Binding: DVD EAN: 0601643054834 Format: Color Label: Tai Seng Entertainment Manufacturer: Tai Seng Entertainment Publisher: Tai Seng Entertainment Region Code: 0 Release Date: 2001-04-10 Studio: Tai Seng Entertainment
Andy Lau is Wah Dee, a tough triad member who gets drawn into a spiraling circle of events. He's picked by fellow gangmember Trumpet (Tommy Wong) to be the getaway driver in a jewel heist, but things don't go as planned. The getaway is chaotic, and Dee takes a rich student, Jojo (Wu Chien-Lien), hostage to make good his escape. Trumpet wants her dead, as she's seen their faces, but Dee lets her live, saying that he'll be responsible for her. Presumably, Dee believes she'll let them off in exchange for her life, but he doesn't even posit such an exchange. He merely puts her on his bike, takes her home, and lets her go. He's like a Chinese Clint Eastwood, only he rides bikes and looks like Andy Lau.
Unfortunately, things are not that easy. The cops find Jojo's purse at the crime scene and drag her in for questioning. She still won't identify the robbers, but Trumpet doesn't want to take any chances. Dee rescues her again from Trumpet's clutches, but the seeds are sown. With an internal gang war brewing, Trumpet wants Dee dead, and the cops (led by Lau Kong) want him brought in. And, Jojo wants his affections.
The "good girl loves bad boy" scenario is far from new, but A Moment of Romance is far more than a teenybopper romantic fantasy. Dee is a through-and-through triad, meaning he's not averse to violence or criminal activity, but there's a basic morality within him that prevents him from simply doing away with Jojo. His existence reveals itself to be one of resigned self-loathing. He's not happy with his life, but sees no real exit. It's that internal angst that drives him to reject Jojo at first, and even to mistreat her in hopes that she'll leave. Eventually he accepts her love, but the choice is not made frivolously. It's handled quietly, and with a subtle emotional weight.
Andy Lau brings a righteous anger and hidden tenderness to an exceptional genre character. What's so compelling about the character and the performance is that Wah Dee acts and doesn't talk. The filmmakers go the character and action route in telling this story, and the result is far better than what you'd expect from this genre. Customer Rating: Summary: A real stinker!!! Comment: I'm not sure what the other reviewers saw in this film. From the overly dramatic soundtrack (that virtually beats you into submission and overstates what's happening in the movie) to the slow script, to the predictable ending, this was a real stinker. Being a die hard HK movie buff I had to fight my desire to turn this off mid way through the movie. And this coming from an Andy Lau fan. I did enjoy the main characters and the acting from them was pretty good. Having said that, every thing else about the movie stunk. Unless you like bloody noses (the bloody nose of all movie bloody noses) don't waste your money on this one. Customer Rating: Summary: Typical HK Comment: Supposed to be a classic. It's not all bad, but is highly predictable and overdramatic. If you can except it for what it is, it does what it means to. Customer Rating: Summary: SEE THIS FILM AT ALL COSTS! Comment: This has got to be one of my all time favorite, and I would recommend it to anyone. One of Hong Kong's best film ever, A Moment of Romance is one unforgettable ride. The film has a strong but simple script and the soundtrack has got to be one of the best soundtrack ever! Remember to keep a full box of tissue by your sofa as you are watching this film. SEE THIS FILM AT ALL COSTS!
