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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Fallen Angels" or "Duo luo tian shi" )

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/wong.htm
Hong Kong 1995

Acknowledged throughout the world as one of the most important directors working today, Wong Kar-Wai (Happy Together, Ashes Of Time) has developed a signature style that employs bold, experimental use of photography, music, and editing to capture the tension of the approaching millennium. Originally intended to be a third story in his now classic Chungking Express, Fallen Angels has emerged as what some critics have come to consider his "quintessential work."

Set in the neon-washed underworld of present-day Hong Kong, Fallen Angels intertwines two exhilarating tales of love and isolation. First, there's the unconsummated love affair between a contract Killer (Leon Lai Ming) and the ravishing female Agent (Michele Reis) who books his assignments and cleans up after his jobs. When the Killer decides that he must move on, he leaves her with only a coin for the jukebox and instructions to play song number 1818 - "Wang Ji Ta" ("Forget Him")...

Ex-convict Ho (Takeshi Kaneshiro) stopped speaking at the age of five after eating a date-expired can of pineapple. He lives with his father, who runs a guesthouse where the Agent is in semi-permanent residence. He makes a living by re-opening shops that have closed for the night and intimidating customers into buying goods and services from him. After an awkward romance with a girl named Cherry, Ho finds himself all the more alone...

Wong Kar-Wai brings these parallel storylines together in a blitz of ultra-hip style and classical cinematic sensibilities. A poet of modern alienation, Kar-Wai's universe is populated with characters both dark and comic, magical and existential; Fallen Angels is both a vie at revolutionary cinema and an homage to a love for movies. Kino on Video is proud to present Fallen Angels in its home video debut, subtitled and letterboxed.

Posters

Theatrical Release: 6 September 1995, Hong Kong

Reviews                  More Reviews             DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Kino - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Daum - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Áccent - Region 0 - PAL vs. Ocean Shores (OOP) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Kino (Remastered Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Criterion (2021 - 'World of Wong Kar Wai') - Region 'A' Blu-ray

Big thanks to Minh Nguyen, Gregory Meshman and Ole Kofoed for the DVD Screen Caps!

DVD Box Covers   

    

  

Distribution

Kino

Region 0 - NTSC

Daum

Region 0 - NTSC

Áccent
Region 0 - PAL

 

 

also available in the Wong Kar-Wai Double Feature: Fallen Angels + Happy Together:

 

Only sold presently as part of Criterion's Blu-ray package of World of Wong Kar Wai with As Tears Go By / Days of Being Wild / Chungking Express / Fallen Angels / Happy Together / In the Mood for Love / and 2046:

 

Kino

Region 0 - NTSC

Kino

Region FREE - Blu-ray

Artificial Eye

Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Criterion (2021)

Region 'A'  - Blu-ray

Distribution

Kino

Region 0 - NTSC

Daum

Region 0 - NTSC

Áccent
Region 0 - PAL
Ocean Shores
Region 0 - NTSC

Kino (Remastered)

Region 0 - NTSC

Kino

Region FREE - Blu-ray

Artificial Eye

Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Criterion (2021)

Region 'A'  - Blu-ray

Runtime

1:36:06

1:36:05 1:32:18 (4% PAL speedup) 1:36:54 1:38:42 1:38:49.965 1:38:37.041 1:39:14.114
Video

1.78:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced

Average Bitrate: 6.52 Mb/s

NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.78:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.40 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.78:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.47 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.55:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.83 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.14 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Disc Size: 32,857,793,139 bytes

Feature Size: 25,870,374,912 bytes

Average Bitrate: 31.01 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

Disc Size: 29,698,122,364 bytes

Feature Size: 27,337,242,624 bytes

Average Bitrate: 31.15 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

Disc Size: 41,564,957,506 bytes

Feature Size: 31,426,062,336 bytes

Average Bitrate: 36.12 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Kino

 

Bitrate:

Daum

 

Bitrate:

Áccent

 

Bitrate:

Ocean Shores (OOP)

 

Bitrate:

Kino Remastered

 

Bitrate:

Kino Blu-ray

 

Bitrate:

Artificial Eye Blu-ray

 

Bitrate:

Criterion Blu-ray

 

Audio Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1

Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround.

Cantonese or Mandarin (both mono).

