Wings of Desire (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Pros:- Criterion version has good English subtitles, not the bad ones from the British Curzon version.- The SOUND is actually the most noteworthy thing to me, if you have a good setup. It is NOT the same as even the new Bluray version. The key feature here is that the whispering angels in scenes like the library now completely surround you in 5.1. It's really an amazing effect. Later, when they awkwardly euro-dance at the club, the sound is again dramatically improved. The whole soundtrack is much, much clearer in a way that even the CD really is not--they must have remastered it. There's no subwoofer boom, but these small atmospheric effects add a great deal and are totally absent in the Bluray (I checked to confirm). Three cheers for art-house sound.- The 4K picture is clearer than the new Bluray, but not as dramatic as I'd been led to expect. Some improvements in contrast and grading are visible but not gigantic. E.g., the guy dying on the bridge looks washed out on Bluray and comes through much clearer in 4K. (Die Insel Tristan da Cunha...)Cons:- No HDR. I just disagree that this is ever acceptable. Adding HDR isn't like adding CGI or a bombastic new soundtrack. Making the blacks actually black and extending peak highlights is more like adding some surround ambiance, which they already did here. And imagine Damiel's garish red jacket and Marion's dress popping in HDR at the end, during their bizarre eurologue!- The picture was always pretty noisy and it remains so. I'm glad they didn't try to clear this up, but it really is very noisy, especially in early outdoor special effects shots where there are all kinds of weird compositing artifacts. Again, it's not that they should have fixed this, but be aware of source limitations--don't be expecting some pristine restoration or anything.- I was somewhat misled by the PR into thinking there would be radical changes in the character of the BW from a sepia tone to something new, radically clearer picture, etc., and relative to the Bluray I would suggest tempering expectations a bit. This is better, but not shock and awe.Extras- If you've never seen it, watch the Bluray deleted scenes and skip to the one near the end, where there's a cut scene of a...pie fight. I'm not making this up. Must be seen to be believed, and will put you at the forefront of Wings of Desire nerds in terms of trivia-knowledge. In fact, if you look carefully you'll see the pie in the actual film, which I now always imagine thrown in Damiel/Marion's face as they're talking.

Wings Of Desire, a movie directed by Wim Wenders is a masterpiece. It is the story of Angels and humans mingling amongst each other with fallen angels relating how beautiful it is to be human. It takes place in Berlin after the Wall has fallen but still visible as a graffiti covered relic of another time. The story unfolds like a wonderful fairytale. It’s one of my favorite movies.

There are few movies that stay with you long after the credits have rolled and the auditorium lights have come up. This is one of them.I saw this many years ago in a high school Humanities class and always wanted to purchase it. When it came out on DVD I snagged a copy to finally own. It was as good or better than I remembered it. That was a span of some 15 or so years.What more can I say? Powerful, evocative, thought provoking, sublime, and deeply, satisfactorily moving. Pure, high artistry and poetry on a short list of classic European films, and on a whole other plain of existence from most American "art" films. A story of Shakespearean grandeur on celluloid.The images linger, the narration haunts. Black and white and color filmstock are brilliantly utilized in fantastic and complimentary combination used to represent the ethereal and more mundane, Earthbound realms the characters dwell in.Wings of Desire is arguably filmmaker and music video director Wim Wenders' finest masterpiece to date. Don't let "Music Video Director" scare you off. Wim is no Michael Bay or McG. He actually has talent and is very much akin to Spike Jonze in creating fantastical flights of fancy, though with more cerebral and philosophically provoking undertones.That Wings of Desire is now on Blu-ray in a stunning HD transfer, is something to be celebrated.

One of the best movies I have seen in years. Important as a time capsule for Berlin. Just one example, Alexanderplatz before speculator scum developed it into a juke box. . Can be compared to the same real estate in the Jason Bourne film. There is one of the FLAK TOWERS featured in the film. You can see a Horch automobile! The Victory Column ! This is an artistic and dreamy film. Nick Cage is in it. I was ashamed that I had never seen this film! Nastassja Kinski, and others will drill a hole in your soul! It is sad in a way because if you look at the videos on You Tube about Berlin, then see Berlin 40 years after WW II, it is a tragedy. Berlin was like a jewel of a city. Then came the Nazis who spoiled all the fun and then Berlin as destroyed. You can even check out the scene with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on You Tube , then buy this movie! But there are many wonderful aspects to the story besides the travelogue. You can get it from your library to check it out, then buy your own copy! You only live once!

While "Wings of Desire" is a genuine work of art, gently crafted, well conceived, beautifully acted - it's slower than molasses on a cold day, and if you're an impatient viewer who quickly grasps the concept of omnipresent angels, you'll be ready for the love story to begin long before it does. I've reviewed "City of Angels", the rather pathetic knockoff of "Wings of Desire" with little of the comprehension or uniqueness, and suggest you not waste your viewing time on the former but sit back, relax and revel in the grace and beauty of the latter. Bruno Ganz was gorgeous then; the acrobatic object of his affection is believable, and I'd fall in love with her myself if I was a man or an immortal. The world of angels which co-exists with our natural world is pokey as hell to watch, but then eternity is probably pretty dull on a day-to-day basis as well. I can't honestly say I loved this film, but it is pretty fascinating.

Muy buena presentación, totalmente recomendable.

Esta es mi película favorita desde hace 20 años y nunca la había podido conseguir. Un día buscando en Amazon la encontré y sin duda me hice de esta edición que está excelente. El BluRay remasterizado, comentarios de Wim Wenders, en fin... vale muchísimo la pena.

I had no idea what to expect upon purchasing this movie.After first viewing I am still trying to figure out 'why' I bought it. The film captures the state of city and the citizens of Berlin just before the destruction of the wall. The hope for the better, despair of existence, and a glimpse of direction in life. In midst of it, looking for a little piece of love to brighten it all. But the joy of existence can be found everywhere in every corner; in the air we breath, the colours on the mall murals/graffiti, a puff of cigarette, meeting someone, etc.Peter Falk makes few appearances to inject a little bit of colour to the otherwise a mostly black & white experience.I enjoyed the first viewing but it is not a film that I'll be dying to watch again; it'll probably be at least couple of years before I do so.

This is as close to showing angels as they really are

Wim Wender's masterpiece and one of the best films ever made. What enhanced the experience were the Extras of the DVD which the Criterion Collection do so well and can be proud of. I have been waiting for Criterion to add this film to their collection.The audio commentary featuring Wim Wenders and Peter Falk was excellent as too was the documentary "The Angels Among Us". This DVD holds pride of place among my DVDs.