[CN/TW-M] Lust, Caution (色，戒)

[Nukaew]

English name :Lust, Caution
Chinese name :色，戒 (Sè, Jiè)
Genre : Drama/Thriller/Erotic
Award : Golden Lion Award from Vernice Film Festival 2007 (Not Unanimity)

Directed : Ang Lee
Produced: Ang Lee ,William Kong,James Schamus
Written: Eileen Chang (story),Hui-Ling Wang, James Schamus (screenplay)
Music by: Alexandre Desplat
Cinematographer: Rodrigo Prieto
Editing by :Tim Squyres
Distributed by : Focus Features
First Release date: 24 September 2007 (Taiwan)
Running time: 158 minutes (uncut version)

Starring:
Tony Leung Chiu Wai - Mr. Yee
Tang Wei - Wong Chia Chi / Mrs. Mak
Lee Hom Wang - Kuang Yumin
Joan Chen- Mrs. Yee
Tou Chung Hua -Old Wu
Chu Chih Ying -Lai Shu Jin
Chin Ka Lok - Assistant Officer Tsao
Anupam Kher-Khalid Said ud-Din


Synopsis:
The story is mostly set in 1942 Shanghai, during the city's Japanese occupation . It depicts a group of patriotic Chinese students, lead by Kuang Yumin(Lee Hom Wang) plotting to kill a member of the Japanese collaborationist, Mr. Yee (Tony Leung) , by using a young woman,Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei), as a lure

For more information include the whole story include spoiler :Lust, Caution at Wiki

This Film became a popular topic before it showed in Theater due to
1. Sex Scenes
- Real sex scene of Tony Leung & Tang Wei?
- NC-17 rate in US, & Ang Lee have to cut sex scenes (about 7 mins) for mainland version
- A Chinese man sued the China censor department for 500 Yuans according to cutting sex scenes = destroying audience's emotion in his idea
2. The country of origin of this film
- This film was coproduced by American companies , Taiwan company & Mainland China companies !!! but most audience accept it as Taiwanese according to Ang Lee
- Oscar refused to accept this as best foreign film from Taiwan due to "an insufficient number of Taiwanese participated in the production of the film"

*** Staffs : I think I write right title of this topic ***

[Nukaew]

My Comment
** I try to avoid spoiler in this post but it works partially**

Many people said that " This is one of good movies from Ang Lee but it is not his best one "

But I think "If You can't compare The Departed with The Gang of NY, then you shouldn't compare Lust, Caution with Brokeback Mountain"

Something you should know before decide to watch this movie or not
This is not a real spy story like Infernal Affairs
This is not a real war story like Saving Private Ryan
This has no good (enough) ending like Schindler's List
This is drama genre, just to show the dark side of human!!!

The Plot
The main plot is so simple like the synosis above.The ending is quite predictable. However, the subplots (I mean each characters) are complex, maybe too complex but they are main theme of this movie in my idea.

Due to the first half of the story (HK scene) goes slowly & seems unrealistic, many can get bored.In contrast, the latter half (Shanghai scene) is different and the peak is in the last 30 minutes

Casts' acting
-In General : the strongest point of this movie is the excellent acting of Tony Leung & Tang Wei
-Tony Leung as Mr. Yee: I think this is his masterpiece. His acting is superb. His lines of script & his facial expression can reflect Mr. Yee's real inside emotion & personality
-Tang Wei as Wong Chia Chi / Mrs. Mak: Give credit to Ang Lee, who choose her over Shu Qi & Zhang Ziyi, Tang Wei is perfectly suitable for this role.She has innocent looking as Wong Chia Chi .Also she has attractiveness as Mrs. Mak
-Lee Hom Wang as Kuang Yumin : Actually his image matches the role of a university student who has 'ideal' dream for nation but his acting is just average especially when compared with Tony Leung.He can't express all feeling of Kuang through his eyes as he should. However, his smile in last scene touched me.

Other components
-The scene: Shanghai 1940's Background is excellent
-The scores( background song) : They are one of what I like in this movie

My favorite scene
-The Scene in Jewellery Store that Mr. Yee did something for Mrs.Mak so she decided to do something that changed her destiny forever.

Feeling when finish watching
-First of all, I think "why it ended like this?" "why bad guys were not punished while good guys received nothing in return?" And I believe many people must think this way too.Someone must wonder why this film won Golden Lion award!!!
-But if you consider it carefully, you will see the point of this movie is not the ending.As I told you above, I think the director want to show "dark side of human" through these 3 leading characters.
-After re-considering,I think it seems that Ang Lee intended to leave many questions for the audience to imagine the answers,for example
++ Do any real loves exist in this movie or it is just lust?
++ Why Wong Chia Chi choose to be arrested while she has another choice?
++ Who is the most pitiful person?
** Are all sex scenes neccessary?
-Finally, I have my own answers for all above questions. Also I like this movie & I think it deserved the awards.

Conclusion
-Must watch : if you are a fan of Ang Lee or Tony Leung
-Should watch: if you are Lee Hom Wang fan (cause he was born to be singer,and this maybe the last time to see him as actor) or if you like old Shanghai in 1940's style
-Stay home : if you don't like the movie that you need to use many brain cells or rewatch 2-3 times before you get what the director wants to send you

[pingsoon]

Wow, what a very very very long and in depth analysis of this movie. Haven't watched it though, but seems nice like those mi-era series e.g charm beneath.

[Entity]

Originally Posted by Nukaew

A Chinese man sued the China censor department for 500 Yuans according to cutting sex scenes = destroying audience's emotion in his idea

Wow, what a waste of time for that guy! 500 Yuans only?! Just to give others an idea, currently, 500 Yuans = $67.51 Canadian Dollars / $67.73 American Dollars lol.

[Nukaew]

Originally Posted by Entity

Wow, what a waste of time for that guy! 500 Yuans only?! Just to give others an idea, currently, 500 Yuans = $67.51 Canadian Dollars / $67.73 American Dollars lol.

500 yuans but become news worldwide !!!

[redplanet]

must...refrain...from...reading till i download and finish the movie...

btw, nukaew, don't forget to give pingsoon a little sth special here
http://www.asian4ever.net/forum/soft...e-sharing.html

[freeminded]

I found this movie kind of slow and boring. And I hate the actress too

[April07]

For me, this movie was not bad. Tony Leung acting is really great. I do enjoy this movie and find it interesting.LeeHom acting is just so so. The actress...Hmmm...can't remember her name..=%.... I enjoyed her character and acting.