453 Chungking Express

[HitchcockLang]

I ordered it but has not yet shipped. The price has dropped to $28.26 though.

[ianthemovie]

Just ordered one myself. I'll be curious to find out of it's the cardboard-case version or the keep-case version (really hoping for the latter).

[neal]

I'll be curious to find out of it's the cardboard-case version or the keep-case version (really hoping for the latter).

I'd put my money on option C: neither.

[sir_luke]

Allegedly in-stock at Amazon for $39.99

Could be another Third Man tease but you never know...

In case anyone was still curious...

Hello,

Due to a lack of availability, we will not be able to obtain the following item(s) from your order:

"Chungking Express (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]"

We've canceled the item(s) and apologize for the inconvenience.

[Apothocary]

Managed to pick up the keep-case Blu version here in the UK for £12. Couldn't believe my luck.

[Robespierre]

Three years later and I hope we get a Tati situation with CE back in print in a box with other WKW films. December could be light but we usually average a boxset every announcement or so.

[Ribs]

...no? The last monthly announcements to include a box was for July, and there's already the biggest release ever in December. I definitely am under the belief it'll happen due to the Chungking/Playtime situation but there's no reason to assume they'd put a relatively high profile release in the dog days of December.

[domino harvey]

Sequel in pre-production

[Fortisquince]

Interesting! I hope everything works out and the film is more like Chungking Express than 2046. I liked 2046, but have had no desire to see it again after I saw it in the theater.

[Murdoch]

I'm not sure how I feel about that. Chungking is one of my favorite films and I loved 2046, but for me the former succeeds because of its lovelorn youthfulness capturing a moment in these characters' lives that can't last. The film is like a pop song, fleeting but poignant. I'll certainly see this sequel if it ever completes production but Wong's always irked me a little in his desire to revisit past works throughout his oeuvre rather than letting well enough alone.

[swo17]

Step back into the river, Apr 15

[ryannichols7]

ironically I watched the original Blu-ray for this the other night for the first time in a few years. unfortunately, it's really starting to show it's age and the master looks really dated. Rayns' commentary is still good too. but I can't endorse corny ass gunshot credits

[Elizabeth Corday]

I can't remember the bonus features on the Wong Kar Wai boxset. Are they different from the upcoming release?

[cdnchris]

It looks like it's all of the same features from the set. Based on that I assume they're porting over the Blu-ray from the box set, like they did for In the Mood for Love. Which is a shame because Rayns' commentary for the 2008 Blu-ray was really good.

[midnitedave]

Remind me—this is among the least offensive of the new Wong Kar-wai restorations, correct?

[MV88]

Remind me—this is among the least offensive of the new Wong Kar-wai restorations, correct?

It’s definitely not a completely faithful restoration, but I also wouldn’t say it’s a revisionist version like Fallen Angels, Days of Being Wild, or In the Mood for Love. I’m keeping the old Blu-ray, but for what it’s worth I do plan on getting this new 4K, which I did not do for ITMFL.

[ryannichols7]

Remind me—this is among the least offensive of the new Wong Kar-wai restorations, correct?

I personally cannot accept gunshot title card, but yes it's certainly nowhere near as bad as the others

[diamonds]

There is also the egregious fact of the audio being pitched up. In a such a music-heavy film, having to hear all the songs (repeatedly) in the wrong pitch is, I would think, a nonstarter for many.

[Matt]

There is also the egregious fact of the audio being pitched up. In a such a music-heavy film, having to hear all the songs (repeatedly) in the wrong pitch is, I would think, a nonstarter for many.

Oh, I did not know that. Thank you for saving me from bitter disappointment! It would render the movie unwatchable for me.

[domino harvey]

On the plus side, perhaps second hand copies of the original Blus will drop in price as some opt to upgrade regardless

[afilmcionado]

There is also the egregious fact of the audio being pitched up. In a such a music-heavy film, having to hear all the songs (repeatedly) in the wrong pitch is, I would think, a nonstarter for many.

As someone with perfect pitch (rare, I know, but not unique), I find this horrific. One of the worst offenses in his restorations yet (and we know there are many!). The Dreams cover is now unlistenable!

[ryannichols7]

I genuinely forgot about the pitch changing, that's unwatchable stuff. in fairness I threw this disc in one time after I bought it in 2021 and haven't gone back. he really knew how to render each of these useless, huh?

if one could Frankenstein a cut with the new restoration, original title card in place of the gunshots, correct end credits, and the audio of the right pitch and throw it on the back channels, that's something I'd genuinely be curious to see ...

[andyli]

Is there a remote possibility that Criterion fixes the pitch issue for the UHD, assuming that even WKW cannot deny it's a production error (rather than a second river)?

[Matt]

I think if Criterion thought it was a production error (or even a serious concern), they would have announced a recall/replacement for the Blu-rays. I think as far as they're concerned, the masters they have are the masters they will use. If WKW approved them, then that's the final word.

[Michael Kerpan]

At this point, it almost seems to me that WKW's "seal of approval" is more like a "kiss of death".