list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Lust, Caution on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Lust_Caution/282916/default.aspx Title: Lust, Caution
Year: 2007
Director: Ang Lee
Plot: Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee adapts this Eileen Chang story set in World War II-era Shanghai that details the political intrigue surrounding a powerful political figure named Mr. Yee (Tony Leung) in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. Spanning the late-'30s and early-'40s, the movie introduces us to Hong Kong teen Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei), a shy college freshman who finds her calling in a drama society devoted to patriotic plays. But the troupe's leader, Kuang Yu Min (Wang Leehom) isn't just a theater maven - he's a revolutionary as well, and he's devoted to carrying out a bold plan to assassinate top Japanese collaborator Mr. Yee. Each student has an important role to play, and Wong puts herself in a dangerous position as Mrs. Mak: she befriends Mr. Yee's wife (Joan Chen), and slowly gains trust before tempting him into an affair. While at first the plan goes exactly as scripted, things suddenly take a deadly turn and Wong is emigrate from Hong Kong. Later, in 1941, the occupation shows no signs of ceasing and Wong is simply drifting through her days in Shanghai. Much to her surprise, the former actress finds Kuang requesting that she resume the role of Mrs. Mak. Now, as Wong again gains intimate access to her dangerous prey, she must struggle with her own identity in order to pull off the performance of a lifetime. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 25
Number of Lists: 21
Number of blog posts: 11
Number of discussion threads: 5
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:20:14 GMTLust, Caution2007Ang LeeAcademy Award-winning director <a href="/players/P___166472/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Ang Lee</a> adapts this Eileen Chang story set in World War II-era Shanghai that details the political intrigue surrounding a powerful political figure named Mr. Yee (Tony Leung) in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. Spanning the late-'30s and early-'40s, the movie introduces us to Hong Kong teen Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei), a shy college freshman who finds her calling in a drama society devoted to patriotic plays. But the troupe's leader, Kuang Yu Min (Wang Leehom) isn't just a theater maven - he's a revolutionary as well, and he's devoted to carrying out a bold plan to assassinate top Japanese collaborator Mr. Yee. Each student has an important role to play, and Wong puts herself in a dangerous position as Mrs. Mak: she befriends Mr. Yee's wife (<a href="/players/P____12632/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Joan Chen</a>), and slowly gains trust before tempting him into an affair. While at first the plan goes exactly as scripted, things suddenly take a deadly turn and Wong is emigrate from Hong Kong. Later, in 1941, the occupation shows no signs of ceasing and Wong is simply drifting through her days in Shanghai. Much to her surprise, the former actress finds Kuang requesting that she resume the role of Mrs. Mak. Now, as Wong again gains intimate access to her dangerous prey, she must struggle with her own identity in order to pull off the performance of a lifetime. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide25Tag Target (>10)211153http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s282916.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Lust_Caution/282916/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/8/14/34014.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 8/14/2008 5:02:21 PM
Body: There apparently are other reasons to see Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona besides the infamous lesbian kiss between Scarlett Johansson and Penélope Cruz or the threesome between these actresses and Javier Bardem. But as the first things most of us heard about the movie, the sex scenes are certainly a big sell (the ménage à trois is even being used in a promotional contest to win a “threesome” with ScarJo). Even if they’re reportedly underwhelming. Promise of tantalizing footage has been an appeal for moviegoers likely since the dawn of cinema, with film pioneer Eadweard Muybridge’s The Human Figure in Motion - Descending Stairs and Turning Around featuring nudity as far back as the 1880s. And if you’ve seen any of the titles included in today’s list, chances are their respective sex scenes were at least part of what made you buy a ticket (or rent the video). The Brown Bunny (2003) - As if this was the first feature film to show an actual blowjob. Yet the promise of seeing starlet Chloë Sevigny with a mouthful of Vincent Gallo was a huge tool in the marketing of this otherwise artfully shot but depressing movie, an ultimately disappointing follow up to Gallo’s highly enjoyable debut, Buffalo ‘66. Though the trailer above is quite tasteful, American ads for the film exploiting the fellatio sequence include a questionable billboard in Los Angeles and a theatrical spot that simply labeled it “the most controversial American film ever made” and spotlighted that it is for adults only. Too bad it was made in the era of internet porn and so wasn’t nearly as profitable as the blowjob blockbuster Deep Throat. 9 ½ Weeks (1986) - Here is the first of many films on this list that I haven’t actually seen. I guess sex just doesn’t sell me on a film like it does other people. Having such a detachment, though, makes it clearer for me to see how effective most of these sex scenes were, since I have no idea what this movie is about, yet I am sufficiently familiar with the scene involving ice cubes — though I think I’ve really only seen as much as is shown in the trailer above (the fuller, better quality version can be see here), as well as the parody in Hot Shots! I was only 8½ when 9 ½ Weeks came out, and I remember then hearing about the allure of the sex scenes. 