Caution: Lust!

There will be no review or write-up of Ang Lee's 色‧戒 (Lust, Caution) on this website, at least not for the next few months. Why? Well, there's been a real brouhaha in the press lately over the film. More specifically, the version that Singapore audiences are getting, which opened here on Thursday.


See, Lee edited a toned-down version, removing much of the explicit sexuality, for the Mainland Chinese market, which does not have a ratings system. Hence this version is meant for general consumption - meaning your 5 year-old nephew could watch it if he was in China. This is the version that the film's distributors in Singapore, Buena Vista International, have decided to bring in, and it is rated NC-16 here, meaning no one below the age of 16 can be admitted. The original, uncut version would probably have earned a R21 rating (only adults above 21 admitted).

(Yes, we have a stupid, stupid ratings system and authorities that believe that an 18 year-old can use a rifle to kill an enemy during war but isn't mature enough to watch two people fucking.)

While the R21 rating doesn't carry with it the stigma of a Kiss of Death (unlike the NC-17 rating in the U.S.), it does mean many more restrictions in terms of advertising and screening locations. Hence it usually means that box office takings tend to be lower the higher movies are rated.

The reason for BVI's decision is fucking clear: Pure Profit. They're hoping to attract the teenage crowd to see this film. Wait, you may say, this is an arthouse film, with serious, heavy themes pertaining to the human spirit, freedom, love and life itself. Why would teenagers want to watch such a movie? Wouldn't they rather see, oh, Rush Hour 3?

Oh, but this Ang Lee film is different, you see. Because the third wheel in the main cast is Wang Leehom, who just so happens to be a teen pop idol over here in Asia.

Yes. Poor, deluded BVI hopes that teenagers will flock to the movie to see fucking Wang Leehom (not that I don't like the guy; some of his music is pretty good). I can't decide whether to feel sad for their stupidity or feel offended at this massive insult to the rest of the audience. So, what, they think we don't have a brain? They think we're not going to care which version we watch?

The sad thing for most people is, Singapore video stores aren't allowed to carry R21 titles. Maybe if children accidentally watch these, they'll turn into rapists and murderers. Who knows? Anyway, if the typical Singaporean doesn't watch the full version in theatres, there's no way they can get the DVD in local video stores.

Which leaves us with several options:

1. Download it online from some file-sharing site.
2. Buy the pirated DVD in Johor Bahru. All you need is your passport and a couple of bucks.
3. Buy the DVD online when it's released.
4. Get your friends abroad who live in more civilized countries to buy the DVD for you when it's released.

Whatever it is, everyone should boycott the NC-16 version in Singapore theatres. Let the distributors get a big slap in their face and make even less money than they would've if they'd shown the uncut version. That'll teach them to be so fucking greedy. It's a sad state of affairs when I'd rather give my money to a fucking pirate than to them.

I've been looking at forums online where kids in the U.S. are bitching about the show being rated NC-17 over there. Seriously, shut the fuck up. If you're below 17, just buy the DVD at any fucking store or from Amazon. Or, if you're refused, come back a year or two later. No big deal. Look at what kind of idiocy people in other parts of the world are getting before you whine like the little bitch you are.