Cantonese (Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround) DTS-HD Master Audio Chinese 2041 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2041 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio Chinese 2176 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2176 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
LPCM Audio Chinese 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
DTS-HD Master Audio Chinese 4008 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4008 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles English or none (16x9 friendly) English, Korean or none. English or none. English and Simplified Chinese (burned in) English or none English or none English or none English or none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Kino Video

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Extras:

Trailers:
- Fallen Angels (original & Japanese)
- Happy Together (original & Japanese)
- Days of Being Wild (original & Japanese)
- As Tears Go By (original)
- Chungking Express (Japanese)

Stills gallery: 20

Filmographies:
- Wong Kar-Wai
- Christopher Doyle
- Leon Lai Ming
- Michelle Reis
- Kaneshiro Takeshi
- Charlie Yeung
- Karen Mok

 

Release: October 19th, 2004

Keep Case

Chapter stops: 18

Release Information:
Studio: Daum

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• No extras!

DVD Release Date: ?
Keep Case

Chapters 8
 

Release Information:
Studio: Áccent

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• Restoration comparison (1:44).
• Essay by film scholor Stephen Teo.

 

DVD Release Date: August 12, 2004
Keep Case

Chapters 20

Release Information:
Studio: Ocean Shores

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.55:1

Edition Details:
• None

 

DVD Release Date: ?
Cheapo Lime Green Keep Case

Chapters 1

Release Information:
Studio: Kino

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• Only You - Behind the Scenes Featurette (7:45)
• Whom You Miss - Behind the Scenes Featurette (3:52)
• A Beautiful Evening - Behind the Scenes Featurette (3:48)
• An Interview with Cinematographer Christopher Doyle (7:13)
• Stills Gallery (32 pictures)
• Original and Japanese trailers for Fallen Angels
• Original and Japanese trailers for Happy Together

DVD Release Date: March 31, 2009
Keepcase

Chapters 20

Release Information:
Studio: Kino

 

Disc Size: 32,857,793,139 bytes

Feature Size: 25,870,374,912 bytes

Average Bitrate: 31.01 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• Only You - Behind the Scenes Featurette (7:45)
• Whom You Miss - Behind the Scenes Featurette (3:52)
• A Beautiful Evening - Behind the Scenes Featurette (3:48)
• An Interview with Cinematographer Christopher Doyle (7:13)
• Stills Gallery (32 pictures)
• Original and Japanese trailers for Fallen Angels
• Original and Japanese trailers for Happy Together

• 16 Stills in gallery

Blu-ray Release Date: March 16th, 2010
Standard Blu-ray in slip case

Chapters 21

Release Information:
Studio:
Artificial Eye

 

Disc Size: 29,698,122,364 bytes

Feature Size: 27,337,242,624 bytes

Average Bitrate: 31.15 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• An Interview with Cinematographer Christopher Doyle (23:21 in 576i)
• Trailer (2:45)


Blu-ray Release Date:
August 6th, 2012
Transparent Blu-ray case

Chapters 12

 

Release Information:
Studio:
Criterion

Disc Size: 41,564,957,506 bytes

Feature Size: 31,426,062,336 bytes

Average Bitrate: 36.12 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

Artist to Artist: 10 Questions for Wong Kar Wai (14:54)
Christopher Doyle (7:34)
Three Deleted Scenes - Only You - 8:08, Whom You Miss - 4:05, A Beautiful Evening - 4:01)
Trailer (2:46)
PLUS: Deluxe packaging, including a perfect-bound, French-fold book featuring lavish photography, an essay by critic John Powers, a director’s note, and six collectible art prints

Blu-ray
Release Date: March 23rd, 2021
Custom
Blu-ray Case (see below)
Chapters: 17

 

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion (2021) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (January 2021): "Fallen Angels" is another part of Criterion's upcoming World of Wong Kar Wai Blu-ray set. This has a "New 4K digital restoration approved by director Wong Kar Wai".

Wong Kar Wai on his New Restorations: "During the process of restoring the pictures that you are about to watch, we were caught in a dilemma between restoring these films to the form in which the audience had remembered them and how I had originally envisioned them. There was so much that we could change, and I decided to take the second path as it would represent my most vivid vision of these films.

As the saying goes: “no man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”

Since the beginning of this process, these words have reminded me to treat this as an opportunity to present these restorations as a new work from a different vantage point in my career.

Having arrived at the end of this process, these words still hold true.