22 years later, I still haven’t heard of any other reason to see it. Wild Things (1998) - A decade before ScarJo and PenCruz locked lips for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, this movie was sold on the prospect of seeing lesbian action between Denise Richards and Neve Campbell, who also participate in a threesome with Matt Dillon. Again, the trailer above doesn’t do a good job of exploiting the sex scenes, but fortunately word got out about them and the movie became fairly successful. Similar movies that likely attracted some audiences due solely to the inclusion of lesbian scenes include Bound, Mulholland Dr. and, forty years ago, The Killing of Sister George. Traffic in Souls (1913) - Going back almost a century, this film was one of the first features to be sold for its “sex scenes”, according to the comprehensive (53 page) “Sex in Cinema” guide at FilmSite.org. Historically, it was the first American feature-length sex film, the most expensive production of its time, the greatest moneymaker of its time and, well, there might never have been a Universal Pictures without its being a success for Carl Laemmle and his Independent Motion Picture Company. For those of you disappointed that the film lacks actual nudity, check out this clip from Lois Weber’s 1915 feature Hypocrites, which does contain a completely naked woman prancing around a forest and therefore had a very controversial release. Monika: Story of a Bad Girl (1953)- Kroger Babb, which also had one of the highest grossing films of the ’40s (Mom and Dad) thanks to promises like “EVERYTHING SHOWN!”, distributed this American version of Ingmar Bergman’s Summer with Monika, which was cut down, dubbed and re-scored and marketed solely on the appeal of its nudity and single love scene. American Pie - It may not be a sexy sex scene, but there’s no denying that the love act shared by Jason Biggs and a pie was a draw for audiences hungry for gross out humor. Never mind the scene’s inclusion in the trailer or the poster with the poked-in pie featured prominently, the title alone alludes to the act. Emmanuelle (1974) - I grew up always thinking that the Emmanuelle series of films were simply famous pornos, like Deep Throat or the Debbie Does …. franchise. But that’s probably because it has spawned so many ripoffs and has become synonymous with erotic films. Plus, in my lifetime, softcore movies have been more associated with late night Cinemax (or Skinamax) and straight-to-video titles. I would have never guessed that this was one of France’s highest grossing films of all time nor that film critics such as Roger Ebert paid it attention let alone gave it a good review. But at its time, it must have been very appealing to have so much nudity and so many sex scenes without displaying hardcore penetration. Or, as Ebert wrote: “It’s a relief to see a movie that drops the gynecology and returns to a certain amount of sexy sophistication.” Caligula - Of course, there was also this big-budget, mainstream Hollywood production, to which Ebert gave zero stars and admitted walking out of. He even included a quote from a fellow moviegoer: “‘This movie,’ said the lady in front of me at the drinking fountain, ‘is the worst piece of shit I have ever seen.’” Produced by Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione and starring highly respectable British actors such as John Gielgud, Peter O’Toole and Helen Mirren, the epic period piece was certainly expected to cash in on the popularity of erotic films in the ’70s. Ebert, one more time: “I assume that the crowds lining up for admission to the Davis Theater were hoping for some sort of erotic experience; I doubt that they were spending $15 a couple for a lesson on the ancient history of Rome.” The Crying Game - Possibly the only movie marketed for a sex scene that wasn’t marketed for being a sex scene. Instead, the shocking moment when a seemingly heterosexual love scene is revealed to in fact be a homosexual love scene was famously employed in marketing the secret plot twist that comes with it. Lust, Caution - It’s possible that selling the explicit (and allegedly real) sex scenes in this Ang Lee film hurt it, because the well-publicized embrace of its NC-17 rating made the film seem like these scenes were the main reason to go see it. Never mind the awards the film received or the fair amount of positive reviews. Looking at its dismal $4.6 million U.S. gross, it’s apparent that sex is not as big a sell as it once was. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:02:21 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com8/14/2008 5:02:21 PM There apparently are other reasons to see Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona besides the infamous lesbian kiss between Scarlett Johansson and Penélope Cruz or the threesome between these actresses and Javier Bardem. But as the first things most of us heard about the movie, the sex scenes are certainly a big sell (the ménage à trois is even being used in a promotional contest to win a “threesome” with ScarJo). Even if they’re reportedly underwhelming. Promise of tantalizing footage has been an appeal for moviegoers likely since the dawn of cinema, with film pioneer Eadweard Muybridge’s The Human Figure in Motion - Descending Stairs and Turning Around featuring nudity as far back as the 1880s. And if you’ve seen any of the titles included in today’s list, chances are their respective sex scenes were at least part of what made you buy a ticket (or rent the video). The Brown Bunny (2003) - As if this was the first feature film to show an actual blowjob. Yet the promise of seeing starlet Chloë Sevigny with a mouthful of Vincent Gallo was a huge tool in the marketing of this otherwise artfully shot but depressing movie, an ultimately disappointing follow up to Gallo’s highly enjoyable debut, Buffalo ‘66. Though the trailer above is quite tasteful, American ads for the film exploiting the fellatio sequence include a questionable billboard in Los Angeles and a theatrical spot that simply labeled it “the most controversial American film ever made” and spotlighted that it is for adults only. Too bad it was made in the era of internet porn and so wasn’t nearly as profitable as the blowjob blockbuster Deep Throat. 