Every Wong Kar-Wai movie exists in multiple versions. That's a fact. Take 2013's 'The Grandmaster' as an example. It was screened in at least four versions and three of them are available on BluRay and DVD. That makes this movie a rare case, since most of the director's other movies are available on home video in one particular cut only. That's understandable, since most of the alternate cuts are premiere versions which Wong Kar-Wai refined further until he presented them to a more general audience. This was the case for 'In The Mood For Love', '2046' and 'My Blueberry Nights', whose Cannes premiere versions were all reportedly different from the versions we know so well.
One alternate version I've always wanted to see is the obscure 'Hong Kong version' of 'Chungking Express'. I think I first read about it in Stephen Teo's 'Wong Kar-Wai: Auteur of Time'. There he discusses some of the differences between that versions and the better known 'international version' and argues that the version shown to international audiences has a more abstract sense of Hong Kong space compared to the version presented to the Hong Kong audience. In order to get to know more about Teo's great analysis, you should probably read his book. The point is, ever since I read those comments, I wanted to see the Hong Kong version. But the sad fact is: All the common DVD and BluRay releases contain 'the international version' only. So I did some research and found out that in the 1990s, the label Ocean Shores released the Hong Kong version on VCD and DVD. You can even find a short review of the latter on DVD Beaver. So I turned to Ebay and was able to get the VCD, but not the DVD.
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| Chungking Express VCD by Ocean Shores |
And I have to tell you, it's an usual experience to watch a VCD nowadays. In the world of HD and 4K, a VCD seems ancient. While it's still compatible with my equipment, the resolution of 352x240 pixels (plus the MPEG-1 codec and the constant bitrate) is quite... something.
So, in order to sport all the differences between the two versions, I let the VCD (Hong Kong version) and the BluRay by the Criterion Collection (international version) run side by side and created this little report about their differences. I should however make some comments about my approach beforehand:
- I didn't document very minor differences, like shots that run 1-2 seconds longer in either version.
- The voiceovers are placed a bit differently in both versions. Usually, there's a 1-2 seconds time difference between both versions. I don't mention that below, otherwise I would have had to comment on each and every voiceover of the movie.
- I tried to comment on differences in the soundtrack. However, the VCD contains a mono soundtrack, while the Criterion BluRay has a remastered 5.1 mix. Needless to say that this makes the overall sound atmosphere completely different. So I only comment on the sound when the differences are severe, like different or missing music cues.
So here it is, my comparison of both versions of 'Chungking Express'.
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HK version 0:00:00 - 0:00:02 (VCD #1) / International version 0:00:00 - 0:00:45
There is a black-on-white Jet Tone Logo in the HK version, while there appear several logos in the international version, including a white-on-black Jet Tone Logo.
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| Hong Kong version |
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| International version |
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HK version 0:00:42 (VCD #1) / International version 0:01:22
The title card contains an English translation in the Int. Cut.
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| Hong Kong version |
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| International version |
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HK version 0:05:22 - 0:05:37 (VCD #1)
The scene with Cop 223 loitering in front of May's window is seen earlier in the HK version.
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| Hong Kong version |
HK version 0:06:27 - 0:07:37 (VCD #1)
In the Hong Kong version, we only get one short montage sequence with the Indians and the Blonde during which they prepare the drug smuggling. We see the Indians getting paid as well as the drugs being hidden in clothes, shoes and even in people! The Baroque theme is heard during the scene.
International version 0:06:63 - 0:11:33
In the International version, there are two longer montage sequences involving the Indians and the drug smuggling. Instead of the Baroque theme, we get to hear different folk tunes. Between the montage sequences we get the scene with Cop 223 loitering in front of May's window that appeared earlier in the Hong Kong Cut.
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| International version, 0:06:53 - 0:08:53 First, the Indians get paid, then the Blonde takes them shopping and eating. |
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| International version, 0:08:53 - 0:09:12 This scene is the same as in the HK Cut, except that it's followed by an additional shot of the clock. |
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| International version, 0:09:13 - 0:11:33 The Blonde and the Indians shop a little bit more before they prepare the drug smuggling. |
The respective music from the montage sequence continues until the first part of the airport scene, which follows in both versions. After the intercut to the stewardess from Episode #2, we get to hear frantic drums in the HK version. The international version replaces the drum music with announcements from the airport personnel that luggage is not supposed to be left unattended.
International version 0:13:19 - 0:13:53
The international version has an additional scene with Cop 223 who steps out of McDonalds and then calls his paging service from a supermarket to ask whether he has any new messages. Subsequently, we hear Cop 223 via voiceover:
"We broke up on April Fool's Day, so I took it as a joke. I'm willing to humor her for a month. Every day I buy a can of pineapple with an expiration date of May 1, because May loves pineapple and May 1 is my birthday. I tell myself, that if May hasn't come back by the time I've bought 30 cans, then our love will expire too."
