Lust, Caution (Widescreen Edition) (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)Ang Lee breaks through again with a masterful adaptation of Eileen Chang's short story, Lust/Caution (like what he did with Annie Prolux's similarly brief story, Brokeback Mountain). While the hype seems to be mostly misplaced on the controversial acrobatics displayed by Tony Leung and Tang Wei in bed, Lee's storytelling leaves one breathless.
The love story unfolds against the backdrop of 1930's Japanese-invaded Shanghai where tyranny and suffering were synonymous. Nubile Wang Jia Zhi played by Tang Wei joins the resistance movement and gets herself drawn into the role of a spy to crumble the traitor, Mr Yee. In between the espionage and wild climatic trysts, both of them unknowingly embroil themselves in love and deceit, much deeper than they would have liked themselves to.
Tang Wei, as a newcomer to cinema, is impeccable. Her evolution from a wide-eyed country girl to a seductive temptress is enough to make the hardest of most men, in this case, the distrusting Mr. Yee fall for her. Wei acts pretty much on instincts and her body language does wonders at seducing the somewhat vulnerable Mr. Yee played by multiple-award winner Tony Leung. Wei breaks down in the memorable scene where she's talking to the resistance leader on her unyieldingly sacrificial role that is both a torment and insidious attack to her emotions.
As usual, Tony has the penchant for playing dark brooding men and in this instance, an evil Chinese traitor. He does not act. His presence already commands attention as the cynical no-nonsense minister. The pivotal sex scenes, split into three parts, are not just there for visual enhancement. They actually convey the shift in roles between the two throughout their complex relationship. The raw emotions displayed on their faces were enough to convince anyone hard-hearted to think twice about the essence of love. I must say these are some of the best bed scenes you'll ever witness on film.
Of course, the supporting cast of Joan Chen as Mrs Yee and Wong Lee-Hom as Tang Wei's resistance compatriot, Kuang Yu Min, is every bit just as spectacular. In the end, the story about love is bittersweet. You'll also see how fervent the resistance movement, which puts the enemy above self and others, was through Wang Jia Zhi's eyes. Lust Caution is 157 minutes' of rewarding watch that will linger on in your minds well after the credits roll. (A+)


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Provocative, thrilling and passionate, Lust, Caution is the daring new film from acclaimed Academy Award®-winning director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). Set against the backdrop of a transforming country,a young woman 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 is being called "exquisitely beautiful" (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times) and "lushly sensual" (Leah Rozen, People).

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Enemy at the Door: Series 1 Review

