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| I am having luck with running into good movies lately. (well, I've watched some ok ones in the past few months, just ok...not great..) After the "Hula Girls", then there's Ang Lee's "Lust, Caution". What a change! Two extremes in the spectrum of positive and uplifting to heavy, melancholy-drama. (I will not write the details of this movie, as always I will skip right to my thoughts and opinions on it; I write my opinion assuming the reader had seen or knows about the story. So, this is also a spoiler alert. Do not read if you don't want to know what happened in the movie.) I was very biased against this movie even before I've seen it. I was not a fan of Ang Lee (I don't dislike him), Here's my 2 cents on the kind of Chinese movies entering or trying to enter the Western market. First, I do not like the notion of always portraying Asians in ancient times kung fu movies, i.e. Coaching Tiger. I also do not like Hollywood (or movies that tries to break into Hollywood) by over-romanticized the Asian mystique, i.e. House of Flying Diggers (this movie also falls into the king fu category in my book), and the one with the flowers with Chow Yun Fat. I am not that artistic, i.e. I do not understand Wong Ka Wei's movies, such as 2046; In the mood for Love. Wong's movies are highly regarded especially in the West. Honestly I do not understand 90% of Wong's movie, "What The F??" always come up in my mind as I watch Wong's film. So, hopefully you get my point. Before seeing "Lust, Caution", this is what I thought, "Argh, Ang Lee made another over-romanticized-catering to the west kind of Asian movie." and "Oh, Tony Leung and Tong Wei are naked in this movie, people can't stop talking about the sex scenes-soft porn. I wonder what the fuss is about?" I put the DVD in the player and the movie begins. I am in 1940s Shanghai, I find myself drawn into this movie. I feel sad and my heart drop as Tong Wei receives a call from Mrs. Yee that they are leaving town. You can see it on Tong Wei's face, she lost her virginity in vain. The sex scenes work really well in the movie, they are necessary. By the time the sex scene comes on, I am so involved in the movie that I do not see the scene as soft-porn (this movie does have a NC17 rating). The actors did a really good job. You can see the struggle on their faces, both physically and emotionally. Each sex scene represent the transgression of Tong Wei and Tony Leung's relationship. From violence, control; to struggle; then, surrender to love. My favorite scene or the most memorable one to me is when Tong Wei sings for Tony Leung. That scene is very moving, and Tony Leung acts very well. Tong Wei's singing brings Tony Leung (as Mr. Yee) to tears. Mr. Yee is touched, and that moment is filled with Mr. Yee's sadness, perhaps also his longing for a peaceful time, so that they can simply be together. He loves her. Tong Wei did a really good job as a newcomer. This is her first movie. I think Ang Lee did a good job in casting her as Wong Kai Chi. Tong Wei looks like a 1940s woman in Shanghai. The movie left me feeling heavy... I recommend the U.S. NC17 rated Edition (this the one with English subtitle). This is the edition that I watched. There are also a cut U.S. version. I think the movie would not be complete without the sex scenes. I think there is also an Uncut Edition with Chinese subtitle, but I think there are some people who commented the quality of the DVDs are bad. So use your discretion. | | |
| This is a Japanese Movie. I watched this over the weekend and I love it! I had no expectation, I was actually very hesitant in renting this, because the jacket of the DVD looks kind of tacky. But, I guess you can't judge a movie by its dvd cover. This movie caught me by surprise. The plot/story is nothing new, it's quite predictable actually, but I love every second of it. To me, the actors are very good, good acting; genuine and straightforward, it makes the characters and what they are going through believable. I love the music, too. I wish they have a soundtrack (but they don't). I am not going to write about the story details, you can go to Amazon dot com and search for Hula Girls, it will give you a better detail than I do. Oh, the movie is in Japanese with English subtitles. | | |
| I highly recommend the following books: Primal Leadership, Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence - Goleman, Boyatzis, Mckee (Leadership) HBR on Building Personal & Organizational Resilience (General Management) The Dance of Intimacy - Harriet Lerner (Psychology) Let my People go Surfing, the education of a reluntant businessman - Yvon Chouinard (Business) People recommended them to me, hence it sparked my interests. I want to continue the recommendation, in case anyone out there who is looking for a good non fiction with valuable insights to enrich one's life. The common theme among these four books - they are have a huge emphasis on Self-Reflection. | | |
| I saw Amy Tan yesterday at BPL. B&N sponsored a book reading/signing event. It started @ 7pm even though the flyer said 6:30pm. It was good, she was very articulate and engaging. I understand more of how she wrote (and the ideas of) her new book.
Nope, didn't buy her book nor did I wait in line for her signature. I like her but not that much.
When I got to the lecture hall, I went for an aisle seat, 3 seats in was sitting a Chinese woman (she was reading a Chinese book, so it was safe to assumed that she was Chinese), I saw a brief case and a bag next to her, I asked if the aisle seat was taken. She looked... or should I say glared at me and said the aisle seat was not taken, but the second one in (the one right next to her) was. The look on her face, I know she didn't really like me seating in the aisle seat, because that would mean her "companion" would been next to me, It would look like this me, her companion, her... I was like whatever, I like that row and I like the aisle seat for a fast escape.
Then her companion showed up, and I was right, and it made complete sense. This late 30s early 40s white dude said "excuse me" and he took the second seat in between me and his gf. Phulleasssee... for her to be so defensive... for what ? for him... don't make me laugh. So typical (of her type and his type and their type being together...if you know what I mean you know what I mean, I am not going to explain anymore)...Anyway, he was more polite. She grabbed his arm immediately and started to lean on him... And then she said to him, I'll move one seat over, so we'd have more room. I was thinking to my self, good! I was going to move anyway, because errr.. he was not skinny. He wasn't really fat either, but imagine you are approaching middle age, and you haven't been exercising... Your body just kind of hangs out. So he was in my way. But after her "good idea" of moving away more, I have one empty seat between me and him. Anyway, more people came in, the auditorium was packed. A girl finally sat in that empty seat between me and the guy.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the evening... it was very interesting. I am glad I went. | | |
| When you have a chance watch The Bear (1988) directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. | | |
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