I invite the audience to join me on starting afresh, as these are not the same films, and we are no longer the same audience.
"

For Fallen Angels WKW states: "With Fallen Angels, I have changed the format to cinemascope, because it was originally what I had intended to release the film in. When we were cutting the film, we accidentally turned the Steenbeck on anamorphic instead of standard. I felt that the film looked much more interesting because it enhanced the distance of the characters on top of the extreme wide angle that we shot on. Back then, it was impossible to shoot a film in standard and release it in anamorphic. With this restoration, we have successfully fulfilled this wish."

This new 4K restored, director-approved image has a higher, max'ed out bitrate than all discs compared. The Criterion looks far better - notably in the contrast - evident in the black and white sequences. But the big change is that the Kino and AE were in around 1.79:1 aspect ratio - but as WKW states above - this new 4K restoration of Fallen Angels is in 2.35:1. Maybe I liked it because it is different and felt I had an entirely new viewing of the film. From that standpoint - very cool... it was different viewing experience to a film I had seen maybe 6-7 times, although not recently. There seemed to be other subtle changes but I won't be the one to document them. I can only say I loved the widescreen look... and that it was so different.     

The audio is still lossless 5.1 surround but more robust than the other Blu-ray editions - being the only one at 24-bits. It is in the original Cantonese and there is not a ton of separation but there were impressive instnaces. The score is by Frankie Chan (The Fearless Hyena, Chungking Express) and Roel A. García (Ashes of Time.) Criterion add optional English subtitles (see samples below) on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc.

On their Blu-ray, Criterion also includes a new 2020 video entitled 'Artist to Artist: 10 Questions for Wong Kar Wai'. For this 2020 program, Wong Kar Wai invited several artists to participate in a Q&A with him. Each submitted one on-camera question to the director, who filmed his responses in Shanghai during breaks on the set of his new project. These include Sofia Coppola, Bradford Young, Chloe Zhao, Rian Johnson and Phillippe Le Sourd. There is also a 7-minute 2002 interview where Christopher Doyle discusses the cinematography of Fallen Angels. Lastly, are three deleted scenes - Only You - 8:08, Whom You Miss - 4:05, and A Beautiful Evening - 4:01. The Criterion also has a 'new' trailer and the World of Wong Kar Wai Boxset has deluxe packaging (see below), including a perfect-bound, French-fold book featuring lavish photography, an essay by critic John Powers, a director’s note, and six collectible art prints.

Wong Kar Wai's Fallen Angels is another deep film that can exist on it's 'script idea' and cinematographic energy. It exports themes such as alienation and loss of personal connection. It's a masterpiece that gets better upon re-visitation and I loved the widescreen shift here - adding another layer to my viewing experience. There really is no modern filmmaker like him. I might see distant links to Altman or later Fellini where human energy, in its many forms, drive the narrative. A fascinating film and another essential addition to the World of Wong Kar Wai Boxset.

 - Gary Tooze

***

ADDITION - Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray  July 2012:   Not too much to say here, The Artificial Eye Blu-ray looks to be on par with the Kino for a/v. I couldn't spot any significant, or minor, differences in the image. The technical stats bear this out with a negligibly different bitrate and feature file size. AE offers a stereo linear PCM option to go along with the DTS-Master 5.1. Both have English subtitles with a slightly different translation on the UK disc. I'll go wit the AE for the supplements as they have a much longer Chris Doyle interview.

Both packages offers solid value for an extremely cool film. Recommended! 

***

ADDITION - Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray  March 2010:  Keeping things short and sweet - this Blu-ray is a big improvement - more than the screen captures will bear out. After suffering through so many lame editions, Fallen Angels finally looks like film instead of video - lost of grain and wonderfully supportive of the frequently askew camera techniques (distortions and black and white scenes). There is some depth here. This isn't 1.78 but closer to 1.85 (if not reaching it), more information in the frame, tighter, and better, color balance etc. etc.

Before I forget - I LOVE the menus too.

Audio, too, is notable with a lossless DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 2041 kbps. This can be an important part of the presentation in my opinion. I love the soundtrack interlude touches and subtle separations. Maybe not as a dramatic upgrade as the video - but not far off either. There are optional subtitles (better font) and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

Extras are the same as the Kino remastered DVD (they've added 16 sills in a gallery) but they are now in HD. It's about $6 cheaper than the Kino SE (that had combing!) and a great investment for fans of the director - this film is now 15 years old! I REALLY enjoyed my viewing (ala Days of Being Wild in 1080). This film seems made for such a strong visual and aural presentation. I hope Kino, or whoever, bring ALL of Wong Kar-wai's films to Blu-ray.

