Movie Review: "Lust, Caution"
Of all the hype surrounding the explicit sex scenes between Asia’s cinema icon Tony Leung Chiu Wai and newcomer Tang Wei in Ang Lee's new film “Lust, Caution”, it was Lee's trademark story-telling that made the strongest statement in this movie. If you are watching plainly for the sexual content on the big screens, you will be very disappointed as Singapore’s version (NC16) is the same as mainland China (148 mins) which has 9 mins left on the cutting floor to accommodate China’s audiences who incidentally, do not have a film ratings standard. Ang Lee made the cuts himself to maintain a certain flow of the movie while removing fundamental seduction, foreplay and torrid sex leading to the final orgasm that we are allowed to see as they gazed upon each other. “Lust, Caution” is an espionage thriller set in WWII-era Shanghai circa 1942, adapted from a short story by Eileen Chang. The plot centres around the assassination attempt on Mr Yee, a powerful political figure and an intelligence chief of a Japanese-backed Chinese government. Wang Jiazhi is a young student who is the bait and gets involved in a dangerous game of emotional intimacy with Mr Yee. Veteran Joan Chen plays the dutiful wife, Mrs Yee where she is seen most of the time interacting in scenes confined to the mahjong's table. 
**Backtrack to 1938 with China at war, many Chinese students including Wang escaped turmoil back in their homeland to further their education in a safe haven - Hong Kong University but the thought of fighting the war in a limited capacity were not far away from their young impressionable minds. This is where first year student Wang Jiazhi is roped in by a fellow student activist Kuang Yumin (Wang Leehom) to join his stage-play aimed at raising funds and show their resistance and unity against the Japanese. Success of the play soon lead to a real-life mission to kill a much hated traitor residing in HK aka Mr Yee who is collaborating with the Japanese occupiers and responsible for the torture and death of hundreds of patriots. The team of 6 students headed by Kuang hatched a plan to infiltrate the home of Mr Yee via his mahjong-playing wife (Joan Chen) so that they can target Mr Yee for assassination. Wang is thrown into playing the role of her a lifetime as Mrs Mai, wife a small time businessman who is in the import and export business. Unknown to Wang, the group has made plans to thrust her into becoming Yee’s mistress in a bid to win his trust and the scene where Wang loses her virginity to a fellow student showed her absolute resolve and commitment to the mission. Nevertheless, they fell short in Hong Kong although Jiazhi manages to lure Yee to her fellow conspirators but the ever guarded Yee did not bite. The mission is left in limbo when Mrs Yee called to announce their plans to move to Shanghai in short notice. 
***Fast-forward to Shanghai in the year 1941, Wang Jiazhi is now a poor student living with her aunt and studying Japanese to dull herself. Kuang reappears into her life with news that Mr Yee is in Shanghai and tries to persuade Wang into reprising her role of Mrs Mai. Introduced to Kuang’s superior, a senior member of a secret Chinese Agency, Wang throw caution to the wind and reaffirms her commitment to get the job done. This time the plan is clear, Wang is to seduce Mr Yee again and set him up for termination. When the mission is accomplished, they will reunite Wang with his father in England. Mr Yee is delighted to see Mrs Mai again but his cautious nature gave way to lust as he finally getting his hands on Wang, literally. The stages of sex entangled the level of trust Yee is willing to go and as their rendezvous continued, the deeper she falls for him. At one stage, Kuang realizes the predicament Wang is in, even beg their handlers to speed things up and complete the mission quickly. The conflict between duty and love comes to a head when the final moment of Yee’s assassination draws near. Will she go with her head or heart? 
****Drawing a fine balance between Lust and Caution is the theme of the movie but when love gets into the mix, it becomes a double-edged sword. When you are in love with someone who has to carry out a dangerous mission, how do you balance feelings of Love and Caution? Personally, I was smitten by the beauty and innocence of Tang Wei. When it came to delivering her lines in fluent Cantonese and Shanghai dialect, it was well-executed and believable. Her wonderful rendition of a classic mandarin love song was another highlight in this art-house film. The incredible performance by Tang Wei was top-notch throughout and I could feel every emotion of love and angst in her which is surely worth a Golden Horse Nomination. We now know why Ang Lee cast her in the role of Wang Jiazhi ahead of other big names. Tony Leung never lets us down with his masterful interpretation of Mr Yee who is equally tragic in his yearn for true love and trust. Wang Leehom is a tad disappointing in his role as Kuang Yumin who is stiff and 'deadpan' at times but this will be a great learning experience for him to improve on his limited acting skills. “Lust, Caution” can be heavy at times when we see the lives of people put through hell in times of War. One last thing, the cinematography was beautifully executed especially the scenes of populated streets in Shanghai were spectacular. The many pieces of cheongsams worn by Tang Wei also gets a notable mention as they show off her curves to seduce Yee and ME! 
