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I think there are some lessons for guys that are taught in this movie. Don't make a woman your enemy. Don't play with more than you can handle. Definitely a must watch. It's thrilling, sensual, and I already re-watched it three times! I don't want to give too many details away. If anything, watch the trailer and get lured in!
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This review may contain spoilers
A remake of Dangerous Liaisons made with an international cast of Hong Kong, Taiwanese, Chinese, Korean, and American actors. If this is the first version of this story you've ever seen, you might be far more impressed than I was.What I liked about this movie: The cinematography was lush and the scenes were wrapped in golden light and settings. 1930's Shanghai came to life beautifully.
What didn't work for me: Mostly the acting and the reworked story. Cecilia Cheung played the Marquise de Merteuil/Madam Mo Jie Yu role. This is a key role, she was the independent, manipulative, devious mind pulling the strings in business, society, and the bedroom. She should have been the alluring lethal danger in this movie. Unfortunately, instead of displaying the cunning and cruelty at the heart of Jie Yu, Cecilia could only manage a fake smile and a grimace occasionally, bringing almost no nuance to this multi-layered character.
Jang Dong Gun in the Vicomte de Valmont /Xie Yi Fan role was pleasing enough but lacked the sexually sinister side needed as Valmont/Fan slept his way across Shanghai and ultimately tripped himself up by falling in love. Zhang Zi Yi portrayed the Madame de Tourvel/Madam Du Fen Yu role. Her performance was perhaps the most disappointing, and I'm a fan of hers. Somehow, they transformed her into a frumpy woman, a woman who moved and dressed like an elderly little old lady. A reserved character became almost lifeless in her hands, and it was hard to understand how Fan fell so hopelessly in love with her.
The secondary younger characters, integral to the story were given short shrift and much of their important action was done offstage.
Key parts of the original story were cut out or given to other characters. Sometimes a new vision works, this retelling of the tale did not for me. Again, if you've never seen other versions of this, this interpretation may be perfectly serviceable.
Most unsatisfactorily of all, they took the bite, rancor, revenge, and tragedy out of the ending. This cast lured me into watching yet another version of this story, bitterly disappointing me in the end. Jang Dong Gun's charisma did lift an otherwise limp version of this sexual and power games movie, but his performance wasn't enough to save it for me. Instead of Dangerous Liaisons it was more like Irksome Liaisons.
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Story: I've never watched any other versions of this story so I'll rate the story solely based on this movie itself. The storyline is wonderfully written from beginning to end. Everything happened for a reason and flowed well throughout the entire movie. I've never actually watched a storyline like this so it was quite new to me. The characters were all well developed. We have a playboy as the main male lead, an innocent widow that isn't into playboys, and a super cunning lady whose wittiness actually ruins her life and everyone's around hers. Needless to say anymore before I start spoiling--- this movie is GREAT and you should definitely definitely try this out.
Cast: I'm more of a drama fan so 99% of the time I am watching a drama, not a movie. However, movies are great if you don't have a lot of time to waste--- so I tried this one out. First of all, I've never watched Cecilia Cheung or Zhang Ziyi before. What I have to say right off the bat is: EYE CANDY. They are so beautiful!! Esp for ladies in their 30s-- just STUNNING. Not only eye candy but their acting was on point. Zhang Ziyi was good at portraying the innocent widow, but my eyes were set on Cecilia in this movie. She NAILED her role as Madam Mo. Her eyes, her smile, her actions, everything just gave off that cunning vibe to her. She definitely killed it. Jang was good as the playboy also. Out of the entire cast, everyone did a great job but Cecilia had me sold 100%.
Music: It was fitting.
Rewatch Value: A great movie, why would I not rewatch?!
Overall: HONESTLY I RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE! IGNORE THE 7.7 RATINGS. The story is great, the cast is great, there is eye candy, phenomenal acting, no plot holes, everything makes perfect sense, great justified ending... what is there about it that isn't worthy of a watch??? Def don't miss out on this gem!
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