Lust, Caution (2007)

[James Luckard]

KL is releasing this Ang Lee masterpiece on 3/30/21:

Revised cover below:


• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Eddy Von Mueller
• Titles of Deception & Lurid Affections: Discover How Ang Lee's Passion Fueled Every Step of This Erotic Thriller -- From Recreating the Period to Directing the Talented Cast
• Theatrical Trailer
• 5.1 Surround and 2.0 Lossless Stereo
• Dual-Layered BD50 Disc
• Optional English Subtitles

Color 157 Minutes 1.85:1 Rated NC-17
From two-time Oscar-winner Ang Lee, the acclaimed director of Sense and Sensibility, The Ice Storm, Brokeback Mountain, Life of Pi and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, comes this romantic drama starring the great Tony Leung (In the Mood for Love) with Wei Tang (Blackhat) and Joan Chen (The Last Emperor). Set against the backdrop of a transforming country, Lust, Caution tells the provocative story of a young woman (Tang) who finds herself swept up in a radical plot to assassinate a ruthless and secretive intelligence agent. As she immerses herself in her role as a cosmopolitan seductress, she becomes entangled in a dangerous game that will ultimately determine her fate. Erotic, breathtaking and suspenseful, this award-winning film was hailed by critics as “exquisitely beautiful” (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times) and “lushly sensual” (Leah Rozen, People).

[James Luckard]

I'm thrilled to see this finally get a US BD. I've had the Korean BD for ages, but it (understandably) has no burned-in English titles for the various locations, so I definitely plan to get the KL disc.

Looking forward to the commentary too.

I do hope they revise their cover art though, Tang Wei is credited as "Wei Tang," which is not how she's credited in the marketing for the film, or how I've ever seen her credited elsewhere or named in any article. The Chinese convention of family name first is always used with a name unless it's Anglicized, like Tony Leung or Joan Chen.

This is one of my favorite films of the 2000s, a flawless masterpiece that is one of the best, most nuanced and compelling espionage dramas I've ever seen.

Tang Wei is absolutely stunning in her first role, she carries the film effortlessly, even surrounded by iconic stars like Leung and Chen. The score is breathtaking, the photography is gorgeous, the production design is on an EPIC scale, recreating occupied Shanghai. It's one of Ang Lee's best!

[McCrutchy]

Yes, I will definitely be getting this.

I hope Kino would (have) reach(ed) out to Ang Lee about this release. He seems passionate about the home video releases of his films, but right now this looks like a simple port of the NC-17 R1 DVD with an unnecessary 2.0 track added on. It would be nice to drop this additional track considering that the film is 157 minutes and has its native 5.1 track already.

The included video extra is actually one featurette called "Tiles of Deception, Lurid Affections" and runs 17 minutes. It has been included on virtually every Blu-ray and DVD release of the film worldwide.

I appreciate the commentary with Eddy Von Mueller, but I would still be all for delaying the release if it meant we could get an audio commentary or interview with Ang Lee.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

I appreciate the commentary with Eddy Von Mueller, but I would still be all for delaying the release if it meant we could get an audio commentary or interview with Ang Lee.

The last commentary Ang Lee did was about ten years ago for Taking Woodstock, I believe. He didn't do commentaries for Life of Pi, Billy Lynn or Gemini Man. Perhaps he doesn't do them anymore.

[bergman864]

Cool to see this getting a North American BD release.

[professorwho]

I always appreciate stereo downmixes of surround tracks, as I lack a real sound setup, and to my ears (and audio being played through TV speakers, don't kill me, I know) a real stereo downmix plays out better than the player doing one. This shouldn't waste video bitrate, seeing as Kino will probably encode both at 16-bit (and bit-depth really means nothing at the end of the day), so I doubt the max bitrate encoder settings won't be beneath 40000 kbps as a result, BUT, Kino is guilty of encoding DTS-HD MA 2.0 audio with a 1.5 mbps core, so it is wasting bitrate there, especially if 16-bit. A 320, 640 or 768 kbps core would be better off.

[Rizor]

Well, it's about time!

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

The last commentary Ang Lee did was about ten years ago for Taking Woodstock, I believe. He didn't do commentaries for Life of Pi, Billy Lynn or Gemini Man. Perhaps he doesn't do them anymore.

Even if he starts doing them again, I wouldn't hold out much hope for "Gemini Man". I didn't see it, so I can't actually speak to the quality of the film one way or the other, but from stories that I heard, I have the impression that post production was controlled far more by the producers than by Lee.

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I'm thrilled to see this finally get a US BD. I've had the Korean BD for ages, but it (understandably) has no burned-in English titles for the various locations, so I definitely plan to get the KL disc.

Yeah, I picked up the Korean BD last year because I was sick of waiting. At least it was cheap, and I may be able to unload it in the trade thread. Hope KL knocks the transfer out of the park, as this tremendously underrated film deserves it.

[manunited1]

SO excited to finally grab this on Bluray. This film is absolutely superb and, in my opinion, Lee's second best film after Crouching Tiger...

[HipsterTrash]

Kino to the rescue. Again. Seriously, it seems like they want 2022 to be their year. So far, it's looking to be that.

[joenostalgia23]

I have the Hong Kong and recent Nova Media releases but this is a fantastic movie and I would like to see Kino release more Focus Features films so I will pick this up as well.

The new commentary should be interesting enough, though I always prefer director commentaries it’s nice for Kino to offer something the Asian releases are missing.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

FINALLY! Bummer about the aspect ratio, but I had just been looking at all the foreign releases a couple months ago! Totally getting this! Fun fact, along with The Cooler regular theaters exhibited the NC-17 version.

[DaveyJoe]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

Kino to the rescue. Again. Seriously, it seems like they want 2022 to be their year. So far, it's looking to be that.

They're really planning ahead, then.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterLives

FINALLY! Bummer about the aspect ratio, but I had just been looking at all the foreign releases a couple months ago! Totally getting this!

What about the Aspect Ratio?

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

What about the Aspect Ratio?

Oh, I had it backwards. 1:85 IS the original AR. I had it backwards with 1:87! AWESOME! All the foregin releases are 1:87 so this should be the definitive release! woo

[oubukibun]

It's criminal this has been missing stateside this long.

It's gotta be one of Lee's best, and I'm hoping that the master being used, even if it is 14 years old, does it justice.

Now if only someone could release Bertolucci's The Dreamers and Stealing Beauty......

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by DaveyJoe

They're really planning ahead, then.

I know Criterion is three months in advance. But I found myself getting more stoked by these recent Kino announcements.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

I know Criterion is three months in advance. But I found myself getting more stoked by these recent Kino announcements.

100% the same.

[Parsifal]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterLives

Oh, I had it backwards. 1:85 IS the original AR. I had it backwards with 1:87! AWESOME! All the foregin releases are 1:87 so this should be the definitive release! woo

Not if it's going to be in 5.1 sound since the Asia releases (Korea, Hong Kong) have 7.1 sound.