9 ½ Weeks (1986) - Here is the first of many films on this list that I haven’t actually seen. I guess sex just doesn’t sell me on a film like it does other people. Having such a detachment, though, makes it clearer for me to see how effective most of these sex scenes were, since I have no idea what this movie is about, yet I am sufficiently familiar with the scene involving ice cubes — though I think I’ve really only seen as much as is shown in the trailer above (the fuller, better quality version can be see here), as well as the parody in Hot Shots! I was only 8½ when 9 ½ Weeks came out, and I remember then hearing about the allure of the sex scenes. 22 years later, I still haven’t heard of any other reason to see it. Wild Things (1998) - A decade before ScarJo and PenCruz locked lips for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, this movie was sold on the prospect of seeing lesbian action between Denise Richards and Neve Campbell, who also participate in a threesome with Matt Dillon. Again, the trailer above doesn’t do a good job of exploiting the sex scenes, but fortunately word got out about them and the movie became fairly successful. Similar movies that likely attracted some audiences due solely to the inclusion of lesbian scenes include Bound, Mulholland Dr. and, forty years ago, The Killing of Sister George. Traffic in Souls (1913) - Going back almost a century, this film was one of the first features to be sold for its “sex scenes”, according to the comprehensive (53 page) “Sex in Cinema” guide at FilmSite.org. Historically, it was the first American feature-length sex film, the most expensive production of its time, the greatest moneymaker of its time and, well, there might never have been a Universal Pictures without its being a success for Carl Laemmle and his Independent Motion Picture Company. For those of you disappointed that the film lacks actual nudity, check out this clip from Lois Weber’s 1915 feature Hypocrites, which does contain a completely naked woman prancing around a forest and therefore had a very controversial release. Monika: Story of a Bad Girl (1953)- Kroger Babb, which also had one of the highest grossing films of the ’40s (Mom and Dad) thanks to promises like “EVERYTHING SHOWN!”, distributed this American version of Ingmar Bergman’s Summer with Monika, which was cut down, dubbed and re-scored and marketed solely on the appeal of its nudity and single love scene. American Pie - It may not be a sexy sex scene, but there’s no denying that the love act shared by Jason Biggs and a pie was a draw for audiences hungry for gross out humor. Never mind the scene’s inclusion in the trailer or the poster with the poked-in pie featured prominently, the title alone alludes to the act. Emmanuelle (1974) - I grew up always thinking that the Emmanuelle series of films were simply famous pornos, like Deep Throat or the Debbie Does …. franchise. But that’s probably because it has spawned so many ripoffs and has become synonymous with erotic films. Plus, in my lifetime, softcore movies have been more associated with late night Cinemax (or Skinamax) and straight-to-video titles. I would have never guessed that this was one of France’s highest grossing films of all time nor that film critics such as Roger Ebert paid it attention let alone gave it a good review. But at its time, it must have been very appealing to have so much nudity and so many sex scenes without displaying hardcore penetration. Or, as Ebert wrote: “It’s a relief to see a movie that drops the gynecology and returns to a certain amount of sexy sophistication.” Caligula - Of course, there was also this big-budget, mainstream Hollywood production, to which Ebert gave zero stars and admitted walking out of. He even included a quote from a fellow moviegoer: “‘This movie,’ said the lady in front of me at the drinking fountain, ‘is the worst piece of shit I have ever seen.’” Produced by Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione and starring highly respectable British actors such as John Gielgud, Peter O’Toole and Helen Mirren, the epic period piece was certainly expected to cash in on the popularity of erotic films in the ’70s. Ebert, one more time: “I assume that the crowds lining up for admission to the Davis Theater were hoping for some sort of erotic experience; I doubt that they were spending $15 a couple for a lesson on the ancient history of Rome.” The Crying Game - Possibly the only movie marketed for a sex scene that wasn’t marketed for being a sex scene. Instead, the shocking moment when a seemingly heterosexual love scene is revealed to in fact be a homosexual love scene was famously employed in marketing the secret plot twist that comes with it. Lust, Caution - It’s possible that selling the explicit (and allegedly real) sex scenes in this Ang Lee film hurt it, because the well-publicized embrace of its NC-17 rating made the film seem like these scenes were the main reason to go see it. Never mind the awards the film received or the fair amount of positive reviews. Looking at its dismal $4.6 million U.S. gross, it’s apparent that sex is not as big a sell as it once was. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_August_4_Let_s_Talk_About_Sex/625/33733/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: unclefestering
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 8/8/2008 12:06:28 AM
Body: [quote user="leeroy711"] While we're on the subject, has anyone seen Lust, Caution.? I'm intrigued but I'm not sure. [/quote] It is a great movie. Ang Lee is back in great form. I liked it much better than Brokeback Mountain, which I thought as a good movie, but a little overrated. The sex scenes in Lust, Caution are very disturbing more than erotic. But you should check it out. I was curious about Shortbus. I know the reputation, but has anyone actually seen it?
