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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (May 2022): Criterion have transferred Wayne Wang's Chan is Missing to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Director-Approved Special Edition". Chan is Missing was shot in 16mm, in black and white with a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The 1080P looks gorgeous with the predictably heavy grain textures. Contrast is beautifully layered with inky black levels and the image is pristinely clean. This appears to be a highly authentic appearance on a dual-layered Blu-ray disc with a max'ed out bitrate.

NOTE: We have added 46 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Chan is Missing has no strong aggressive moments. The score is credited to Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo (his only film work.) It's fun to hear in the opening are (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock sung in Chinese, plus there is Los Lobos' Sabor a mí, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Grant Avenue sung by Pat Suzuki and at the end and Michel Legrand's theme from 'The Go-Between'. Criterion offer optional English and English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray offer a new conversation between Wang and critic Hua Hsu recorded by Criterion in January 2022. In it, they discuss Wang's path to becoming a filmmaker and the cultural context of Chan is Missing. There is also a new conversation with film programmer and critic Dennis Lim who interviews director Wayne Wang about his varied career in film for over 17-minutes. Also a conversation between Wayne Wang and Ang Lee discuss Chan Is Missing, their filmmaking influences, and their experiences working in American cinema as Asian directors. It runs 25-minutes. Is Chan Still Missing?, is a 2005 making-of documentary directed by Debbie Lum on the production of Chan Is Missing featuring interviews with actors Laureen Chew, Marc Hayashi, and Wood Moy; sound recordist Curtis Choy; and film historian Stephen Gong. Lastly is a trailer and the package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by critic Oliver Wang.

Wayne Wang's Chan is Missing is plotted as a take-off, or homage, to the Charlie Chan film series - however the un-established "Chan" is the missing person - which becomes the film's central theme - both seeking him and defining a understandable portrait of him. As cabbie Jo and his nephew Steve investigate the titular character's whereabouts, they get an unusual, enigmatic, sketch of him that works as a reflective corollary of the Chinese American community. Yes, it has embraceable noir tropes with some wonderful shots. It's very cool - excellent filmmaking. I'm very happy with the Criterion Blu-ray's authentic a/v and extensive new extras. This is great! Strongly recommeded!

Gary Tooze