Lust, Caution (Se jie)

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Lust, Caution (Se jie)

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Lust, Caution (Se jie)

Anupam Kher, Joan Chen, Lee-Hom Wang, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Wei Tang

An espionage thriller set in WWII-era Shanghai, in which a young woman, Wang Jiazhi, gets swept up in a dangerous game of emotional intrigue with a powerful political figure, Mr. Yee.

Id: 10886364

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Lust, Caution (Se jie) Recent Reviews
  • ebs90
    December 25, 2009
    ebs90
    Lust, Caution is a film of epic proportions. Every aspect of filmmaking reaches the kind of quality that makes me want to poke my eyes out when I have to watch the gross of the modern-day production at the theater. Lust, Caution has everything down: perfect character development,...( read more) perfect performances, flawless art direction, amazing music. It has all the spirit of a classic, even despite its rather explicit sexual content which might make it less accessible to massive audiences. In the future, though, I'm sure it will be appreciated for what it truly is and people will choose to see it for its quality and its emotional force, regardless of whether they feel awkward about its NC-17 aspects.

    I know just about nothing about the context here, which is the Japanese occupation in China, but the message came across clearly. The plot, in itself, is quite complicated and I feel it's useless to write it down here, mainly because I would hardly say that's L,C's principal attractive. Most importantly, at the core of the film, is a torrid, mainuplative, violent affair between Tang Wei's character and Tony Leung's. She has to get close enough to kill him, and the way to get there is too often through encounters in hotels where they don't speak to each other, they just... do it, Their communication takes place on a different level than conversation, and during those brief rendez-vous it is possible to see how they might be falling for each other. But what could be more tragic, inconvenient, and impossible than that?

    Ang Lee's film has the strength of a space rocket. The emotional tension between characters and situations is such that an audience can become deeply involved in it, forget the outside world so to speak. Lee makes some not very likeable characters into people with souls and horrible conflicts. In that sense, it would be easy to catalog Lust, Caution as a tragedy, rather than a drama: sadness, sacrifice, atonement, emptiness constitute the drive behind the action, and little more. Beneath the political and moral implications, there's a huge problem worthy of Greek theater: two people desperately in love with each other, who also happen to have an unexpected, dangerous control over the other's life, and strings that attach them to causes and interests ready to pull the arm at any time. The girl has to be around the man knowing that she can't be as emotionally close as she wants to, knowing that any false step would make him kill her, and yet completely aware of the fact that she wouldn't have it any other way.
  • SirPant
    October 2, 2009
    SirPant
    This is a great espionage thriller. It is not however an erotic film as it was unfortunately sold as, unless of course brutal rape is your cup of tea!? I have to say I'm quite disappointed and appalled by the production team (or whoever is responsible) for stating this as a sales...( read more) pitch. It?s like saying Irreversible is a porn film! Anyway, that aside, this is a fantastic WW2 thriller from a different perspective compared to the usual Hollywood western angle. Tony Leung is fantastic as always and Wei Tang and Kar Lok Chin are definitely young actors to look out for in future! Lust, Caution is however, a bit too long. I have nothing against long films, far from it, but this one really didn't need to be. I'm not sure if this is based on true events, if it is then fine but if it isn't, I'd have to say the ending was far from a decent reward for two and a half hours viewing. I'm not Ang Lee's biggest fan either but this isn't a bad film I suppose but I doubt I'll be watching it again anytime soon.
  • stopitgoaway
    December 19, 2008
    stopitgoaway
    #13: Lust, Caution
    Ang Lee?s follow-up to Brokeback Mountain disappeared from cinemas with barely a trace. A pity, because it was quietly terrific: a spy thriller charting the dangerous (and extremely graphic) sado-masochistic relationship between a resistance agent and a powerfu...( read more)l collaborator. Lee shoots their doomed erotic obsession with the cool detachment of a lepidopterist pinning a butterfly.

    Best bit: An almost unwatchable botched stabbing. And the sexy bits, natch.
  • wellmeetagain
    October 27, 2008
    wellmeetagain
    Aptly named film from Ang Lee. Definitely worth a look. Recommended.
  • AgentLexi2132
    October 5, 2008
    AgentLexi2132
    ''He not only gets inside me, he worms his way into my heart like a snake. Deeper. All the way in. I take him in like a slave. I play my part faithfully so I, too, can get to his heart...''

    An espionage thriller set in WWII-era Shanghai, in which a young woman, Wang Jia...( read more)zhi, gets swept up in a dangerous game of emotional intrigue with a powerful political figure, Mr. Yee.

    Tony Leung Chiu Wai: Mr. Yee

    Wei Tang: Wong Chia Chi / Mak Tai Tai

    Ang Lee once again proves what a visionary Director he is, showing attention to detail in every shred of material examined. Lust, Caution is another offering from the masterful Lee which dazzles, entrance's, shocks and has you glued to the screen, every step of the way. To me it has similarities to the perfect German slice of Black Book, on the espionage and Period Drama stakes.

    The cinematography, costumes and locations (which range from Shanghai to Hong Kong) ooze authenticity and luscious unrivaled quality. The amount of extras used really is breath taking and the feel of 1930s 1940s Occupied China is captured in every way. Ang Lee is clever in the way he can capture the feel of a particular era, whether it be Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or Brokeback Mountain he always seems to master the environment and feel of the time. Lust, Caution he does it yet again, with spectacular results.