]]>Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:06:28 GMTunclefesteringWeekly Theme8/8/2008 12:06:28 AM[quote user="leeroy711"] While we're on the subject, has anyone seen Lust, Caution.? I'm intrigued but I'm not sure. [/quote] It is a great movie. Ang Lee is back in great form. I liked it much better than Brokeback Mountain, which I thought as a good movie, but a little overrated. The sex scenes in Lust, Caution are very disturbing more than erotic. But you should check it out. I was curious about Shortbus. I know the reputation, but has anyone actually seen it? http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_August_4_Let_s_Talk_About_Sex/625/33690/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 8/7/2008 11:46:42 AM
Body: [quote user="unclefestering"] [quote user="leeroy711"] Also, Seijun Suzuki's Story of a Prostitute should be mentioned. I really liked this one and I'm sure you could mention quite a few more Suzuki films. [/quote] I was avoiding Japanese movies about sex, because they lead me to the whole Legend of the Overfiend anime series and I never need to see a woman raped by a million tenticles again! [/quote] Sounds like Ninja Scroll. I'm not much of an anime fan. While we're on the subject, has anyone seen Lust, Caution.? I'm intrigued but I'm not sure.
]]>Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:46:42 GMTleeroy711Weekly Theme8/7/2008 11:46:42 AM[quote user="unclefestering"] [quote user="leeroy711"] Also, Seijun Suzuki's Story of a Prostitute should be mentioned. I really liked this one and I'm sure you could mention quite a few more Suzuki films. [/quote] I was avoiding Japanese movies about sex, because they lead me to the whole Legend of the Overfiend anime series and I never need to see a woman raped by a million tenticles again! [/quote] Sounds like Ninja Scroll. I'm not much of an anime fan. While we're on the subject, has anyone seen Lust, Caution.? I'm intrigued but I'm not sure. http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_August_4_Let_s_Talk_About_Sex/625/33603/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: unclefestering
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 8/5/2008 11:18:09 PM
Body: Here's a quick five: Artsy & Safe: Tom Jones Albert Finney spends the movie hopping into and out of bed, if only people would stop interrupting... Artsy & Strange: The Dreamers It's Paris. It's the sixties. It's the typical boy has sex with girl and then the girl's brother and then ... wait... Are all three.... Artsy and Raunchy: Lust, Caution Sure she is sleeping with the enemy, but all's fair in love and class warfare. Raunchy: Last Tango in Paris Hey, my wife just died and I thought I'd find a kid for some S&M and B&D... What is it about Bertolucci and Paris? Just plain wrong: Pink Flamingos When there's a sex scene in the first half hour that features a man, a woman and a live chicken, well, you know right there it's all effed up. By the time you get to Divine eating a dog turd, you are either numb or you've already clawed your eyes out. When I first thought of this list I didn't realize the Bertolucci would hit twice. I never thought of him as the dirty old man before, now that may be the only way I think of him.
