influenced by the French New Wave, bent through the prism of Hong Kong cinema, his is a stylish and unique vision. This box set contains five of his seven films that have been released to DVD:
-- As Tears Go By -- Days of Being Wild -- Chungking Express -- Fallen Angels -- Happy Together.
Fans of Happy Together will be particularly pleased by the newly remastered Kino version -- I had only viewed a VHS copy before, which was atrocious. There are also a bunch of new extras on this DVD, including an hour long 'making of' feature. The other DVDs all seem to be clear and crisp, though without significant extras beyond the usual trailers (there are still galleries and filmographies, and some brief comments by Quentin Tarantino on Chungking Express).
With the exception of Chungking Express, these have not been readily available in stores, and this box set is a cost effective presentation showing the development of a major directorial talent. We also get to see some wonderful stars of Hong Kong cinema such as Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung and Leslie Cheung, Andy Lau, Brigitte Lin and Faye Wong, often in roles different from their usual or at crucial points in their careers.
Of his other two films, In The Mood For Love is available in a sumptuous Criterion release. Unfortunately, Ashes of Time seems to be caught in some kind of 'intellectual property' hell, and the DVD is supposed to be even worse than the VHS, which is barely viewable. Maybe Kino can somehow gain the rights to Ashes as well and do a decent ramastering. (Hint to Kino: It would be nice to have a feature explaining some of the historical/literary background that is unfamiliar to western viewers)
A magnificent set of magnificent movies Wong Kar-wai is simply one of the best directors working in Hong Kong today, and in all the world, for that matter. His characters are brilliantly realized, his style is stunningly kenetic, and cinematography (mostly by Christopher Doyle of "Hero" fame) is gorgeous. All in all a good set. Thus far, I would rank these films as follows, from best to . . . well, least best:
1. Chungking Express 2. Happy Together 3. Days of Being Wild 4. Fallen Angels 5. As Tears Go By
Be sure to pick up Wong's other film "In The Mood For Love", and you'll be sure to be awaiting the American release of his new film, "2046". "Ashes of Time", sadly, is a terrible DVD, so perhaps a Criterion release is in order?
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