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(More customer reviews)Set during WW2 on the German-occupied British Channel Island of Guernsey, just a few miles off the coast of France, Enemy at the Door is a compelling, gripping, riveting period drama. I am not a huge fan myself of military drama in general; however, this series captivated our entire family to the point where we eagerly awaited each successive episode. The series was produced between 1977 and 1980, and it is of the same ilk as Upstairs Downstairs, The Duchess of Duke Street (both of which took place in part during the first world war), and Danger UXB. In short, if you've enjoyed any of those series, you will certainly enjoy this one--whether or not you have a particular interest in military drama.
Like the aforementioned shows, Enemy at the Door deals with the subject of war (and in this case the occupation) from a very human and personal perspective; in short, it is not a show about tactics, manoeuvres, and the war from a military perspective. The series centres around the lives of two families: The Martels and the Porteouses. Firstly, there is Dr. Martel, the local physician who is involved in committee work and bridges the gap between the islanders and the governing Germans. Martel is joined by his wife and his strong-willed, fiercely anti-German daughter, Clare. The Martels also have a son, Clive, a British soldier off fighting in the war. The Porteous household consists of Peter, a young farmer and close friend of the Martels who's eager to do his bit as a loyal Brit despite living in occupied territory, and Peter's wheelchair-bound mother. Each episode is a complete, independent story, though there is, as one would expect, carry through of the underlying stories as the war progresses. Other characters come and go, some to be seen only for one episode.
Though the series revolves around the islanders and their plights and predicaments, there are a few high-ranking German officers who are also regulars. Most notably, the man in charge of governing the island, and Dr. Martel's liaison, is Major Richter, a stern but relatively fair man. He's in an unenviable position, forced to make decisions requiring the wisdom of Solomon at times. Then there is the chief of police, Oberleutnant Kluge. A shrewd and very capable bloodhound, he's a hard man who will stand for no nonsense, neither from the islanders nor from the German soldiers. Things get particularly tense, however, whenever the elite German SS get involved, and their presence on the island is represented by the cruel, devious, and hard-as-nails Reinicke. Reinicke is Hitler's man, and whilst Richter, as head of the military unit on the island, is technically Reinicke's superior, Reinicke is dangerous and not a man to be crossed. Ironically, though the enemy of the Germans is technically the native island population, one cannot help feeling that the real enemy of the German military is the SS.
Both this boxed set and the second one consist of thirteen 50-minute episodes each, for a total of 26 episodes. The series bears some similarity to the recently produced Island at War, and certainly if you've enjoyed Island at War you will enjoy Enemy at the Door. Further, you needn't worry (as I did) that this series may be somewhat repetitious. There are some similarities, but only initially (ie. in the first two or three episodes). More to the point, although I saw Island at War prior to Enemy at the Door and although I enjoyed the former series (brief though it was), I have no hesitation in saying that I greatly preferred Enemy at the Door. Like Upstairs Downstairs or Danger UXB, what this series may lack in slick production values it more than makes up for in quality. In short, this is an impeccably-acted, compelling, riveting series with tightly-written, well-crafted storylines that keep a person glued to the show from start to finish, and with 26 episodes the series has been given the necessary time to really develop. I only wish there'd been even more episodes made! I recommend Enemy at the Door extremely highly to all fans of the very best in period drama, British or otherwise.


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It takes more courage to stay than to escape
After Nazi Germany invades the British Channel Islands in the summer of 1940, the occupiers and the occupied settle into an uneasy coexistence. But when does cooperation become collaboration for islanders just trying to survive? How tolerant can the German commandant be before falling under the suspicious eye of Berlin?
This gripping British drama series tells of the stresses and strains, loyalties and loves of civilians and soldiers alike, in a world where shades of gray blur the hard line between black and white. Passion battles against restraint. Pragmatism struggles with principle. And internal conflicts rage as fiercely as those on the battlefield. Ultimately, both sides find they are compromised as much by the actions of their compatriots as they are by the enemy that is always at the door.
Alfred Burke (Public Eye) and Bernard Horsfall (On Her Majesty\'s Secret Service) star, with guest stars including John Nettles (Midsomer Murders) and Anthony Stewart Head (TV\'s Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
DVD SPECIAL FEATURE INCLUDES historical background on the Channel Islands.

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American Pickers: The Complete Season 1 Review

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(More customer reviews)Hey look, it's that infamous Church of the Flaming Sword and it looks like he's at it again. He's writing a review for another reality TV series, but wait. He's giving it a positive review. What gives?
Do not take your computer to the shop for repairs, you are reading it correctly. I found a reality show I like. American Pickers is an antidote to just about 99% of all the crap known as reality programming. You might want to steer clear if you are expecting -
1. Washed up celebrities performing acts of desperation in some vain hope of recapturing their fame.
2. Spoiled 20 and 30 somethings who treat the world like it's their personal nightclub.
3. Pregnant teenagers.
4. Drama queens and kings.
5. Competitions in which participants win by any means necessary, or not so necessary.
This show is mainly about two average guys, tall and lanky Mike Wolfe and short and stocky Frank Fritz, who go around the country to buy antiques and collectibles for a store in Iowa called Antique Archaeology. They go and buy everything from old movie posters to long forgotten gas station signs to worn out motorcycle frames, and in one case a painting of a nude woman. The only thing that matches the diversity of the antiques they buy is the people they buy them from. One of whom is a rather eccentric man who runs a Bigfoot museum in Alabama and another is a retired attorney who collects old cars among other things. Sometimes Mike and Frank make a substantial profit, but there have been occasions in which they went in the red. When you run a business or work for one, those are the risks you take.
What really makes the show for me is how well Frank and Mike work together. There is nothing Hollywood or made up about these two. They love to goof around, but they are also serious about what they do and I especially liked how Frank compared one lady he bought from to his grandmother.
American Pickers exemplifies what is sorely lacking from reality TV - reality. It not only shows two normal guys making a living - but it also makes it entertaining and interesting. While I'm certainly not going to watch these has been pop stars trying to find a date or Dancing with the Stars anytime in the next quadrillion years, my opinion of what reality shows can be has been raised.
Thank you Mike and Frank,
Keep up the good work.