    To kill the enemy, she would have to capture his heart....and break her own.

    Moving onto performances, well the entire cast are on top form, not just the main characters either.
    Tony Leung as Mr Yee is untouchable in his execution of his character. Previous films have confirmed his high level of acting yet Lust, Caution definitely again like 2046 cements the fact he's got a passion in his craft. Mr Yee is a faceted character, who's collaborating with the Japanese. At times you can sympathize with him, others you want to ring his neck. He's a typical man who we see a glimpse of weakness in his affections for Mak Tai Tai.
    Wei Tang really steals the show with her performance as the leading lady. She's beautiful and sometimes without even the need for words, her eyes convey more language and soul than anything else. You begin to experience the journey by her side, with her as Lust, Caution progresses.

    The sex Scenes aren't to me, that graphic. Obviously there's some scenes which may be classed as violent and aggressive, but the evolution of the act requires a variation. I love how Tai Tai becomes so caught up in her involvement with Yee she begins to develop feelings for him. The passionate love making is charged and heated, often depicting the emotional battle going on between the two as they wrestle with their respective consciences.

    There was one occurrence of relatively violent proportions which was well shot. Reminded me of Julius Cesar dying for some reason. If you know the Scene I mean then tell me I'm not crazy, otherwise yes it's confirmed. Other than that theres not much examples of action and gore, which is good. It's not necessary.

    Lust, Caution also emphasizes the ideologies and routines of the times. Also the merging of Japanese culture in China as they occupy the Country. Of course the Chinese being a proud people are divided in opinion against their over sea rivals. Ang Lee manages to make a point of this without having to make it too obvious, so while he gives us a stealthy heated love story he also cleverly slips us a history lesson. All the things I've stated mixed into an equation spells a master stroke of greatness from the maestro of movie making.

    With Lust, Caution Ang Lee's piece will have you loving the music, the period and may even compel you to do more research of the times back then. Cleverly Lee also leaves an after taste in your mind, of History repeating itself and a poignant reflection of what it is to love and be someone else.
  • dizzynorman
    December 20, 2009
    dizzynorman
    An engaging, bult ultimately cold, erotic thriller. It was unusually long and I could have used more of a payoff for my patience. I didn't feel as if I was able to enter into any of the character's psyches. There was, however, a nice feeling of tension throughout.
  • se7enthangel
    November 26, 2009
    se7enthangel
    It took me a while to watch this, had a DVD with incompetent subtitles and in a movie like this, subtitles are your best friend. There are Shanghainese and Cantonese dialects, Mandarin, Hindi and let's throw in Japanese. Finally found a bluray copy! This is a masterful creation f...( read more)rom Ang Lee indeed, the director who presented us with man loving man in his controversial, but critically acclaimed 2005" Brokeback Mountain"
    Well Lust,Caution is super hot, raw and lusty. Rated NC-17, heavily cut in Malaysian theatres. An espionage thriller set during WWII era in Shanghai, cinematography is hauntingly beautiful,the period detail is exquisite. Tony Leung and Tang Wei 's love is spiked with deception and political intrigue. I must say Tang Wei's debut here left me breathless, she delivered her character with such conviction, great complexity and depth. She looked like one of those porcelain-dolls Running for almost 3 hours, patience is required to fully comprehend and appreciate this film.
  • odonoghuematthew
    November 11, 2009
    odonoghuematthew
    Best Actress in a supporting Role - 2007
  • bluglass
    October 21, 2009
    bluglass
    The central relationship is sado masochistic. Thats somewhat disturbing.....
  • pantalla9
    October 2, 2009
    pantalla9
    Detrás de Se, jie (Lust, Caution, su título en inglés) existió una gran controversia debido a sus escenas de alto contenido erótico. En China, país natal de Ang Lee, su realizador, la película se exhibió con una versión censurada, en la que se cortaron cerca de 10 minutos de metr...( read more)aje, debido a lo explícito de sus escenas sexuales. Esta versión fue seguramente la que vi en DVD (de aproximadamente 148 minutos de duración), aunque no creo que esas escenas recortadas aporten mucho al resultado final. Sin embargo, debo decir que dichas escenas están elegantemente filmadas y fotografiadas por el mexicano Rodrigo Prieto.

    Inquieto como siempre, Lee experimenta ahora con el subgénero de las películas de espionaje, y sale bien librado, como siempre (por cierto, a mí me gustó su Hulk). Ambientada en China durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, invadida por el ejército japonés, la película es un relato contado a través de un largo flash back, que cuenta, en esencia, las aventuras de una chica, Wong Chia Chi (Wei Tang), al unirse a un grupo revolucionario. Este grupo conforma una resistencia contra los colaboracionistas del país invasor.
    El par de escenas finales me dejaron intrigado, al no saber con exactitud el verdadero destino de Wong. Al final, hay un par de líneas que dice Yee a su esposa, que hacen que uno conjeture varias conclusiones. Por supuesto, dejo al lector la tarea de ver la película y sacar sus propias conclusiones.
    Más en pantallanueve.blogspot.com
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