World of Wong Kar Wai

[therewillbeblus]

Of course, WKW even got some Richard Cranium noms last year in preparation

[Boosmahn]

If nothing else, this is going to be number one for the Worst 2021 Criterion release on this forum's end of year list. Right?

I already have "Wong Kar-why?" lined up as my vote.

[Zot!]

These revisionist directors are just asking for a backlash. I don't think I've ever seen someone complain that they are given an option, and in some cases I've actually come around to preferring the redux on a few occasions, like Blade Runner. Had I not been allowed to see the theatrical version alongside, I probably would not be so generous.

It is a tricky proposition however, because Lucas has successfully managed to basically eradicate the original cuts of one of the most beloved film franchises from future generations by correctly anticipating that no kid would ever bother watching a SD copy they would (god-forbid) have to borrow from the library, and no (well, most) parents would think it important enough to insist.

[tenia]

Exactly. As I wrote in the past, the issue is that these aren't restorations, they're newly restored alternate versions, and should definitely advertised as such, not be presented as restorations and "oh by the way, here is a complementary note from WKW about their exact content".
Is this note actually packaged in the final product somewhere ? I'm not even sure. If not, then the set doesn't even advertise clearly you don't get the original versions anywhere.

Also, this doesn't assess the cut monologue, which still feels like a weirdly lazy technical decision to cut them rather than source the sound from a secondary source.

[Michael Kerpan]

I am feeling better and better about my decades long ambivalence about WKW (but still feeling rather heartbroken about Bong).

[criterionsnob]

Is this note actually packaged in the final product somewhere ? I'm not even sure. If not, then the set doesn't even advertise clearly you don't get the original versions anywhere.

Yes, the WKW note is printed inside the book.

[cowboydan]

I didn't buy the set myself. I'm pretty weary of it and the supposed issues with discs freezing. Luckily my roommate bought the set, so we can watch them on our decent sized TV. I am curious see a few of these again. When I did the screencaps, I mostly watched them on my desktop and the streaming quality wasnt too great.

[Finch]

Botched restorations, a director imposing his choices on everyone else with no regard for preserving the cuts that made him famous in the first place and now freezing discs? This set really has it all.

[therewillbeblus]

I'm pretty weary of it and the supposed issues with discs freezing.

Anonymous undercover Criterion employee sabotaging WKW's crimes from the inside = Member of the Year 2021

[domino harvey]

WKWhistleblowers

[Finch]

I still like boosmahn's Wong-Kar Why? best. That would be such an amazing hashtag to trend on twitter.

[therewillbeblus]

#sameriversameman

[swo17]

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift is in the process of completely re-recording her back catalogue to sound as close as possible to the original versions (because she doesn't own the rights to the original recordings). Let's...give her our Criterion money?

[therewillbeblus]

Hasn't she heard that they're not the same songs and she's not Taylor Swift?

[Calvin]

I'll just have to daydream about someone remuxing these so we have the best audio, subtitles, and video from all the various sources...

Hong Kong Rescue Society could be our savior. I actually emailed Jacob from that site regarding Ashes of Time

I've thought about emailing him re: Ashes of Time before and hadn't got round to it. I'd happily split the costs of a custom project if it's viable.

[Rayon Vert]

I still like boosmahn's Wong-Kar Why? best. That would be such an amazing hashtag to trend on twitter.

Should be the title of this thread too.

[schellenbergk]

Dissenting voice here - I'm really loving this set. I've only seen two of WKW's films before as I noted elsewhere so these are new to me. My only gripes are minor: the unfolding puzzle-box seems over-designed to me, and I don't get why some of the book's pages are glued together.

But the films are astounding, and I'm happy to have these seven all together in one director-approved package.

Dare I say it - this is my vote for set of the year?

[yoloswegmaster]

Dissenting voice here - I'm really loving this set. I've only seen two of WKW's films before as I noted elsewhere so these are new to me. My only gripes are minor: the unfolding puzzle-box seems over-designed to me, and I don't get why some of the book's pages are glued together.

But the films are astounding, and I'm happy to have these seven all together in one director-approved package.

Dare I say it - this is my vote for set of the year?

Watch out, you're about to be called a Criterion fanboy.

[schellenbergk]

Dissenting voice here - I'm really loving this set. I've only seen two of WKW's films before as I noted elsewhere so these are new to me. My only gripes are minor: the unfolding puzzle-box seems over-designed to me, and I don't get why some of the book's pages are glued together.

But the films are astounding, and I'm happy to have these seven all together in one director-approved package.

Dare I say it - this is my vote for set of the year?

Watch out, you're about to be called a Criterion fanboy.

Whatever. To misquote the old film "This has all the earmarks of group think". . .

[therewillbeblus]

Not to be a second pedantic guy, but the term groupthink supposes that those damning this set are doing so in blindly joining the chorus without critical reasoning, and there are roughly 33 pages of that, so I think you’re looking for hivemindedness or something similar that targets the outcome rather than process

[MichaelB]

I'm more than happy to give Fallen Angels the benefit of the doubt until I've seen the restoration.

(And I have the old Kino disc anyway.)

[soundchaser]

Watch out, you're about to be called a Criterion fanboy.

Since this is clearly aimed at me, I’ll direct you to my actual post on the subject:

Given all the unfavorable comments on this set, can someone tell us why anyone should consider buying this set?

This is the only in-print disc available for a lot of these films, so if you just want something you can walk in a shop and buy for a (semi) reasonable price and don’t care about the changes, I could see it being convenient. That said, I think most people posting here are probably willing to put in the work to find other releases should they so choose.

Other than that? Criterion fanboy completionism.

Notice the entire first paragraph, where I describe reasons for buying the set that sound very much like schellenbergk’s? You clearly think I’m being uncharitable, but I don’t agree — and even if I were, you can’t deny that the ethos of Criterion is one of the reasons this set is getting fawned over by critics and (yes) label fanboys. If Kino or Shout! Factory or another label with less prestige released these “restorations,” there would be scores of people warning others off the discs, demanding replacement programs, and trashing the company.

I don’t know why you’ve had it in for me for almost 30 pages and 5 months of thread when I’ve clearly explained why I think the problems with this set are serious, but I wish you’d stop pretending that I hate the company or that I’m upset about this release for no reason, when neither is the case. I think uncritical worship of anything, especially a company that exists to make money, is a far more pressing issue than my using the word “fanboy.”

[schellenbergk]

Not to be a second pedantic guy, but the term groupthink supposes that those damning this set are doing so in blindly joining the chorus without critical reasoning, and there are roughly 33 pages of that, so I think you’re looking for hivemindedness or something similar that targets the outcome rather than process

Fair point!

[schellenbergk]

While we disagree about the value of the boxset, I do admire your attention to detail. In the end, I find the boxset a valuable addition to my collection; but I’m a more knowledgable consumer due to your input. So thanks.

[soundchaser]

While we disagree about the value of the boxset, I do admire your attention to detail. In the end, I find the boxset a valuable addition to my collection; but I’m a more knowledgable consumer due to your input. So thanks.

cowboydan has done much of the heavy lifting/legwork, so they deserve a lot of the credit. I’m just stubborn.