]]>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:18:09 GMTunclefesteringWeekly Theme8/5/2008 11:18:09 PMHere's a quick five: Artsy &amp; Safe: Tom Jones Albert Finney spends the movie hopping into and out of bed, if only people would stop interrupting... Artsy &amp; Strange: The Dreamers It's Paris. It's the sixties. It's the typical boy has sex with girl and then the girl's brother and then ... wait... Are all three.... Artsy and Raunchy: Lust, Caution Sure she is sleeping with the enemy, but all's fair in love and class warfare. Raunchy: Last Tango in Paris Hey, my wife just died and I thought I'd find a kid for some S&amp;M and B&amp;D... What is it about Bertolucci and Paris? Just plain wrong: Pink Flamingos When there's a sex scene in the first half hour that features a man, a woman and a live chicken, well, you know right there it's all effed up. By the time you get to Divine eating a dog turd, you are either numb or you've already clawed your eyes out. When I first thought of this list I didn't realize the Bertolucci would hit twice. I never thought of him as the dirty old man before, now that may be the only way I think of him. http://www.spout.com/blogs/aidanbrack/archive/2008/8/2/33441.aspx Post By: aidanbrack
Post To: The Bigger Picture
Post Date: 8/2/2008 8:12:00 AM
Body: There was a point when watching Lust, Caution last night when I managed to fall asleep. It was dark, it had been a long day and I was relaxed on the sofa, and I felt my eyes pull shut except this time they took a few minutes to open. When I woke up all of ten minutes later I wound back and realised that the story had not progressed in that ten minutes I was asleep. The purpose of me telling you this is not to say that the film was boring or that I was disinterested (if I was I would not have wound back when I woke again) but to illustrate one of the film's most defining characteristics. This is real slow burn, revelling in beautiful filmmaking and exceptional performances. This is less about the plot and more about the evolving relationships between characters - which is just as well given how slight the plot is. Lust, Caution is the tale of a student who joins a theatre troop and finds herself part of a loyalist plot to kill a top level collaborator, the powerful Mr Yee. As part of their plan the student is required to sleep with the paranoid and sexually violent Mr Yee in order to tempt him to a place where he might be murdered. The sexual scenes in many ways are the lynchpin of this film, conveying character perfectly thanks to the film's excellent performances. Quite often a sex sequence will feel tacked onto a film to try to entice an audience - here it is hard to contemplate this film working without its graphic, rough sexual scenes. They represent a physical, lustful dialogue between the two characters that is as necessary as any conversation they have. Tang Wei is excellent as the shy lead character of the piece giving a performance that is deep and remarkable. She perfectly conveys the journey that her character goes on. One key scene for me in her performance is when she realises that she will have to give up her virginity to her cause, and watching her discomfort and embarrassment at having sex with a sleazy friend who has slept with prostitutes (making him the most experienced of their coterie). I felt for her at these points and this is thanks to the different levels contained within the character Wei creates. Opposite her as Mr Yee is Tony Yeung, who casts a strong presence over this movie. His character's sexual kinks make for uncomfortable viewing but illustrate his nature without needing to show us him torturing his countrymen. His sexual nature mirrors the work he does. With a decent supporting cast, there is much to commend in this film. As with Lee's Sense and Sensibility or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, this is a beautifully composed film. Each look from a character has signfiicance and the film has a rich, crisp style that is irresistible. Yet at over two and a half hours, the film suffers from a slow introduction. There is little wrong with its pacing later in the film but it takes too long to learn what is going on and to become involved in the film's story. Once more time is devoted to Mr. Yee however the film takes on a more powerful quality and begins to fulfil expectations. Lust, Caution is not Lee's strongest work but it is a powerful piece with plenty of texture and typically excellent cinematography.
]]>Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:12:00 GMTaidanbrackThe Bigger Picture8/2/2008 8:12:00 AMThere was a point when watching Lust, Caution last night when I managed to fall asleep. It was dark, it had been a long day and I was relaxed on the sofa, and I felt my eyes pull shut except this time they took a few minutes to open. When I woke up all of ten minutes later I wound back and realised that the story had not progressed in that ten minutes I was asleep. The purpose of me telling you this is not to say that the film was boring or that I was disinterested (if I was I would not have wound back when I woke again) but to illustrate one of the film's most defining characteristics. This is real slow burn, revelling in beautiful filmmaking and exceptional performances. This is less about the plot and more about the evolving relationships between characters - which is just as well given how slight the plot is. Lust, Caution is the tale of a student who joins a theatre troop and finds herself part of a loyalist plot to kill a top level collaborator, the powerful Mr Yee. As part of their plan the student is required to sleep with the paranoid and sexually violent Mr Yee in order to tempt him to a place where he might be murdered. The sexual scenes in many ways are