Wi Heom Han Gyan Gye (aka Dangerous Liaisons) (2012)

In 1931 Shanghai, a hedonistic playboy (Jang Dong Gun) and a wealthy businesswoman (Cecilia Cheung in the film's best performance) make a wager. If he can seduce the virtuous widow (Zhang Ziyi) of a beloved teacher, she will sleep with him. If he loses, he will give her a valuable piece of waterfront property. But when he falls in love with the widow, the socialite pushes the situation to a point where it will poison many lives. What is it about Pierre Choderlos De Laclos' 1782 novel that continues to fascinate both film makers and audiences? It's been filmed by Roger Vadim twice (in the 1950s then the 1970s), the well known 1988 Stephen Frears film followed the following year by Milos Forman's version, in 1999 there was the teen version called CRUEL INTENTIONS, in 2003 South Korea offered up its version and France did it again in the mini series format, several stage versions, two operas and a ballet! This version is from China (though its director Jin Ho Hur and its leading man are Korean). The pre-war 1931 Shanghai setting allows the sumptuous visuals (the eye candy wide screen cinematography is by Byung Seo Kim) but the ending is misguided and instead of sticking to the novel's tragic finale, it's more syrupy than irony. Still, that storyline is, as always, so compelling that it tends to push aside most complaints. The seductive score is by Sung Woo Jo. With Lisa Lu, Shawn Dou, Candy Wang and Rong Rong.