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In small towns, and along America's back roads, treasures are waiting to be uncovered--valuable relics from our history that are hidden in junk piles, buried in barns and stacked in garages. It takes experts to find them...and turn rust to riches. Season One of AMERICAN PICKERS on HISTORY follows highly skilled 'pickers' Mike Wolfe, owner of Antique Archaeology in Iowa, and his business partner Frank Fritz, as they hunt down objects with historical, collectible and pop culture value that have been long forgotten by their owners. From a vintage Harley to a one-of-a-kind Ferris wheel, each treasure hunt uncovers weird and wonderful Americana, offering a glimpse into a little-known side of the antiques business. Along the way, Mike and Frank meet people whose own stories open a window into American lives and history.DISC 1 (4 episodes, approx 180 min): Big Bear / Super Scooter / White Castle on the Farm / Invisible PumpDISC 2 (4 episodes, approx 180 min): Back Breaker / Mole Man / Frank's Gamble / 5 Acres of JunkDISC 3 (4 half-hour episodes, approx 92 min): Bigfoot in Alabama / Know When to Fold / Fill er Up / Leland's Cafe

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Coming Home (1998) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have read "Coming Home" twice and have listened to the audio tape several times, so when I saw that the novel was available on video I was delighted...I finally found it on VHS on sale and ordered it, just to see for myself, and watched it this past week. What a joy! I loved every minute of it, and the fact that it didn't cover every page of the book didn't bother me at all. Even "Little Women" switched Amy and Beth's position in the family in the 1949 version but it was still a wonderful movie. I am very glad that I have "Coming Home" in my video collection and plan to watch it again soon.