the lynchpin of this film, conveying character perfectly thanks to the film's excellent performances. Quite often a sex sequence will feel tacked onto a film to try to entice an audience - here it is hard to contemplate this film working without its graphic, rough sexual scenes. They represent a physical, lustful dialogue between the two characters that is as necessary as any conversation they have. Tang Wei is excellent as the shy lead character of the piece giving a performance that is deep and remarkable. She perfectly conveys the journey that her character goes on. One key scene for me in her performance is when she realises that she will have to give up her virginity to her cause, and watching her discomfort and embarrassment at having sex with a sleazy friend who has slept with prostitutes (making him the most experienced of their coterie). I felt for her at these points and this is thanks to the different levels contained within the character Wei creates. Opposite her as Mr Yee is Tony Yeung, who casts a strong presence over this movie. His character's sexual kinks make for uncomfortable viewing but illustrate his nature without needing to show us him torturing his countrymen. His sexual nature mirrors the work he does. With a decent supporting cast, there is much to commend in this film. As with Lee's Sense and Sensibility or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, this is a beautifully composed film. Each look from a character has signfiicance and the film has a rich, crisp style that is irresistible. Yet at over two and a half hours, the film suffers from a slow introduction. There is little wrong with its pacing later in the film but it takes too long to learn what is going on and to become involved in the film's story. Once more time is devoted to Mr. Yee however the film takes on a more powerful quality and begins to fulfil expectations. Lust, Caution is not Lee's strongest work but it is a powerful piece with plenty of texture and typically excellent cinematography. http://www.spout.com/blogs/zularian/archive/2008/7/15/32601.aspx Post By: Zularian
Post To: Zularian Blog
Post Date: 7/15/2008 9:31:17 PM
Body: I'd like to say a few words about Ang Lee's latest film, Lust, Caution. For anyone who has seen Mr. Lee's films that came before The Ice storm this will seem like yet another odd contribution from this talented filmmaker. If you are not familiar with his earliest films I would highly recommend watching them. They are small, quirky little movies that are very human and moving. Lust, Caution is none of these things which is odd because it should be. Instead it is a rather large, disconnected movie that skips around in time (I think) to try and make a rather bland story more engrossing movie. The acting is superb and although the running time is quite long (two and a half hours I believe) the film has a steady pace that keeps the movie from dragging. Which is to say this movie has a number of things going for it. What the film does not have, as far as I am concerned, is a story worth telling. This is yet another movie where if a person were to sum up the story to you in a sentence or two (I won't, don't worry) I think most people would be thankful for being allowed to keep the remaining two hours and twenty-eight minutes. This is all the more upsetting because the cast is truly fantastic and Tony Leung almost achieves the impossible -- that is he almost makes the central point of the story believable. I would highly recommend finding someone to give you that two sentence plot summary before watching this film, knowing the ending should not ruin the movie for anyone who would still watch it after being informed.
]]>Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:31:17 GMTZularianZularian Blog7/15/2008 9:31:17 PMI'd like to say a few words about Ang Lee's latest film, Lust, Caution. For anyone who has seen Mr. Lee's films that came before The Ice storm this will seem like yet another odd contribution from this talented filmmaker. If you are not familiar with his earliest films I would highly recommend watching them. They are small, quirky little movies that are very human and moving. Lust, Caution is none of these things which is odd because it should be. Instead it is a rather large, disconnected movie that skips around in time (I think) to try and make a rather bland story more engrossing movie. The acting is superb and although the running time is quite long (two and a half hours I believe) the film has a steady pace that keeps the movie from dragging. Which is to say this movie has a number of things going for it. What the film does not have, as far as I am concerned, is a story worth telling. This is yet another movie where if a person were to sum up the story to you in a sentence or two (I won't, don't worry) I think most people would be thankful for being allowed to keep the remaining two hours and twenty-eight minutes. This is all the more upsetting because the cast is truly fantastic and Tony Leung almost achieves the impossible -- that is he almost makes the central point of the story believable. I would highly recommend finding someone to give you that two sentence plot summary before watching this film, knowing the ending should not ruin the movie for anyone who would still watch it after being informed. http://www.spout.com/blogs/karina/archive/2008/2/29/25699.aspx Post By: Karina
Post To: Karina on SpoutBlog
Post Date: 2/29/2008 10:01:18 AM