 - Gary Tooze

 

 

ADDITION - Kino (January 10') - We still need to verify if this Kino disc is progressive as there is infrequent combing - possibly utilizing the 'alchemist' transfer. It does appear to be running in the correct NTSC time. But it all seems a rather moot point as in a couple of months Kino are releasing a Blu-ray from the same restoration HERE - and it is cheaper than this DVD. Let's wait for that and hope it proves as competent as Kino first wave of Blu-rays (The General, Ballast etc.)

 

- Gregory Meshman

ADDITION - Kino (Dec -04) -There is no use in comparing the Kino with the Daum and Ocean Shores. The disc is inferior compared to the Áccent for having boosted contrast and beefed up colour. Even though these are minor changes, I do feel they change the overall feel of the film. My major gripe with the Kino disc, is the softness. It did reduce the grain, but also some of the detail as you will see in capture 5. More is lost due to the slight contrast boosting, which makes several faces and items disappear into the darkness. The b&w scenes also have this light brownish hue, instead of the pure grey shown on the Áccent. Therefore, I’m recommending the Áccent – which is the one that got to stay in my collection. Oh, and the Kino image also suffers from ghosting.

Minh Nguyen

***

As the Daum and Ocean Shores DVDs break just about every rule we have for DVD production (including aspect ratio manipulation, burned in dual subtitles, massive contrast boosting, color manipulation etc. ) it makes it easy to recommend the Áccent. It also has some extras including a restoration demonstration. I find it hard to believe that Daum was actually able/allowed to put that distorted mess on a DVD - what a bunch of bandits. Hopefully we will add the new NTSC Kino when we can get our hands on a copy due out October 19th in a Wong Kar-wai Boxset including As Tears Go By, Days of Being Wild, Happy Together, Fallen Angels, and Chungking Express. As of this date though (Oct 7th) the Áccent is the only one to buy.

 - Gary Tooze

NOTE: The Accent DVD has replaced Takeshi Kaneshiro's Cantonese voiceover with what I can only assume is the Mandarin DUB used for mainland release....why accent was sent an audio track with everyone speaking Cantonese except his character is a mystery. (Thanks Edward)
 

 


DVD Menus

(Kino - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. Daum - Region 0 - NTSC - 2ndT vs. Áccent - Region 0 - PAL - 3rd vs. Ocean Shores (OOP) - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)
 

 

 

 

 

Kino (Remastered Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC
 

 

Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 

Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 Subtitle Sample

 

1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Daum - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Áccent - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Ocean Shores (OOP) - Region 0 - NTSC - FOURTH

5) Kino (Remastered Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC - FIFTH

6) Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray - SIXTH

7) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SEVENTH

8) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


Screen Captures

 

1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Daum - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Áccent - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Ocean Shores (OOP) - Region 0 - NTSC - FOURTH

5) Kino (Remastered Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC - FIFTH

6) Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray - SIXTH

7) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SEVENTH

8) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Daum - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Áccent - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Ocean Shores (OOP) - Region 0 - NTSC - FOURTH

5) Kino (Remastered Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC - FIFTH

6) Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray - SIXTH

7) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SEVENTH

8) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Daum - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Áccent - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Ocean Shores (OOP) - Region 0 - NTSC - FOURTH

5) Kino (Remastered Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC - FIFTH

6) Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray - SIXTH

7) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SEVENTH

8) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Daum - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Áccent - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Ocean Shores (OOP) - Region 0 - NTSC - FOURTH

5) Kino (Remastered Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC - FIFTH

6) Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray - SIXTH

7) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SEVENTH

8) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Daum - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Áccent - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Ocean Shores (OOP) - Region 0 - NTSC - FOURTH

5) Kino (Remastered Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC - FIFTH

6) Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray - SIXTH

7) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SEVENTH

8) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Daum - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Áccent - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Ocean Shores (OOP) - Region 0 - NTSC - FOURTH

5) Kino (Remastered Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC - FIFTH

6) Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray - SIXTH

7) Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SEVENTH

8) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


Hit Counter


 

DVD Box Covers   

    

  

Distribution

Kino

Region 0 - NTSC

Daum

Region 0 - NTSC

Áccent
Region 0 - PAL

 

 

also available in the Wong Kar-Wai Double Feature: Fallen Angels + Happy Together:

 

Ocean Shores
Region 0 - NTSC

Kino

Region 0 - NTSC

Kino

Region FREE - Blu-ray

Artificial Eye

Region 'B' - Blu-ray




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gary Tooze

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