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COMING HOME - DVD Movie

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Wartime Britain Review

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(More customer reviews)3 WWII dramas of the British part of the war superbly done. One is a Masterpiece Theatre miniseries, one a PBS Masterpiece Theatre drama, & one based on the actual diary of a UK housewife. Parts fictional take a realistic view of life on England's soil during the years of the war. More important, each also delve into the thinking and emotions of citizens, English and German, and the tense relationships that occurred. Both personal and historic struggles are played out in these 3 tales of life in the 1940s.
ISLAND AT WAR
is a dramatization of the living conditions on the Channel Islands, just off the French coast, after British troops left for the mainland leaving behind tens of thousands of British citizens to face eminent Nazi occupation, landing July 2,1940.
Episode #1 introduces main characters played by a stellar cast including Sen. Dorr, the primary British citizen (James Wilby-Gosford Park) and Nazi Baron Von Rheingarten (Philip Glenister-Life on Mars-another good period DVD set). Occupation begins with a harbor bombing during attempted civilian evacuations.
Ep. #2 has a German killed. English spies arrive to collect intelligence while locals learn to accept the invading Germans, reluctantly. Bravery will be a test.
Ep. #3 finds the 2 spies forced into hiding on a coastal farm while the local photo shop once owned by J. Isaaks (Jew who escaped prior to occupation) is changed to A.&J. Mahy, daughters of a man given the shop but killed in the pier raid.
Ep. #4 One spy turns himself in & confesses to killing a German to save the retaliatory execution of 10 islanders. The 2nd spy is yet sought. Local female "fraternizing" becomes an issue, Jerry-bags.
Ep. #5 shows a tense settling of islanders to the situation, but workable relationships exist with some Germans. Spy #2, Phil Dorr, is acting handyman at the Dorr house, but seeks a way to return back to England. Jews yet on the island are identified.
Ep. #6 concludes with a flurry of activity and suspense. A few win and a few loose, but life on the Channel Islands will never be the same. This story ends before the true exit on May 9, 1945 of the Nazi occupation force.
.....An emotional, suspenseful, and riveting drama from start to finish. Another set that covers this location and WWII event is "Enemy at the Door" series 1 and 2. Excellent longer series with additional people and events about this dreadful British war situation.
.....Extras: Historic background, cast reflections, filmographies, behind-the-scenes, closed captioning. 398 min. Some nudity, execution, blood, killing, fighting, etc. Mature audiences suggested on the box.
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HOUSEWIFE, 49 is a 93-minute drama taken from a British homemaker's diary. Nella Last, was played by Victoria Wood, but Wood also wrote the screenplay from the published diary of Last. Another acclaimed British cast created a thought provoking drama.
.....Lancashire's Nella Last(age 50) is having a bit of an emotional breakdown over her son's enlistment as well as her inconsiderate hubby. She begins a diary, approved by her doctor also leaving for the war. She begins volunteering with war effort groups.
.....By March '40 Nella gets braver standing up to her husband and leadership in the W.V.S. Humor is evident occasionally on the home-front war life, often suddenly tipped to horror with air raids. There's a mixing in of sentimentality too.
.....It's a powerful story of one woman's journey in the 1940s while looking for a purpose in life and self-respect. By 1943 Nella's extensive volunteering success creates jealousy in Mrs. Waite and son Cliff is listed as missing. There is a lot of soul searching by many till the end of the war comes and this tale concludes in August, 1945. Did Nella get liberated from the war experience?
.....extras have filmographies and a V. Wood interview, but alas, no CC or subtitles.
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THE HEAT OF THE DAY, PBS Masterpiece T.feature length British War/Spy drama is a psychological suspense packed journey into the heads of more than one character. It is an Evelyn Bowen classic, with screenplay adaptation by Nobel laureate Harold Pinter (The French Lieutenant's Woman). It is a mystery/suspense entanglement between 2 men wanting the same woman, the proverbial triangle, but with espionage and murder woven into the triad. Suspense it is! A psychological thriller that will have you switching allegiance regularly with the superbly cast characters. Widow Stella (Patricia Hodge-Rumpole of the Bailey) has been content with her lover. Robert (Michael York), until older Harrison (Michael Gambon-Harry Potter) steps in and suggests York to be a spy. Who is the real spy? All three play head-games with each other. Who and what is genuine? Who the betrayed? Trust is tested to it's limits.
.....extras include a Pinter bio, filmographies, and SDH SUBTITLES. 106 min.


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Three stories of bravery and betrayal set during Britain\'s finest hour
The Heat of the Day Adapted by Harold Pinter, Elizabeth Bowen\'s story of love and war is set at the apex of World War II. Stella Rodney (Patricia Hodge, Rumpole of the Bailey) faces an impossible choice: take up with a stranger (Michael Gambon, Harry Potter) or expose her lover\'s (Michael York, Cabaret) possible treason. DVD debut. Approx. 106 min. SDH subtitles.
Housewife, 49 Based on a real-life wartime diary, this acclaimed drama stars Emmy® nominee Victoria Wood (Dinnerladies) as an introverted woman who comes alive as a volunteer on the home front. Approx. 93 min.
Island at War An accomplished ensemble cast--including James Wilby (Gosford Park) and Philip Glenister (Life on Mars)--reveals the trials, tribulations, and temptations of Britons on a tiny Channel Island during the German occupation. Approx. 398 min. on 3 discs. [closed captioned]

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