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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" )
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
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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 |
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Distribution |
Kino Region 0 - NTSC |
Daum Region 0 - NTSC |
Áccent Region 0 - PAL |
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also available in the Wong Kar-Wai Double Feature: Fallen Angels + Happy Together: |
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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 |
1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.55:1
Aspect Ratio |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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. |
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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:
Extras:
Trailers: Stills gallery: 20
Filmographies:
Release: October 19th, 2004
Keep Case
Chapter stops: 18 |
Release Information: Studio: Daum Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
Chapters 8 |
Release Information: Studio: Áccent Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: August 12, 2004 Chapters 20 |
Release Information: Studio: Ocean Shores Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: ? Chapters 1 |
Release Information: Studio: Kino Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: 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:
• 16 Stills in gallery Chapters 21
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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: Chapters 12
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Release Information: 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)
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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.” 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. *** 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.
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.)
ADDITION - Kino (Dec -04) -There
is no use in comparing the Kino with the Daum
and 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.
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) |
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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)
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Kino (Remastered Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC
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Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray
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Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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DVD Box Covers |
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Distribution |
Kino Region 0 - NTSC |
Daum Region 0 - NTSC |
Áccent Region 0 - PAL |
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also available in the Wong Kar-Wai Double Feature: Fallen Angels + Happy Together: |
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Ocean
Shores Region 0 - NTSC |
Kino Region 0 - NTSC |
Kino Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Artificial Eye Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
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Many Thanks...