BOOK VS MOVIE: Sense and Sensibility

We live in a society that (still)
 demands equality between men and women amongst the arts. "There aren't enough movies/TV shows directed/written by women!" and "Women deserve to be better written!" are some of the most common cries towards Hollywood. Towards literature however? It's much more tame.

Perhaps it is because there have been countless pieces of literature that have an air of feminism. Jane Austen's work has been said to have such themes. (Well, that's what I've been told.) Indeed, many of her protagonists are independent-minded women, so I got curious about what Austen had to offer.

After failing to make a dent in Pride and Prejudice, I opted for her other famed novel Sense and Sensibility. I was taken by Austen's words but like as I did with Pride and Prejudice, it took me a while to fully grasp them. I very much enjoyed the story Austen told even if I did find it a bit long-winded.

A few tweaks to the original text aside (most noticeably an age lift for a few characters), Ang Lee's adaptation stays fairly true to Austen's novel. And thanks to the work from Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman (they have some of the most heartbreaking expressions I've ever seen), the film is just marvelous. (If you didn't smile from the ending, don't even talk to me.)

But which of the two to recommend? Austen's novel is rather poetic as is Lee's film. But the film is easier to follow than the novel. (At least in my eyes anyway.) So I suppose the verdict is clear then.

What's worth checking out?: The movie.

Eat Drink Man Woman

It's strange. Even though he won an Oscar for directing Brokeback Mountain (and will hopefully repeat the feat with Life of Pi), Ang Lee is still a relatively underrated name in the industry. I don't understand why that is.

I mean, his films are diverse in both setting and subject matter. He can go from stylized action movie to literary adaptation with ease. Granted, not all of his films are great (Ride with the Devil damn near killed me from sheer boredom), but the right films are the ones nobody forgets.

One such film is his 1994 film Eat Drink Man Woman. Revolving around a widower and his three grown daughters, the film depicts the lives they lead, the daughters striving to find their place in society (and love).

As expected for an Ang Lee film, it's visually stunning. Like what Peter Pau, Rodrigo Prieto and Claudio Miranda respectively did with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain, Lust, Caution and Life of Pi, Lin Jong makes the imagery come alive. From the various prepared dishes to the various shots of Taipei, the cinematography is as crucial to the story as the characters.

Although I didn't love it as much as Brokeback Mountain or Life of Pi, I did thoroughly enjoy Eat Drink Man Woman. Sometimes you don't need big names in the casts or loads of sex scenes to sell a film. Sometimes all you need is a good story.

My Rating: ****1/2

Life of Pi

This is something that happens every year. (Don't deny what I'm about to say.) Every time the awards season rolls around, everyone starts to saying, "Oh, this is the best year for movies." It happened last year, it's happening this year, and I bet it'll happen next year too. (I'm not complaining. It's just something I've noticed.)

One of this year's films that makes that claim ring true is Ang Lee's Life of Pi. It's films like this that keep my faith for cinema's future intact. (Though to be honest a number of films from both last year and this year have managed to keep my hopes up.)

I haven't read Yann Martel's novel but Lee tells the story beautifully. (Anyone who saw Brokeback Mountain knows that he can effortlessly depict a story from page to screen.) It's a fantastically woven story, that goes without saying.

There's apparently a trend in Hollywood as of late where most films are getting the 3D treatment. The thought of a film like Life of Pi getting it seems like the most idiotic idea ever. Personally, the 3D makes the story come alive even more. Much like Hugo last year, Claudio Miranda's cinematography sings with the addition of 3D. Suffice to say if you're going to see this, 3D's a must. (And on a different note, Mychael Danna's score is equally gorgeous.)

Anyway, Life of Pi is without a doubt the most gorgeous film of this year. This is the kind of film you need to see on the big screen otherwise the magic would feel...lacking. But don't just take my word for it. See it for yourself. (Which, of course, you should.)