Ratings: 4 out of 5! Watch for Tang Wei’s beauty in the role that will propel her into stardom.
**Backtrack to 1938 with China at war, many Chinese students including Wang escaped turmoil back in their homeland to further their education in a safe haven - Hong Kong University but the thought of fighting the war in a limited capacity were not far away from their young impressionable minds. This is where first year student Wang Jiazhi is roped in by a fellow student activist Kuang Yumin (Wang Leehom) to join his stage-play aimed at raising funds and show their resistance and unity against the Japanese. Success of the play soon lead to a real-life mission to kill a much hated traitor residing in HK aka Mr Yee who is collaborating with the Japanese occupiers and responsible for the torture and death of hundreds of patriots. The team of 6 students headed by Kuang hatched a plan to infiltrate the home of Mr Yee via his mahjong-playing wife (Joan Chen) so that they can target Mr Yee for assassination. Wang is thrown into playing the role of her a lifetime as Mrs Mai, wife a small time businessman who is in the import and export business. Unknown to Wang, the group has made plans to thrust her into becoming Yee’s mistress in a bid to win his trust and the scene where Wang loses her virginity to a fellow student showed her absolute resolve and commitment to the mission. Nevertheless, they fell short in Hong Kong although Jiazhi manages to lure Yee to her fellow conspirators but the ever guarded Yee did not bite. The mission is left in limbo when Mrs Yee called to announce their plans to move to Shanghai in short notice. ***Fast-forward to Shanghai in the year 1941, Wang Jiazhi is now a poor student living with her aunt and studying Japanese to dull herself. Kuang reappears into her life with news that Mr Yee is in Shanghai and tries to persuade Wang into reprising her role of Mrs Mai. Introduced to Kuang’s superior, a senior member of a secret Chinese Agency, Wang throw caution to the wind and reaffirms her commitment to get the job done. This time the plan is clear, Wang is to seduce Mr Yee again and set him up for termination. When the mission is accomplished, they will reunite Wang with his father in England. Mr Yee is delighted to see Mrs Mai again but his cautious nature gave way to lust as he finally getting his hands on Wang, literally. The stages of sex entangled the level of trust Yee is willing to go and as their rendezvous continued, the deeper she falls for him. At one stage, Kuang realizes the predicament Wang is in, even beg their handlers to speed things up and complete the mission quickly. The conflict between duty and love comes to a head when the final moment of Yee’s assassination draws near. Will she go with her head or heart? ****Drawing a fine balance between Lust and Caution is the theme of the movie but when love gets into the mix, it becomes a double-edged sword. When you are in love with someone who has to carry out a dangerous mission, how do you balance feelings of Love and Caution? Personally, I was smitten by the beauty and innocence of Tang Wei. When it came to delivering her lines in fluent Cantonese and Shanghai dialect, it was well-executed and believable. Her wonderful rendition of a classic mandarin love song was another highlight in this art-house film. The incredible performance by Tang Wei was top-notch throughout and I could feel every emotion of love and angst in her which is surely worth a Golden Horse Nomination. We now know why Ang Lee cast her in the role of Wang Jiazhi ahead of other big names. Tony Leung never lets us down with his masterful interpretation of Mr Yee who is equally tragic in his yearn for true love and trust. Wang Leehom is a tad disappointing in his role as Kuang Yumin who is stiff and 'deadpan' at times but this will be a great learning experience for him to improve on his limited acting skills. “Lust, Caution” can be heavy at times when we see the lives of people put through hell in times of War. One last thing, the cinematography was beautifully executed especially the scenes of populated streets in Shanghai were spectacular. The many pieces of cheongsams worn by Tang Wei also gets a notable mention as they show off her curves to seduce Yee and ME! 
