Happy Together: 1997 <=> TODAY

UPDATE: There's an updated and expanded version of this post here.

 

There are some notable differences between the original version of the movie and the version that was remastered by Wong Kar-Wai and first released on DVD in 2009.

 

Original version:  

US DVD by the label Kino International (2004) 

Hongkong DVD by Kam&Ronson (2006, 10th Anniversary Edition) 

and simply every older release... 

 

New version: 

UK DVD by Artificial Eye (2009) 

US DVD by Kino International (2009) 

US BluRay by Kino International (2010)

Differences: Needless to say, for this remaster, WKW cleaned up the movie, removing dirt and other stuff. He also altered the colors, increased saturation and improved contrast.

previously

 

now

 

previously

now

 

In the football scenes, the tint was changed from blueish / greenish to yellowish: 

 

previously

now

 Contrast is superior in the new version, especially in dark scenes:

 

previously

now

 

A shot that was accidentally rendered to black and white in former remastered versions is back in color now. 

 

previous remaster

now

 

The opening titles used to be in white and red, now they are black and white. 

 

previously

  

now

The same is true for the end credits. 

previously

 

now

The sound was also changed of course. Originally, it was a stereo mix. Then WKW went back to the source materials and compiled a 5.1 track. In contrast to the remastered version of Chungking Express and Fallen Angels, WKW didn't change the sound atmosphere too much. I didn't detect any new sound effects or changes in the music. The new mix is great, as the sound is cristal clear and probably couldn't be better.