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Wise Kwai's Bangkok Cinema Scene
What's playing in Bangkok cinemas?
Permalink : http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/wisekwai
Thursday , November 22 , 2007
Tale of the tape: Lust, Caution
Posted by wisekwai , Reader : 674 , 18:13:50   | Category : cinema scene   Censorship and ratings  
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As I noted in my weekly Bangkok Cinema Scene roundup, Ang Lee's erotic spy thriller, Lust, Caution is in limited release.

Something I've just learned is that particularly on the limited releases, sometimes the cinemas will make the cuts on films themselves and then submit those prints to the Thailand Board of Censors. So with Lust, Caution, there are three different versions in Thailand. Here's how they measure up:

  • SF World and SFX Lad Phrao: 150 minutes
  • Apex Circuit (Siam Square): 153 minutes
  • House (RCA): 157 minutes

According to the film's entry on the Internet Movie Database, the original length is 157 minutes, while Ang Lee's edited version for China is 148.

From this, I surmise that the (mostly) uncut version of Lust, Caution is playing  at House cinema on Royal City Avenue. Perhaps it has been cut just a wee bit here and there, under one minute. If you see Tony Leung's testicles, you'll know you likely got the real deal. Please, leave your children at home for this one, okay.

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comment 11
abcdefgh date : 23/11/2007 time : 19.52
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/fairness

I wouldn't know, I was too young I think and watching Chinese Film was not until I met my husband. He's a movie freak and somehow I pick it up from him.

I like the HK version better also, it seems there's more taste to it. Comparing the old HK films (which my husband collects)and the ones now, It seems the films are more in depth now than the old ones which was simply for entertainment. If you watch it carefully, it's got some western taste to it. The scene, the shooting and so on.....The old ones I saw was never like that. Sometimes I wish I can understand the real sound track instead of reading the subtitle which sometimes is hardly correct or watching them speak Thai which lost the sense of real.
comment 10
Zohak date : 23/11/2007 time : 18.46
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/Zohak

abcdefgh,

The HK film Infernal came out many years before the departed.

Whilst the departed is good, my personal view is the original is far superior, even with subtitiles!

A lot of Hollywood films these days are re-makes of old HK films, I think the Asian film industry is far more inventive and willing to take risks
comment 9
abcdefgh date : 23/11/2007 time : 13.36
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/fairness

Hey wisekwai, Seen the english film " The departed" and the Hong Kong one "infernal", which version you like better. I wonder who copied who.
comment 8
abcdefgh date : 23/11/2007 time : 12.56
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/fairness

Windy, People go to RCA to get drunk. whose got time for a movie
comment 7
abcdefgh date : 23/11/2007 time : 12.49
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/fairness

Chinese film are getting more and more artistic now a days. They make you think of what they're really trying to say then tell you something straight forward. If the one go and see this film just for the purpose of see "leung's" testicle, Well ! There's better ones out there My husband saids "mine is better" why waste 120bth
comment 6
windy date : 23/11/2007 time : 08.41
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/lisnaree
Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

Ewww, who wants to see his tasta cles??? why that part and not the other one.
I don't think I will let my children go to a movie named LUST, CAUTION...LOL.
comment 5
windy date : 23/11/2007 time : 08.38
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/lisnaree
Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

A boring name of a movie, but I am meaning to go and watch it!! Two days ago I was at House RCA and there's this movie by the name of something like 'I don't want to go to sleep' and that was really interesting too...except that there are so few people there..everytime I go to House it's like there's me and my friend, just the two of us
comment 4
veen date : 23/11/2007 time : 00.23
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/veen

Very useful blog. Good that you warn us parents. As it is more convenient for me to go to Apex, I'll try 153-min version and will watch out for if I see those Tony Leung's testicles.
comment 3
abcdefgh date : 22/11/2007 time : 20.47
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/fairness

wisekwai, I think you'll probably get more then a slap on your face If all the vulgarity were to translated into english. you won't be the only one writing about films and hardly any comments. Take my word for it.

I've actually gave up watching our own movie for quite sometime unless there's a really good one on, They just made a funny movie turn sour. I really wonder what the director's thinking when they made the film. "More realistic"
comment 2
wisekwai date : 22/11/2007 time : 19.47
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/wisekwai

Fairness, you are correct. The language, particularly in locally produced comedy films, is quite vulgar. Later on, if I ask what these words mean, I end up getting a slap on the face.

I had heard that because there is no ratings system, the Censors use a broad brush when judging films, so that everything would probably correspond to the PG-13 rating in the US. But that rating allows for only one F-bomb in an entire picture.

So most Thai comedies would probably be rated R, if all the vulgarity were translated into English intact.
comment 1
abcdefgh date : 22/11/2007 time : 19.05
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/fairness

Think we'll go for the DVD uncut. I really don't know how the censor board or cinema justify their cutings. I never see any vulgar language being cut in Thai films even for the family ones.
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