Ang Lee's limited-release film stars Tony Leung as a Chinese political figure sympathetic to the Japanese during World War II and newcomer Wei Tang as the woman who falls in love with him; in Mandarin with English subtitles.
After BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and THE HULK, multitalented director Ang Lee returns to Asia with this Mandarin-language erotic drama. LUST, CAUTION pairs celebrated actor Tony Leung (2046) with gifted neophyte Tang Wei. In 1938, China is occupied by the Japanese, but it's not only the country's neighbors who are hated by the loyal Chinese. The nation's resistance also centers on those who willingly collaborate with Japan. Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei) is part of an acting group, but their sights are set beyond the stage: they want to use their abilities to attack Mr. Yee (Leung), a known traitor. Wong poses as a businessman's wife, and she begins to lure Mr. Yee in, but they're separated before she has her chance. Three years later, they meet again in Shanghai, and a heated affair begins. As Wong grows closer to Mr. Yee, there is doubt that she can aid in her lover's downfall.
At times, LUST, CAUTION evokes memories of Wong Kar-Wai's IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE. Both are heat-filled period films that feature the nearly perfect Leung, but while the earlier picture focused on a love that was never consummated, LUST, CAUTION allows its lovers to realize their passion as often--and in as many ways--as one could imagine. But despite the film's NC-17 rating, it never allows the sex to get in the way of the plot or the images. Director of photography Rodrigo Prieto has worked with directors as diverse and impressive as Oliver Stone, Julie Taymor, Spike Lee, and Alejandro González Iñárritu, and he continues this fine tradition with his second pairing with Lee after BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. Here Prieto has a head start thanks to beautiful costumes and beautiful people, but this is another film that is simply gorgeous to look at.
Theatrical Release: September 28, 2007 (Limited)
Lust, Caution Reviews:
4 stars out of 5 -- "This is a film of deceptive subtlety that springs its climax like a steel trap....Both provocative and satisfying..."-- Damon Wise, Empire
4 stars out of 5 -- "Lee's saucy, sumptuous slow-burner is a complex, elegant seduction, drawing on Hitchcock..."-- Kevin Harley, Total Film
"[An] intense, psychologically intricate and sexually explicit film....LUST, CAUTION gets under your skin with its examination of what qualifies as love and what does not."-- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
"[I]n her screen debut as Wong, Tang Wei is as much a revelation as was Zhang Ziyi in CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON."-- Philip Kemp, Sight and Sound
4 stars out of 5 -- "An exquisitely choreographed study of romantic deception...and a satisfyingly complex analysis of political expediency."-- Alastair McKay, Uncut
4 stars out of 5 -- "LUST, CAUTION is a detailed and compelling period piece, with a decidedly dark underbelly."-- Ultimate DVD Staff, Ultimate DVD
3.5 stars out of 4 -- "There are no wasted motions. Exquisite beauty and barbarous intent are all caught in the lens of the great cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto."-- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
3 stars out of 4 -- "[B]eautifully mounted....A deliberately paced tale of espionage and double-crosses....[It] has a literary feel, unfolding at a stately pace."-- Claudia Puig, USA Today
Customer Lust, Caution Reviews Customer Lust, Caution DVD Reviews
Average Rating: (4.3 out of 5 stars)
Engaging Movie Ang Lee does a fantastic job on this after his previous success "Brokeback Mountain" that featured the late Heath Ledger. The well-paced film has its stellar cast, especially newcomer Wei Tang and "In The Mood for Love" actor Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, putting in a virtuso performance. A highly recommended purchase for lovers of exotic arthouse movies. Submitted by ahpekz17 (Singapore) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Engaging movie with some erotic grooves I watched this film at the Crest Theater here in Sacramento. I loved every moment of this suspenseful drama. All the actors were excellent, especially new comer Tang Wei. Tony Leung was also great and I was shocked to see him like never before.
As an African American viewer, I have opened my mind to the world of Foreign films. And let me just say: This movie, although not a masterpiece, was still very very good. This is not for the weak at heart however, as the sex scenes can be intense. Overall, I this is a great flick. My thanks goes out to Ang Lee for another graceful film.
Submitted by gojira_kun22 (Sacramento, CA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Not for the faint of heart and/or mind I hear people calling this a romance. There is nothing romantic about this movie. I also hear people complaining about the sex and violence. It's rated NC-17 for a reason. If you can't handle it, go rent Pretty Woman or some other weak @$$ sh*t.
That said, it's a great spy-drama, well acted, beautifully filmed and pretty damned disturbing. It's also a perfect example of how to use sex scenes to develop character and drive the story. Submitted by Slim (Oakland, CA, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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Lust, Caution DVD
Lust, Caution DVD Features
Region 1 Snap Case Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85 Full Frame - 1.33 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - French, Mandarin, Japanese Subtitles - English (SDH), English, French, Spanish - Optional Additional Release Material: Featurette TILES OF DECEPTION, LURID AFFECTIONS
Engaging Movie
Engaging movie with some erotic grooves
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