湖邊小雷-lakeshore
Readings & Translations
人性，影音藝術，曆史，Market, 國際文化，an internet researching
Movie Critic 03【滬上家書01】
Bing-Bing, & Lin-Lin,
娜好佤 la ？看過 la?
It was ‘freezing’ today. Minus -26, bright sunshine though. this afternoon when I went to Chinatown for shopping in Mississauga. (20 km away, and about 15 minutes on high-way)
As to the topic you asked on ‘Skype’; it is big topic. Better talk in writing, plus, I was not in this field; however, I love movies too. Please check or think with above key words in Chinese, since I believe they are helpful. 人性，影音藝術，曆史，Market, 國際文化，
From the “Broke Back Mountain” 2006 to the “Lust, Caution” 2007, Ang Lee’ had been trying something new I guess. There were too much “Kong-fu” in movies out there now, it’s kind of bored when talking with my friends here, and not many people understand those too ‘deep’ or serious issues from Chinese History; so I guess, Ang lee was challenging himself for something new or for a change.
When artists were trying something new, it’s hard for us, ‘consumers’ to guess what was he trying to say, what was his deepen-side motivation;
On the way back home form the “supper-market” I was thinking, that films of various sorts are products too; Ang Lee, -an international player at Hollywood level surely knows whom his movies are targeted for; which itself remain a difficult topic for directors too. Obviously, as his first Mandarin movie made ever, reportedly aimed to the world, he had given himself a hard topic.
To name few: Shanghai, Japan occupations, World War II, Sexuality, and Eileen Zhang’s novel all those are hot issues that many feel difficult to touch. We movie-goer are consumers, we can pick what ever we like to ‘consume’, however, at international level, it’s hard to get over the ‘cultural’ barriers, and break the ‘Taboo’s.
“Lust, Caution” started Japan tour now, could be interesting to know the response of Japanese film-lovers or critics. One thing is difficult for all of us – as ‘consumers’ or the viewers as an individual, to forget the “self’ in watching, in judging, and questioning, or appreciating a piece of work, that with comparatively complicated theme back almost 60 years ago when shanghai was in late 30’s; inspired by an 10,000 word story written by Eileen Zhang’ over her whole life as such, it is the difficult for the viewers too, as I thought.
Naturally, it’s unique way of mirroring the ‘sexuality’ of lovers maybe make inexperienced feel ‘hot’ while watching; however, ‘slow and blur ’ taste may also drive west young out of the film; leaving almost nothing in fancy imagination was almost ‘Un-Hollywood’ style, which also remained a doubt on it’s way to Oscar. “We don’t know how far can we go, but when I watched it after; Wow, it was beautiful and unbelievable” Tang Wei said in her recent media interviewing in London.
Take care,
Johnlakeshore X, lei
January 2, 2008
love X. lei
Burlington, Ca.
Hello to Shanghai; Miss you a lot, write to me. Send me anything interesting no mater how big the file is.
To be continued.
You can reach him at:
lakeshore_viewer_2008@yahoo.cn (China)
john.canjourno.2008@gmail.com ( International )