Body: Oh, good: Indiana Jones and the Dorian Grey-ing of Harrison Ford Into Shia LaBouf will premiere at Cannes! Maybe. No one’s seen the thing yet, but according to Variety, “The cast, which includes Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf and Cate Blanchett, have already been notified to pack their black-tie outfits for the French Riviera’s red carpet unspooling even though the fest has yet to confirm its official lineup.” Because celebrities pack suitcases 10 weeks in advance. Theatrical exhibition conference ShoWest will confer a special “Freedom of Expression Award” to Ang Lee and James Schamus, for releasing Lust, Caution with an NC-17 rating instead of cutting the film to get an R. National Theater Owners president John Fithian is inexplicably trying to push studios to revitalize the NC-17 market, even though even Lust, Caution made just under $5 million domestically, and in fact was a super-hit in China…where it was cut to appease the censors. Semi-Pro, which opens today, suddenly bears the dubious distinction of being the final release from New Line before the studio is subsumed into the clusterfuck that is Time Warner. It may not exactly send the studio out with a bang: although the comedy is said to be “tracking well among males under 25″ it’s nonetheless expected to “open well lower than Ferrell’s most recent films.” Originally posted on:SpoutBlog » karina
]]>Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:01:18 GMTKarinaKarina on SpoutBlog2/29/2008 10:01:18 AM Oh, good: Indiana Jones and the Dorian Grey-ing of Harrison Ford Into Shia LaBouf will premiere at Cannes! Maybe. No one’s seen the thing yet, but according to Variety, “The cast, which includes Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf and Cate Blanchett, have already been notified to pack their black-tie outfits for the French Riviera’s red carpet unspooling even though the fest has yet to confirm its official lineup.” Because celebrities pack suitcases 10 weeks in advance. Theatrical exhibition conference ShoWest will confer a special “Freedom of Expression Award” to Ang Lee and James Schamus, for releasing Lust, Caution with an NC-17 rating instead of cutting the film to get an R. National Theater Owners president John Fithian is inexplicably trying to push studios to revitalize the NC-17 market, even though even Lust, Caution made just under $5 million domestically, and in fact was a super-hit in China…where it was cut to appease the censors. Semi-Pro, which opens today, suddenly bears the dubious distinction of being the final release from New Line before the studio is subsumed into the clusterfuck that is Time Warner. It may not exactly send the studio out with a bang: although the comedy is said to be “tracking well among males under 25″ it’s nonetheless expected to “open well lower than Ferrell’s most recent films.” Originally posted on:SpoutBlog » karina http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/2/29/25698.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 2/29/2008 10:01:03 AM
Body: Oh, good: Indiana Jones and the Dorian Grey-ing of Harrison Ford Into Shia LaBouf will premiere at Cannes! Maybe. No one’s seen the thing yet, but according to Variety, “The cast, which includes Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf and Cate Blanchett, have already been notified to pack their black-tie outfits for the French Riviera’s red carpet unspooling even though the fest has yet to confirm its official lineup.” Because celebrities pack suitcases 10 weeks in advance. Theatrical exhibition conference ShoWest will confer a special “Freedom of Expression Award” to Ang Lee and James Schamus, for releasing Lust, Caution with an NC-17 rating instead of cutting the film to get an R. National Theater Owners president John Fithian is inexplicably trying to push studios to revitalize the NC-17 market, even though even Lust, Caution made just under $5 million domestically, and in fact was a super-hit in China…where it was cut to appease the censors. Semi-Pro, which opens today, suddenly bears the dubious distinction of being the final release from New Line before the studio is subsumed into the clusterfuck that is Time Warner. It may not exactly send the studio out with a bang: although the comedy is said to be “tracking well among males under 25″ it’s nonetheless expected to “open well lower than Ferrell’s most recent films.” Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:01:03 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com2/29/2008 10:01:03 AM Oh, good: Indiana Jones and the Dorian Grey-ing of Harrison Ford Into Shia LaBouf will premiere at Cannes! Maybe. No one’s seen the thing yet, but according to Variety, “The cast, which includes Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf and Cate Blanchett, have already been notified to pack their black-tie outfits for the French Riviera’s red carpet unspooling even though the fest has yet to confirm its official lineup.” Because celebrities pack suitcases 10 weeks in advance. Theatrical exhibition conference ShoWest will confer a special “Freedom of Expression Award” to Ang Lee and James Schamus, for releasing Lust, Caution with an NC-17 rating instead of cutting the film to get an R. National Theater Owners president John Fithian is inexplicably trying to push studios to revitalize the NC-17 market, even though even Lust, Caution made just under $5 million domestically, and in fact was a super-hit in China…where it was cut to appease the censors. Semi-Pro, which opens today, suddenly bears the dubious distinction of being the final release from New Line before the studio is subsumed into the clusterfuck that is Time Warner. It may not exactly send the studio out with a bang: although the comedy is said to be “tracking well among males under 25″ it’s nonetheless expected to “open well lower than Ferrell’s most recent films.” Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/It_s_a_Wonderful_Night_for_Oscar/Re_Predictions_and_Commentary_2008/46/24210/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: pippin06
Post To: It's a Wonderful Night for Oscar!
