Chungking Express Blu-ray

Chungking Express

 (1994)

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Romance



The whiplash, double-pronged Chungking Express is one of the defining works of nineties cinema and the film that made Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai an instant icon. Two heartsick Hong Kong cops (Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tony Leung), both jilted by ex-lovers, cross paths at the Midnight Express take-out restaurant stand, where the ethereal pixie waitress Faye (Faye Wong) works. Anything goes in Wong’s gloriously shot and utterly unexpected charmer, which cemented the sex appeal of its gorgeous stars and forever turned canned pineapple and the Mamas and the Papas’ “California Dreamin’” into tokens of romantic longing.

For more details about Chungking Express on Blu-ray, see the Chungking Express Blu-ray Review

Starring: Brigitte Lin, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Faye Wong, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Valerie Chow
Director: Wong Kar-Wai

Chungking Express Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, and granted a 1080p transfer Wong Kar-Wai’s Chungking Express arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

Before we get to the technical presentation I would like to clarify something that had me puzzled for a few seconds. Immediately after the BD loads up on your TV screen you will see the tiny Criterion logo in the upper left corner. Please keep in mind that you have to wait approximately 10-15 seconds before your player redirects you to the main menu. Don’t panic as I did and do not immediately eject the disc (for whatever reason I thought that my disc did not load up properly).

Well, I suppose I can say it now – Criterion are finally on board and I have their first Blu-ray release in my hands. It is a stylishly designed digipack that houses a nice booklet plus the actual disc. For those of you wondering what exactly the digipack looks like I suppose one could argue that it is very close to the thin-packs the studio used for the Agnes Varda collection, only the Blu-ray pack is a bit smaller. It also has a clear holder with the Blu-ray logo on the very top as well as a nice pocket to hold the booklet. In addition, of course, to the main case that holds the smaller case where the actual disc is. Here are a few photos we've taken for you:

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Now off to the transfer. The first thing I would like to point out to you is that the back cover of my Blu-ray disc states: New, restored high-definition digital transfer with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack supervised by director Wong Kar-Wai. Obviously, this little disclaimer should answer plenty of questions as to whether or not Criterion had Wong Kar-Wai involved with the production of their first Blu-ray release.

The actual transfer on the other hand is simply beautiful. It boasts a healthy dose of grain, great contrast, and a degree of clarity the SDVD does not deliver (yes, I do own the SDVD and for the last couple of hours have been comparing the two extensively). Furthermore, blown through a digital projector the Blu-ray transfer reveals a much stronger composure and you should be able to see clearly where and how it excels (take the bar scene at the end of the first story for example and compare it to the SDVD). However, I believe that film aficionados will be most satisfied with the fact that Chungking Express boasts a pure, film-like, look which is exactly what we wanted and expected from Criterion. I don’t see any traces of DNR manipulation here either and as far as I am concerned this is precisely the type of treatment everyone was hoping for.

As far as the film’s color-scheme goes, I suppose the fact that Wong Kar-Wai has supervised this transfer puts plenty of the speculations we’ve seen as of late to rest. Well, at least until the recently announced Artificial Eye Blu-ray release arrives and we go back to point A. As of this very moment, however. I personally am completely satisfied with the look of Chungking Express as well as its nuanced color-scheme. As you have probably seen on the SDVD release the blues and greens are most definitely much stronger than what we have seen on past HK SDVD releases and the Blu-ray disc simply adds more to them. Finally, the actual print provided by Criterion is of top-notch quality as well. It does not reveal any scratches, debris, or dirt. (Note: I tested the Criterion Blu-ray disc on my Region-B hardware and I can confirm that this is indeed a Region-A “locked” release which those of you with Region-B only equipment will not be able to playback).

Chungking Express Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


The back cover for this Blu-ray release states that the audio track for Chungking Express has been supervised by Wong Kar-Wai as well. It also notes that a Cantonese DTS-HD MA 5.1 track is what Criterion have chosen to compliment the impressive video presentation. Strangely enough, unless you see what the back cover reveals, you might have a very difficult time figuring out what audio codec the distribs have opted for as there isn’t a dedicated audio section on their disc menu. With other words, you will have to have your receiver do all of the detective work. This being said, the newly restored audio mix is simply gorgeous. Frankie Chan, Michael Galasso, and Roel A. García’s original tunes, as well as the cohort of classical songs, come off the speakers with a remarkable clarity, and I certainly feel confident in stating that the Blu-ray disc very much overshadows what the SDVD delivers in terms of audio. Here the music score brings forward completely different qualities which seem to have been lost in previous releases – richer overtones, great balance, and impressive clarity (the sax solo is simply flawless). My only complaint in the audio department is related to the use of the English (white) subtitles which appear rather big for my taste. They seem a bit bulky to me and those of you with large screens, as well as top-notch digital projectors, might have a few words to spare when the disc shows up at your homes.

Chungking Express Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Today on Blu-ray - December 16th - December 16, 2008


• Criterion Titles Get Delayed - November 17, 2008