I am Legend and Lust, Caution

Just some thoughts on the films I caught during the week…

I am Legend
Better than I had expected- even though I try not to read reviews you cant escape everything.  Smith does an great job early in the film with showing his dementia after having been alone for 2 odd years (giving time for the others to be killed off) and having witnessed losing his family.  A lot of things taken for granted of course but you just have to go with the flow there.  The lack of music adds to the realism of how alone he is…there is only a small bit of music in the flashback scenes.  The CGI is a bit annoying- the shots of the cars look straight out of a video game and the vampires are verging on the cartoonish.  This would have been good enough a few years ago but with the better consoles out there now you can nearly get it on the games.  The movie does go back to Hollywood standards with the arrival of the woman and boy….and the happy ending is just too predictable.  From what I understand the book was more along the lines of him being the aberration and it being the vampires world now- will have to read the book!

Lust, Caution
I have always loved Ang Lee’s work- and this film is a testament that he is a master film-maker.  Sweet, subtle, and sensuous…he manages to get every emotion into this film and gets the most from his actors.  Tony Leung is just excellent and shines compared to his work in 2046 and Infernal Affairs which is no mean feat.  I cannot believe that it is Wei Tang’s first film- she is terrific as the schoolgirl come seductress and I look forward to seeing her in other films shortly!  The supporting cast is great as well and the costumes and the costume and art department put you right in the period.  There are quite a few sex scenes which fit in completely with the story and the characters feelings that are being displayed (I had read some comparisons to Winterbottom’s dreadful 9 Songs and I don’t think there is any comparison at all).  The film is long but I don’t think there is a wasted moment and it’s a definite must see.