Lust, Caution Reviews

Far too slow paced!

I have to say I find listening to Chinese grating to hear for too long, but I decided to endure this and the length of this really long film because the trailer looked promising. The story of this film would have been the type to really grip me, but I confess something was missing in the film so in the end it just didn't do it for me. I guess because I was never convinced of the main actress' motivation to going to such extreme lengths to be so patriotic. In most parts the scenes were far too drawn out and slow paced. The sexual scenes were very realistic and very well acted out, and the acting from the actors were flawless, however I would have preferred to have seen the film acted in English. The story is a good one, so worth a watch. Just be aware that it's rather slow paced and unnecessarily longer than the average film.

Please watch this!

I must admit that I did not think much of Ang Lee's other films (eg. Crouching Tiger, Sense and Sensibility), but this defied my expectations. Very layered characters, making you identify with all of them, very nuanced performances and great acting and pace! Though longer than usual at 2.5hrs, you wouldn't feel bored!

Highly recommended!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Love & war

A war time drama set during the Japanese occupation of China in the 1940’s. A group of Chinese students decide to form as a resistance to Japanese occupation. They target a high ranking Chinese collaborator Mr Yee, (Tony Leung), and their plan is for a young woman in their group, Wang Jiazhi (Wei Tang), to seduce him, though she has not had a lover before. Their plan fails and they disband, but are re-united three years later, now part of a larger resistance group, and with Wang Jiazhi’s help, have another chance to kill Mr. Yee. But when Wang Jiazhi starts a relationship with Mr Yee, the two of them get caught up in the intensity of their emotions.

A mature, measured, slow burning emotional espionage thriller. Like ‘Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee’s characters are imbued with love’s frailties and creeping emotional frustration. They all reach a point where in-decision, usually due to feelings they don’t want to acknowledge, costs them dear. A great film. Would make a good double bill with Paul Verhoeven's Black Book.

Amazing performances

This film is beautifully shot, plotted and acted. Newcomer Wei Tang puts in a bravura performance as the young Chinese agent in WW11, while superstar Tony Leung broods better than ever as the powerful collaborator she aims to destroy. It seems that the pair's powerful mutual attraction will inevitably be the downfall of one of them but if so, who will it be?

This film has been criticised for being slow, and at 2.5 hours I can see that some people would find it hard going. But for me, the characters' behaviour can only really be understood in the context of the gradual build up of tension, as the both fear and attraction grow.

The graphic violence in one scene is quite disturbing, but I think violence really ought to be. It also brings home very effectively what's really at stake in this cat and mouse game.

Much has also been made of the sex in this film, but if that's why you're renting it you'll have a long wait. When it does come it is very explicit, but not gratuitous. Again, it's essential to show how passionately the characters feel about one another in order to explain their behaviour beyond the bedroom and drive the plot forward.

A bang up supporting cast helps to bolster the impression that these two characters are trapped by circumstances. And in the case of Wei Tang in particular, she's merely a pawn in a much bigger game .

Want to know if it's for you? If you saw and enjoyed the Dutch film, Black Book, this is even better.

[Highly rated reviewer]

bored

NOT 4 ME I GOT FEED UP WITH IT

lust & caution

subtitles really annoyed me so didnt watch the film in the end after 30 mins gave up

needs to be translated to english because i always find subtitles ruin a film as have to concentrate so blooming hard reading the translation and cant focus on the fim. disappointed ! :O(

Subtitle too fast!

I'm sure this is a great film, but the subtitles were just too fast to continue watching. We made half an hour, but then it was too heavy going! Great backdrop, acting, costumes etc so it seems a shame to send the film back unseen, but life's too short to struggle . . .

[Highly rated reviewer]

Oh dear

Sorry maybe it's me but this was boring. Lots of good stuff written about it and some folks rave. But it failed to move my rave meter past one star and I found it slow and pretentious.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Something left me pondering,

I was a bit concerned about the more than 2.5 hours long viewing, but as I sat through it, I was not feeling a bit bored.. The story proceeds smoothly. My emotions were building up as the movie was going along. By the end of it, when Mr. Yee sat on the bed Wong had slept on before, I could not stop my tears from falling for more than 5 minutes. That really surprised me. I don't usually cry during movies,but somehow,this film just gripped me like never before. I just felt this deep deep sadness washing over me and i could not stop it.

Tony Leung, has always been a great actor. This time, i think he had achieved another level. A look from him can express so much. Some people think the sex scenes are too graphic and unnecessary. While i was sitting in the cinema watching this with others, who i don't really know that well, it did make me feel a bit awkward. However, i think all the sex was the way for two lonely people to feel less alone in a desperate time.

Yes, it's not a movie for' entertainment'. But this is a movie that will linger in your head and makes you wonder....

[Highly rated reviewer]

Gripping, but be warned… graphic!

I have read quite afew reviews about this film before I decided to rent it. I watched it in 1 night and was gripped throughout, its not your usual film, and I cant recall watching a film about 1937 China- which was interesting to see!

I do recommend this film, its very emotive- and I don’t think you lose to much of the communication in the language barrier (as you do have to read subtitles for 2 hours 30 mins).

You do have to bewarned, this film is extremely graphic- if your youngish- don’t watch this film with your parents…. Way to many awkward scenes, and visa versa with parents.

I think the acting is surperb and the acting was great… and of course the depth of the story was amazing. Watch it. – just don’t expect Mary Poppins!