DVD review: Lust, Caution

Last night, I finally saw a DVD of Lust, Caution, the Ang Lee thriller set in Japanese occupied Shanghai during World War II. It was one of those character-driven movies all about romance, betrayal, loneliness, loyalty and patriotism. Initially the film was rather slow-moving, but as it progressed I became more interested but ultimately not an amazing film.

The story, if you're unfamiliar with it, follows a university student who is convinced by her thespian classmates to play the role of an upper-class woman in order to seduce a Chinese official collaborating with the Japanese occupation and lure him into an assassination. The initial plot fails, but after several years, she encounters one of those students--this time officially working with the resistance--who recruits her for the same plot.

You probably should be warned about the sex scenes — they are intense and graphic. Most of them have been censored from most distributions. Ang Lee’s previous movie, Brokeback Mountain, gained attention due to the nature of its sex- the movie portrayed a tragic affair between two gay men (in case you’ve been living on a desert island and didn’t know). Lust, Caution gained publicity for the sheer intensity of its sexual acts. Anyway, it was quite shocking, and I didn't think I'd be shocked since I'm married and all.

Most men will ooh and ahh over Tang Wei (the lead actress). She is truly amazing here. The reaction of the woman who is raped and tortured, and cannot flee because of her commitments is breathtaking - she hates it and yet she is consumed by it.

Lust, Caution is not a film for everyone. The problem is that at 2 hours and 38 minutes, it’s way too long for the underlying story. I didn’t totally love this movie, and I would say it’s not the kind of thing a lot of people are going to like, but it is worth seeing if you like movies from this period. It received an NC-17 rating for the sexual content, so if that sort of thing bothers you, stay away.

Thumbs uP for Kungfu Panda

I hadn’t seen many animated flicks as of late and I would say, simply a remarkable motion picture that is likeable, entertaining, and humourous. It was interesting, though, to hear the voices of well chosen cast of actors like Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jack Black, Jackie Chan and Lucy Liu.

Noodle-shop boy Po (Jack Black) is one of the biggest fans of the Furious Five, Kung Fu masters and defenders of the Valley of Peace. When the vengful Tai Lung (Ian McShane) escapes his inescapable prison, it is up to the founding master of Kung Fu (Randall Duk Kim), to choose one of the Five to become the Dragon Warrior and defeat Tai Lung. Unfortunately, he picks Po instead. It's up to Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), master of the Furious Five, to train the flabby panda in time to save the Valley from Tai Lung's wrath.

Probably the most impressive part of the film were the action scenes. With all the different forms of kung fu, it is hard not to enjoy this film. The plot is straightforward, which makes it very easy to understand even for kids.

Honestly, I'm not a big fan of Jack Black. But I think he is the funniest character by far, so if you enjoy his kind of humour you will probably like this movie a lot. If you don’t you will probably hate the movie. The other characters add substance to the movie with very well choreographed fight scenes, each with unique abilities.

For what it's worth, my kids really liked the movie. My kids just kept their eyes on screen for the whole time. Never in my life have I seen my kids laughed so hard at an animated movie.

The message is about believing in yourself, the underlying theme of the movie. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’d recommend it to anyone of all ages. You won't be dissapointed.

CJ7 Movie Review

If you’re a fan of Stephen Chow’s, you should go check this movie. I think CJ7 is meant for younger audiences, although audiences of all ages might enjoy viewing it.

Living in a rundown apartment with his construction worker father Ti (Chow), young Dicky (Xu Jiao) is often picked on by his class bullies. With the exception of the compassionate Miss Yuen, played by Kitty Zhang, his teachers are cold, bordering on the outright hostile. Ti struggles to make ends meet, barely able to keep food on the table. Basically, this story revolves around Dicky's relationship with his father Ti and his school life, and how his life changes when he meets the CJ7, this little (computer-rendered) alien. CJ7 has extra ordinary powers that can turn things back to good condition.

A majority of viewers have been impressed by Stephen Chow's previous comedies such as Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer, which have received numerous appreciations and awards worldwide. It's worth seeing this movie if you are seeking basic entertainment and joy. Not my favourite by any means, but rest assured that Chow has delivered yet another funny film.