The HK version begins the scene in the supermarket with the close up of the cans of pineapple. From that point on, the scene is the same in both cuts, except that the international version continues the voiceover until shortly before Cop 223 talks to the salesclerk. The HK version has no voiceover at that point.
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| International version |
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HK version 0:09:58 - 0:10:30 (VCD #1)
This additional scene from the HK version is an alternative to the scene described before and has the same voiceover. It appears after Cop 223 has left the store.
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| Hong Kong version |
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HK version 0:11:09 - 0:11:51 (VCD #1) / International version 0:14:55 - 0:17:19
The Blonde questions several people whether they know the Indians whom she has hired. The order of the people she asks is different in each version. Additionally, the international version contains a small subplot during which the Blonde kidnaps a little girl in order to get information about the Indians from her father. Her scheme is not successful however and she returns the girl. Via voiceover, she tells us: "Some men might sacrifice their own kid for money, but he wasn't one of them. One hour later, I left."
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| International version |
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HK version 0:14:34 - 0:14:36 (VCD #1)
An additional shot in the HK version which zooms in on the clock when it turns from April 30 to May 1.
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| Hong Kong version |
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HK version 0:14:37 - 0:16:59 (VCD #1) / International version 0:19:55 - 0:22:15
The scene in which the Blonde enters Garden Hostel, is subsequently attacked by hitmen and flees is cut a little bit differently in the end. But the changes in music are more important here. In the HK version, a folk song can be heard until the Blonde smokes a cigarette. In the international version, a different folk song fades in slowly as she smokes. The 'action music' at the beginning of the subsequent attack is also different in both versions. Also, the folk song from the international version continues to be heard during the first part of the action sequence.
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HK version ~28min. VCD #1) / International version ~33min.
The beginning of the scene with Cop 223 and the Blonde in the hotel is cut exactly the same in both versions, but we hear the cop's voiceover quite a bit later in the international version.
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| Hong Kong version |
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| International version |
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HK version 0:29:50 - 0:29:54 (VCD #1)
The HK version contains an additional shot of Cop 223 cleaning his teeth.
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| Hong Kong version |
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International version 0:39:01 - 0:39:22
There's an additional shot in the international version.
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| International version |
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HK version 0:02:23 - 0:03:40 (VCD #2)
During this famous scene with Cop 663 and Faye, Faye Wong's cover of 'Dreams' can be heard in the HK version. It even continues until the next scene with the cop's colleague. In the international version, the scene is silent.
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| Hong Kong version |
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HK version 0:04:59 - 0:05:02 (VCD #2) / International version 0:57:25 - 0:57:33
This shot outside of Cop 663's appartement is different in each version. In the HK version, the lights flash up twice, in the international version, the interiors remain in the dark.
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| HK version |
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| International version |
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HK version 0:04:59 - 0:05:02 (VCD #2)
The HK version adds a shot of Cop 663 getting up from his couch.
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| HK version |
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HK version 0:05:09 - 0:06:18 (VCD #2)
This scene is exclusive to the HK version. Please click on the picture below to read Cop 663's voiceover.
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| HK version |
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International version ~1h4m
This scene is almost the same in both cuts. But the international version adds Tony's voiceover from the aforementioned extra scene from the HK version. In the HK version, there's no voiceover heard during the scene.
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| International version |
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HK version ~28min (VCD #2) / International version ~1h20m
Before the electricity is cut from the Midnight Express imbiss, a song plays through the speakers in the HK version. This is not the case in the international version.
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HK version ~29min (VCD #2) / International version ~1h22m
As Cop 663 begins to notice the changes in his appartement, he discovers the picture attached to his mirror first and then eats the canned food in the HK version. It's the other way round in the international version. I also had the impression that the shots differed in length from version to version, but it's just minor.
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HK version ~32min (VCD #2)
The following shot lasts longer in the HK version. In the international version, a part of its dialogue is heard over the next shot.
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| HK version |
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HK version ~35min (VCD #2)
The scene in which Faye interacts enthusiastically with her customers is a few seconds longer in the HK version. There might be some extended or additional shots in there.
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Last but not least, the credits are once again different in each version.
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| HK version |
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| International version |
hey curious but does anyone here knows where to get the HK cut?
ReplyDeleteIt's available on Criterion Channel as "Chungking Express Alternate Version"
ReplyDeleteSorry but apparently it's the international cut, before they re-edited it for the World Of WKW release. But it's fine, I bought a copy of the VCD, albeit a Malaysian/Singaporean copy from MTV Productions.
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