quote:

Originally posted by pacinofan:
Adding:

"Lust, Caution" Grade: B+

Glamourous, beautifully shot spy soaper that works on the star power and sexual fireworks of its two leads. Great political cinema it is not but it is hugely entertaining and very sexy.

I'd been waiting to see how you would review this film. I absolutely hated it; although I wont argue it's visual beauty nor the strength of the performances.
This film has changed my perspective on Ang Lee. The Hulk I saw as just a misfire; this has caused me to rethink Lee's political nature. Whereas Knocked Up was simply a crass piece of film making, I dont expect anything from Apatow anymore; I held Ang Lee to a higher standard. Lust Caution is a hate film, as far as I am concerned.
Ah well; alone again....

quote:

Originally posted by babypook:

quote:

Originally posted by pacinofan:
Adding:

"Lust, Caution" Grade: B+

Glamourous, beautifully shot spy soaper that works on the star power and sexual fireworks of its two leads. Great political cinema it is not but it is hugely entertaining and very sexy.

I'd been waiting to see how you would review this film. I absolutely hated it; although I wont argue it's visual beauty nor the strength of the performances.
This film has changed my perspective on Ang Lee. The Hulk I saw as just a misfire; this has caused me to rethink Lee's political nature. Whereas Knocked Up was simply a crass piece of film making, I dont expect anything from Apatow anymore; I held Ang Lee to a higher standard. Lust Caution is a hate film, as far as I am concerned.
Ah well; alone again....

I have no idea what you mean when you say hate film and you've said that many times. Do you mean hate for women or hate for the Japanese occupiers of China? Hate for women I suppose I would understand, even if I do not agree, as the sexual politics of the film are complex and strange... reminds me of "The Piano" in its views. If you mean hate for Japan well I do not expect resistence films to have much sympathy for occupying forces... though as the film barely even shows the Japanese I do not think it present them in a hideous manner. It's best if the films do not have a black and white view of the situation but I do not expect the British to come out well in "Gandhi" or "In the Name of the Father", the Germans to come across well in "The Pianist", etc.

Well; could you actually sit through this film again?
Lee took a shot at several nations; and imo, esp the Chinese. I dont care for the Chinese government AT ALL, and even I, was continuously offended by Lust/Caution. His depiction of women of all classes, was deplorable. And, aside from Tony Leung's character, these people were incredibly "unbright".
Still, it's inescapable that Lee knows how to make a beautiful-looking film, despite his national and sexual stereotyping and barely disguised prejudices.

quote:

Originally posted by babypook:
Well; could you actually sit through this film again?
Lee took a shot at several nations; and imo, esp the Chinese. I dont care for the Chinese government AT ALL, and even I, was continuously offended by Lust/Caution. His depiction of women of all classes, was deplorable. And, aside from Tony Leung's character, these people were incredibly "unbright".
Still, it's inescapable that Lee knows how to make a beautiful-looking film, despite his national and sexual stereotyping and barely disguised prejudices.

As a sexy espionage film it was pretty enjoyable so I could sit through it again on cable. As with almost all of Lee's films my major complaint with it is overlength so I do not know if i would sit through it all in one sitting again. Despite your descriptions above I just do not agree with your points. The young revolutionaries may not have had the best plans but I think that it due to their youth and inexperience. I mean, they were members of a college theatre troupe not trained soldiers.

They were recruited by their own people, who were depicted as cowardly, duplicitous weasels. And, even theatre troupe youth have more brains than that. They were also murderous and deluded.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: babypook,

I also found nothing 'sexy' about this. Yes, Wei Tang was exquisite; but she was tortured spiritually and physically and sacrificed everything; and for what...she was just a KID. Arrgh.
I'm glad you enjoyed it and I know you're not alone; but I will never watch this again.

quote:

Originally posted by babypook:
They were recruited by their own people, who were depicted as cowardly, duplicitous weasels. And, even theatre troupe youth have more brains than that. They were also murderous and deluded.

There really are assassins and revolutionary groups during wartime. It is a product of war not always a product of people being murderous by nature. They were going after the Chinese collaborationists who were puppets of the Japanese. Historically I would think within China most high ranking collaborationists would have been executed after Japan was defeated and China regained control of its own gov't. I don't see any real difference between this movie and a movie about the French Underground fighting with the collaborationist Vichy government that worked with Germany... well except for all the Kama Sutra style sex.

I respect that you see it that way pacinofan. However, as far as I am concerned, these self-interested cowards recruited young, naive farm girls and teenagers, and without giving anything else away, treated at least one of them as a slave. There just is no comparison here, for me.
I am, not unfamiliar with this period of history either. I guess that is what is so fascinating for me when it comes to history. We all see it in different ways.

Added:

"4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days" Grade: A-

Finally saw it. Very powerful with a perfect sense of place and time with brilliant performances... and yet so grim and unpleasant I doubt I would ever want to see it again.

Control

Finally had a chance to watch this...I love black and white films, and this didnt disappoint; some great performances and sharp insights into the human condition.
Very tragic, and difficult to watch.


"Does anyone here believe in love?"

B+

Cidade dos Homens

Sepia tones, immediate, raw yet eloquent; about family bonds, and optimistic in the end.

B

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Funny Games

F

Death Sentence

C

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No End in Sight
Charles Ferguson

One measure of a great nation's maturity, is the freedom of it's citizens, to criticize themselves.

Equal to, Eugene Jarecki's Why We Fight, in qualtiy and insight.

A

Blue State
Marshall Lewy

Hilarious, for the most part....until they reached Winnipeg. It fell apart about mid-way through and never recovered. The way the story would wrap, was evident long before it ended.
I'm surprised these characters didnt go to a hockey game, slug back Molsen's Canadian and wear beaver hats. I guess Lewy missed that cliche.

C-

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Silk, Francois Gerard

Typically Canadian film self conscious and artful; with stunning cinematography, art direction and score, great costumes and, simply beautiful to look at.
Based on the novel by Alessandro Baricco.

B

Awake:
Fellow Razzie multiple nominees Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, rip up the screen.

D+

No Reservations

Better the second time. But, Aaron Eckhart still looks scruffy...for a "chef".

B

P.S., I Love You

Better than I expected. But I was expecting, nothing.

C+

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"I'm Not There"....not bad of a movie..with a show stopping performance by Cate Blanchett and Heath ledger. Cate should have won Supporting Acttress and Heath should have been nominated for Supporting Actor.