Dangerous Liaisons (2012/Well Go USA Blu-ray)
Picture:
A Sound: B+ Extras: B Film: A-
Even on
the brink of war, Shanghai
is a city of pleasure and vice for the rich and wealthy. Socialite Madam Mo and Master Fan are experts
in manipulating and seducing of the wealthy. While secretly lusting for each other, both
knows each other far too well to be have relationship. Instead, Madam
Mo challenges Fan to a bet, to
seduce and take way the chastity of the recently widowed humanitarian Madam Du,
if he is able make her fall in love with him then break off with her, she will
give Fan what he always wanted, herself. But when Fan begins to seduce Madam Du he
finds himself actually attracted to her, can he prevent himself from losing his
heart as well? Because whomever falls in
love first in this game... loses in Hur Jin-ho’s Dangerous Liaisons (2012).
In the
beautiful, corrupt city of Shanghai, Madam Mo
is the organizer for parties and events for the rich, arranging meetings, even
marriages, but secretly, she loathes and despises men, believing that men see
woman as objects of conquest. However, she
has respect for Fan, her ex and the only one whom she considers an equal in art
of seduction. Fan is well know in
Shanghai for his womanizing ways, every night he is in bed with a different
woman, no woman can resist him and every mother should hide their daughters
from him. All is well and good until Fan
meets Madam Du, the only one able to reject him outright.... and it's only then
Fan begins to actually fall in love for the first time.
Thus, like
love and war, there are no rules, only victory or defeat. These two wealthy social climbers in 1930s Shanghai find it a game to
seduce, deflower or corrupt those around them; they enjoy indulging in wicked pleasures
behind closed door and behind people's backs, play with people’s money and
hearts. Their only rule is to never
truly fall in love, but like the saying you reap what you sow, their sin, lies
begin to catch up on them, and it is too late to realize what they had or lost
until it is gone.
An
exceptionally elaborate, well acted production, the 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High
Definition image transfer does an amazing job of reproducing the Super 35mm
film shoot throughout with fine, consistent color, depth and detail down to
many demo shots. The DTS-HD MA (Master
Audio) 5.1 lossless mix is also nice with a rich, warm sound and always
consistent soundfield throughout, making this a top rate Blu-ray presentation
throughout that will impress anyone. Extras
include making of the film, behind the scenes and trailers.
- Ricky Chiang