Post Date: 1/22/2008 1:17:56 PM
Body: To start off the conversation about snubbery, here is an article from Saturday's Washington Post centered on the shortlist for foreign language film, which had a variety of omissions of previous award-show favorites, including 4 Months, 3 Days, 2 Nights and Persepolis. Foreign Languge Film is usually a hotly contested category, mainly because of the inconsistent eligibility rules and arthouse cred/interest these films generate, and the five nominees not only fail to include those shortlisted but also highly buzzed about entries such as The Kite Runner and Ang Lee's Lust, Caution. In addition, for reasons not fully clear to me (maybe I should go review the rules), while The Diving Bell and the Butterfly has received several mainstage award noms, it did not get nominated in Foreign Language Film. Last year, Pan's Labryinth enjoyed noms in several categories, including FLF. Isn't it wonderful how Oscar fails to make logical sense sometimes? More observations to come, but if you have any reactions, please contribute!http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/18/AR2008011803357.html
]]>Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:17:56 GMTpippin06It's a Wonderful Night for Oscar!1/22/2008 1:17:56 PMTo start off the conversation about snubbery, here is an article from Saturday&#39;s Washington Post centered on the shortlist for foreign language film, which had a variety of omissions of previous award-show favorites, including 4 Months, 3 Days, 2 Nights and Persepolis. Foreign Languge Film is usually a hotly contested category, mainly because of the inconsistent eligibility rules and arthouse cred/interest these films generate, and the five nominees not only fail to include those shortlisted but also highly buzzed about entries such as The Kite Runner and Ang Lee&#39;s Lust, Caution. In addition, for reasons not fully clear to me (maybe I should go review the rules), while The Diving Bell and the Butterfly has received several mainstage award noms, it did not get nominated in Foreign Language Film. Last year, Pan&#39;s Labryinth enjoyed noms in several categories, including FLF. Isn&#39;t it wonderful how Oscar fails to make logical sense sometimes? More observations to come, but if you have any reactions, please contribute!http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/18/AR2008011803357.html http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2007/11/1/21346.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 11/1/2007 4:01:41 PM
Body: Lady Wakasa makes a strong case in defense of Lust, Caution. “It’s true that there are elements in the story that won’t be clear to some Western audiences…There are universalities that can be picked up: about the effects of environment and upbringing, about the nature of love, about what in relationships is and isn’t an act, how war is hell with a twist. But these universalities are filtered through a Chinese lens. As such, I think it’s up to the Westerners to go the extra mile and fill in blanks they find. The shoe on the other foot, to a certain degree.” The Shamus thought Contempt was “about nothing more than the pneumatic perfection of Brigitte Bardot’s ass,” but a later Godard film went over much better. “Masculin-Feminin strikes me as a Warhol-esque montage of the ’60s as we wanted them to truly be, with more going on under the surface than we might want to admit.” A holdover from the heady days immediately following Dumbledore’s outing … you know, last week: Joe Leydon writes that he’s “occasionally had students ask me — earnestly, not snickeringly — if certain movie characters are intended to be interpreted as gay…The two names that pop up most often during these “Is he or isn’t he?” queries: Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten) of Citizen Kane and Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor) of Singin’ in the Rain.” The Flaming Lips sent 1000 skeletons on parade in Oklahoma City. Scott Solary links to the video evidence. For the record, I would like to note that I recorded my segment of this week’s episode of Film Couch, about actresses who have played Joan of Arc, way back on Tuesday. At the time, I had no idea Jeff Wells would use multiple Saint Joan references to mock Tom O’Neill’s unflappable faith that Sweeney Todd has a chance in hell of winning multiple Oscars. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Thu, 01 Nov 2007 20:01:41 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com11/1/2007 4:01:41 PM Lady Wakasa makes a strong case in defense of Lust, Caution. “It’s true that there are elements in the story that won’t be clear to some Western audiences…There are universalities that can be picked up: about the effects of environment and upbringing, about the nature of love, about what in relationships is and isn’t an act, how war is hell with a twist. But these universalities are filtered through a Chinese lens. As such, I think it’s up to the Westerners to go the extra mile and fill in blanks they find. The shoe on the other foot, to a certain degree.” The Shamus thought Contempt was “about nothing more than the pneumatic perfection of Brigitte Bardot’s ass,” but a later Godard film went over much better. “Masculin-Feminin strikes me as a Warhol-esque montage of the ’60s as we wanted them to truly be, with more going on under the surface than we might want to admit.” A holdover from the heady days immediately following Dumbledore’s outing … you know, last week: Joe Leydon writes that he’s “occasionally had students ask me — earnestly, not snickeringly — if certain movie characters are intended to be interpreted as gay…The two names that pop up most often during these “Is he or isn’t he?” queries: Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten) of Citizen Kane and Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor) of Singin’ in the Rain.” The Flaming Lips sent 1000 skeletons on parade in Oklahoma City. Scott Solary links to the video evidence. For the record, I would like to note that I recorded my segment of this week’s episode of Film Couch, about actresses who have played Joan of Arc, way back on Tuesday. At the time, I had no idea Jeff Wells would use multiple Saint Joan references to mock Tom O’Neill’s unflappable faith that Sweeney Todd has a chance in hell of winning multiple Oscars. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspxlove
Number of films tagged: 12477

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]]>Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:13:41 GMT124773361475Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Classic/MemberTagFilms.aspxClassic
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]]>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:40:47 GMT223137390Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/sex/MemberTagFilms.aspxsex
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]]>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:55:14 GMT10524490Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/espionage/MemberTagFilms.aspxespionage
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]]>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:02:54 GMT217638109Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/nudity/MemberTagFilms.aspxnudity
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]]>Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:36:31 GMT2973199Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Fascinating/MemberTagFilms.aspxFascinating
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]]>Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:51:25 GMT242732Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/china/MemberTagFilms.aspxchina
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]]>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:48:02 GMT6032336Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/adultery/MemberTagFilms.aspxadultery
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