ADDITION: CJ Entertainment - Region FREE Blu-ray - June 09': While the DVD looked good - the Blu-ray exports a tremendously sexy image with colors, detail and especially depth making huge strides forward. The consistent grain is much more readily apparent and does wonders for the presentation. Colors are tight and well defined (see lipstick and blood in captures below) with pastels supporting Lee's desired atmospheric era. Contrast is also strong with healthy black levels and overall the image quality, dual-layered transferred on the feature filling over 47 Gig of the allotted 50, produces viable and extremely impressive visuals. The friend who recommended this Korean Blu-ray (there is a Japanese but I'm unsure whether it has English subtitles) was spot-on as to the wonderful 1080P look. No complaints at all on the image-front.

We get three healthy audio options, each in original Mandarin: a linear PCM track at over 6100 kbps, 7.1, DTS-HD Master and a less dynamic Dolby Digital 6.1. The, tested, lossless PCM track was as strong as the image sounding very crisp in the high end with some subtler bass response. I certainly couldn't find anything to complain about - the track had excellent depth and range supporting some well-mixed surround functionality. There are optional English, Chinese or Korean subtitle options. This Blu-ray is region FREE as identified by my Momitsu player.

Aside from 2 very short TV spots, and a, kind of, unique posters/photo gallery - we also get the trailer and same 17-minute featurette Tiles of Deception, Lurid Affections as found on the DVD. It combines a 'making of...' including production and narrative details with input from Ang Lee, Rodrigo Prieto, Tang Wei and others. Lee gives some input on the production of art and being courageous, preparing actors etc. - it is fairly enjoyable.

This is a fabulous Blu-ray with a reference transfer of a wonderfully atmospheric film. I enjoyed my hi-def viewing even more than I was anticipating - it was great to revisit this film looking and sounding quite superior to the SD-DVD. This has a strong, thumbs-up, recommendation. It's one of the most adept Blu-rays I've seen in a long while.  

***

ON THE DVD (written Feb 2008): Simultaneously Universal are releasing both this NC-17 and a shorter (edited) R-Rated versions of Ang Lee's film. Yes, the NC-17 has some strong sexual content (graphic sex - occasionally forced) and a scene of brutal violence but I wouldn't say it was any more offensive than anything else I have seen from recent modern film. Two of the screen captures below can give you an idea of the potentially disturbing content sequences. Adults shouldn't be overly concerned, in my opinion.

This is a wonderful looking transfer with all the right attributes - color, contrast and sharpness which all get top marks (kudos to Rodrigo Prieto's cinematography and the detailed team of art directors). The only way I could see this looking better is in one of the new formats (HD or Blu-ray) but, being Universal, an HD is not yet scheduled. I suspect it would look spectacular. My only nitpicking flaw would be the subtitle font which seems a shade small (see sample below) and can move a bit quick at times. The Mandarin audio is perfect and rarely supportive of the 5.1 track with very few scenes of noted separation. There is also an optional French DUB in 5.1. Expectantly this SD DVD is progressive, dual-layered, and anamorphic in the film's original aspect ratio. It is coded for region 1 in the NTSC standard.

The only supplement is a 17 minute featurette entitled Tiles of Deception, Lurid Affections. It combines a 'making of...' including production and narrative details with input from Ang Lee, Rodrigo Prieto, Tang Wei and others. Lee gives some input on the production of art and being courageous, preparing actors etc. - it is fairly enjoyable.

I loved the film - wow - Lee's love affair with the locations and era are so evident in his cinema and the performances are magnificent. It is a very emotional and personal film and that evolves to be Lust, Caution's greatest strength. I strongly recommend.  

Gary W. Tooze