Lust, Caution

"Lust, Caution", a masterpiece from Chinese writer Eileen Cheng, is directed by Director Ang Lee and starred Asian film icon Tong Leung Cheu Wai and newcomer Tang Wei.

In one word, if you want to look for steamy sex, please look at "Basic Instinct", for this is arthouse sex. "Lust, Caution" used love making as a form of exposition of the characters' inner self or you can called it soul baring.

The story mainly revolves around a group of Chinese university students wanting to get rid of their country's traitors, like those working for the Japanese. Their plan is to lay down a honey trap for a powerful target Mr, Yee (Played by Tony) using the pretty Wang Chia Zhi (Tang Wei) as the bait. Well, the central idea is like the predator fell in love with the prey sort of idea.

However, the impressive performances by the cast were sublime, especially Joan Chen as Mrs. Yee which supported this typical storyline.

The movie, to my surpise, was also quite humorous in a way, like the conversations of the students and some scenes with Tony Leung of course. There is clearly a lot of backstabbing and hidden meanings under every conversations between the official's women at the mahjong table where Chia Zhi and Mrs. Yee are playing.

I have read in some forums that most misunderstood that Wang Chia Zhi told Mr. Yee to leave at the last minute for his life was because of a diamond ring. That was a big big big misunderstanding if you never read the book itself. Wang Chia Zhi realised that actually she had fell in love with Mr. Yee, hence, at the last minute she could not bear to have him killed.

It was a devastating romance and Mr. Yee, every man for himself, chose to have her captured and shot. Love to them seemed like a wisp of a dream in this iron cage of power, desires and caution for life.

The theme music was outstanding, having also won an few awards. The movie won a Golden Lion Award. The writing style of the story combined with the direction of movie added up to the stunning movie of the year and could matched up to the impressive "Brokeback Mountain".