My Rating: *****

Ride with the Devil

The Civil War isn't the most filmed war by Hollywood's standards (that honor goes to World War II, Vietnam War a close second) but when it is, the films are usually well regarded.

That most definitely isn't the case with Ang Lee's Ride with the Devil. Perhaps the Taiwanese director wasn't too familiar with a crux in American history, which seems like the possible explanation for the bad pacing and even worse script.

This is no exaggeration; this is a very flawed film. The only redeeming qualities of it are the score and the fact it's thankfully not a 3-hour long epic (though it feels an hour too long by itself). Seriously, those are the only good things (and what prevented me from giving it a lower rating).

There's a reason for Glory is pretty much the quintessential Civil War film. It's actually good. Lee tries too much to surpass let alone match the success Edward Zwick got back in 1989. Maybe if he didn't so hard, he would have ended up with an adequate film.

Instead, Lee is stuck with a blemish on his otherwise impressive resume. (Well, this and Hulk.) Everything about Ride with the Devil feels forced. Personally this is something to avoid unless you need something to help you sleep.

My Rating: ***

Lust, Caution

Within the 158-minute running time of Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, there are moments that could equate to that of pure poetry. Whether it be the gorgeous detail in the costumes, Alexandre Desplat's score or simply the smoke from a cigarette, there's an elegance in the film.

The delicate features of Tang Wei's face are key for her character Wong Chia-chi. Just looking at her you would assume that she is a young housewife. You would never suspect that she's really a spy. The pure innocence in her eyes and smile dismiss such thoughts.

Much like his work in In the Mood for Love, Tony Leung's Mr. Yee is an observant but quiet man. The same can't be said for when he's in the bedroom. There, he is a completely different person. It's scenes like those where people can express who they really are, and Leung shows such a fine example.

Like Lee's previous film Brokeback Mountain, Lust, Caution focuses on the burning desires between two characters and the outside life around them. Though in a way, it's more of a Chinese Last Tango in Paris (which comes as no surprise since Brando's performance was an influence for Leung's). Their lives are uninteresting, and they crave an escape.

The NC-17 rating is misleading. There's only 10 minutes' worth of sex. The rest, if unclear earlier, is cinematic bliss. The running time may sound daunting, but the film flies by on gilded wings.

My Rating: *****

The Ice Storm

The Ice Storm is one of those movies that has thinking when it's over. The subject matters presented have you wonder what is right when sex and relationships are brought up for discussion.

I was already aware that Ang Lee can depict complicated relationships and affairs in his movies. After all, he did direct Brokeback Mountain. But what's presented in The Ice Storm isn't as conflicted as what's presented in Brokeback Mountain.

All of the performances are ace. I particularly liked the frigid nature of Sigourney Weaver's role, the perplexity within Tobey Maguire's and the abandonment in Joan Allen's. They don't feel forced; they feel authentic.

The Ice Storm is quite good, but it's a little frank on the subject of sex. (Well, technically so was Brokeback Mountain.) That aside, Lee churned out a very well-acted movie.

My Rating: ****

Brokeback Mountain

On January 22, 2008, Hollywood lost a rising star. That star was Heath Ledger. Two years later, I decided to commemorate the occasion by watching the movie that got Ledger serious recognition. That movie was Brokeback Mountain.

Ennis Del Mar (Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) are hired as sheep herders in the summer of 1963. After spending weeks in the mountains, Ennis and Jack form a sordid affair. Years later, both have gotten married, Ennis to Alma (Michelle Williams) and Jack to Lureen (Anne Hathaway), and had kids. But after Jack re-enters Ennis' life, they revive their affair.

As most people remember, Brokeback Mountain lost Best Picture to Crash. And I will admit I wasn't pleased by the results for that category; it definitely should've won. But at least it won Director, Adapted Screenplay and Score. Anyway, I loved the movie, performances, story and cinematography.

My Rating: ****1/2