This movie is available for purchase at www.sensasian.com

Rating:

5

AKA: A Moment of Romance 2

Year of release: 1993

Genre: drama

Director: Benny Chan

Writer: Susan Chan

Producer: Johnnie To

Action directors: Ma Yuk Sing, Wu Chi Lung

Cinematographer: Andy Lam

Music: William Hu

Stars: Aaron Kwok, Wu Chien Lien, Roger Kwok, Anthony Wong, Ho Ka-Kui, Kwan Hoi San, Hon Yee Sang, Ng Wooi, Che Wai Git, Paul Chun Pui, Cheung Tat-Ming

Rated II for language and violence

DVD Information

Company: Mega Star

Format: widescreen

Languages: Cantonese, Mandarin

Subtitles: Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean

Extras: trailers, cast/crew info, plot synopsis

Notes: Your standard early Mega Star disc gussied up with new packaging and an anamorphic presentation.

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A Moment of Romance II

A Moment of Romance II stars Wu Chien Lin as a Mainlander who comes to Hong Kong to try and earn money for her brother's release from prison. Finding no legitimate work since she has no ID card, she is made to be a hooker. During her first job, a gang boss is killed, and Wu is framed for the murder. While running away from the gang, she meets up with a street racer (Aaron Kwok), who helps her to hide out. Soon, a romance develops, which is put into jeopardy by the cops and the Triads closing in.

This is a sequel to the first film in name only, and it shares very little of that movie's excitement and romance. Aaron Kwok is positively horrible as the lead -- I was wishing for the high days of Ekin Cheng in Legend of Speed; at least you could have some fun in that movie laughing at the performance instead of being bored by it. A Moment of Romance II is also terribly unfocused. It doesn't seem to know if it wants to be a Triad movie, a romance, or a racing picture.

There are a few highlights, though, which manage to save A Moment of Romance II from being total bargain-bin filler. Anthony Wong is superb as Aaron's psychotic racing rival. And the racing scenes are actually done quite well. Even though they are a bit undercranked, the stuntmen here definitely earned their paychecks. Honestly, if the film-makers has just tried to set out to make a decent motorcycle racing movie, the results probably would have been much better than what we have here. Alas, once again, this is a case of a movie trying to be everything to everybody, and ending up as a bit of nothing to no-one.