Starring: Zhang Ziyi, Jang Dong-gun, Cecilia Cheung, Lisa Lu, Shawn Dou

Director: Hur Jin-ho

DIRECTOR Hur Jin-ho sets his adaptation of the famed French novel in 1930s Shanghai, with Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi and South Korean actor Jang Dong-gun in starring roles.

A womanizing playboy and his scheming ex-lover play destructive power games in this ravishing relocation of an 18th century French literary classic to 1930s Shanghai. Already adapted for the big screen multiple times, “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos clearly has evergreen appeal across cultural, linguistic and age barriers.

In roles made famous by John Malkovich and Glenn Close respectively, the suave Jang brings a Clark Gable louchness to the role of heartbreaking libertine Xie Yifan.

A luminous Cecilia Cheung also oozes toxic charm as his manipulative sparring partner, the wealthy femme fatale Mo Jieyu.

Cast against her usual sex-kitten type, Zhang steps into Michelle Pfeiffer’s shoes as Du Yufen, an earnest young widow who becomes a key pawn in Fan and Mo’s revenge-driven seduction wager. But playing poker with other people’s hearts can backfire, as Fan finds when he falls in love for real with the target of his fraudulent advances. It can only end in tears — and worse.

An interesting twist on a classic plot, “Dangerous Liaisons” is essentially a deluxe soap opera. But with its beautiful cast and gorgeous production design, it is still a highly enjoyable way to spend two hours.

(SD-Agencies)