Wu Xia

Liu Jinxi (Donnie Yen) leads a simple life as a paper maker in a tranquil village in the Chinese countryside as the country is going through a change from monarchy to republic. Married to the ethereally beautiful Ayu (Wei Tang), Liu’s life is jolted when he “accidently” kills two bandits who try to rob a local store. The detective (Takeshi Kaneshiro) who follows in the wake of the killings refuse to let Liu’s past be and slowly tries to uncover the martial artist behind the simpleton’s mask. Stylistically shot by Peter Chan, the film is a pleasure to view except that the script and screenplay leaves a lot to wish  for.

Rating: * +

Lust, Caution

Its always tough to deal with movies objectively when there is so much hype about. Even if its good hype - be it the sex scenes, or the fact that it is an Ang Lee film or having the enigmatic Tony Leung in it. Thats usually the problem watching Oscar winners and I find myself in a similar predicament.

Lust, Caution is well-crafted movie no doubt - good quality production and super performances from debutant Wei Tang and Tony Leung. Wei Tang is part of a student resistant movement against the Japanese regime in China / Hong Kong and is chosen to seduce a Chinese traitor - played by Tony Leung - and help in exterminating him. All this is set out early in the movie as it slowly develops. Its well into the second half, the wheels of the movie start working and complexities develop.

Tony Leung appears physically shrunken these days - but is successful in potraying a cold, calculated character. While Wei Tang I thought was stupendous in appearing as the fragile yet focused seductress - however a part of her is not sure what she really wants, which can be put down to her experiences in the past.

Would not put it down as an ore brilliant movie - think its down to the fact that it is a fairly simple script that hinges a lot on the performances of the two leads. Which admittedly were brilliant; they were able to create the kind of sexual tension that was sought and which then transgresses into the realm of something more. But for a short story to be expanded into a 2 hr 40 min movie, there needs to be more of a plot. Again, if not for the hype, one could have thought differently. Definitely worth a watch.

Rating: * * +