However, after sitting through the movie (armed with a packet of salted popcorn), I was really glad that I relented, for Lust, Caution is, in my humble western opinion, a dynamic display of directing, sensational cinematic showcase and believable acting delivery. Lust is a sensitive screen study of Chinese culture and emotional turmoil.
A bit of background here... Lust, Caution, a film based on Eileen Chang's novel 色，戒 showcased the sentiments, politics, insecurities of people in China during the Japanese occupation. The film was beautifully constructed and captured the history and culture of Shanghai and Hong Kong during the 1930s - 1940s very well.
I have no idea what the fuss about censorship is all about - does all the sex (or lack of) mean a great deal to the film? I think not, for Lust is overall a budding cinematic gem that comes close to other historical film masterpieces and epics with the likes of Judou, Raise the Red Lantern, Seven Years in Tibet and The Last Emperor.
As I waited for the crowd to disperse, I sat in the dark and pondered... if film critics and members of the public alike feel this movie lacks any integrity due to the de-emphasis on sex then there is something terribly, terribly wrong with their historical appreciation and artistic consideration. Have we come to the point were our sensitivities are limited to images of violence, gore, mayhem and flesh-flashes? If so, then I feel saddened about the future of truly meaningful film.
Be cautious about lust, least you succumb to brain-dead movie mush…
