This “Limited Edition” Blu-ray is currently available from Radiance Films. Only 3000 copies will be made available for this release.
If you grew up in North America, Hong Kong cinema really rose to prominence in this part of the world with the release of The Killer (1989) from John Woo. Of course, hundreds upon hundreds of wonderful films came before it, but worldwide audiences really responded to the stylized action and thrills of that title, bringing attention to earlier titles and others filmmakers like Tsui Hark, Johnnie To, Ringo Lam, Ronny Yu, Sammo Hung and so many others. Despite the success of The Killer, North American releases were still spotty and many titles were still hard to find.
Radiance Films is now distributing a feature that was a huge success in its homeland but had a harder time finding an audience abroad. A Moment of Romance was produced by Johnnie To (The Heroic Trio) and Ringo Lam (City on Fire, Prison on Fire, Twin Dragons) and marked the feature debut of director Benny Chan (who later worked with Jackie Chan on Who Am I?, New Police Story, Rob-B-Hood). Despite being a big hit that spawned two sequels, North American audiences aren’t as familiar with this title. That’s too bad, as it is an impressive effort that contains many themes popular in Hong Kong cinema of the era, including heroic criminals who possess a sense of honor, wild action scenes and melodrama. This is also a great Blu-ray with a wonderful transfer and plenty of informative extras that will impress anyone who enjoys movies from this part of the world.
Wah Dee (Andy Lau) is a young triad gang member who is true to his word and works diligently as a getaway driver. During a heist gone wrong, he is forced to briefly take 17-year-old heiress Jo-Jo Huen (Jacklyn Wu) hostage. He has no intentions of hurting her, but soon realizes that the power-hungry Trumpet (Wong Kwong-leung) and other crooks who planned the robbery have no intention of letting any witnesses survive. Wah Dee steps in to act as naïve Jo-Jo’s protector as she is pursued by Trumpet’s men, and she falls for him in the process. The protagonist tries to dissuade her from getting close, but she’s soon cooking Wah Dee soup and following him to some very dangerous places. They fall for each other even though Wah Dee feels that their relationship will likely end in tragedy.
As with many films of this era, there isn’t much subtlety on display. These are big melodramas with over-the-top action and the characters aren’t hiding any deep secrets or hidden motives. The central relationship is particularly unique in this kind of picture and the movie takes some jarring turns. A violent threat or bloody attack is often followed by a romantic montage of Wah-Dee and Jo-Jo sightseeing. It’s all a bit surreal, but the cast are charming and the movie still does manage to win one over.
And Lau is very good as the protagonist. Being a man of honor, Wah-Dee feels compelled to fight back against the tyrannical Trumpet (who is planning to take over the organization), not just for Jo-Jo’s sake but also for all those within the gang who will suffer under this new leadership. The actor effectively conveys the inner turmoil and concern, as well as a realization that his actions may cost him his life.
The action is also really compelling. The jewelry heist at the beginning of the picture features a fast- paced car chase packed with crashes and dangerous turns. There’s an incredible illegal race between driver Wah-Dee and another competitor in large but rickety rigs. Female compatriots are strapped onto the tops of the driving compartments while the trucks bounce around a dirt track filled with other vehicles. This stunt looks incredibly dangerous and is pulse-pounding. And all of the fight sequences are equally stirring, with multiple characters suffering stab wounds and other painful maladies. While the action is always presented in an excessive manner, it’s dynamically edited. The villains come across as very threatening and the conflict is consistently tense.
The movie also looks wonderful, boasting a 4K restoration job from the original camera negative. Viewers get to see beautiful, neon-tinged backdrops along with some interesting architecture in run down areas. It’s a very polished looking movie and the Blu-ray delivers an incredible transfer. Everything looks incredibly sharp and many of the compositions are striking and memorable. It’s a gorgeous movie to watch.
Admittedly, everything about A Moment of Romance is hyperbolic, but this was the style of pictures from the era. All of the technical elements are top-notch and the cast are charismatic enough to make the film a fun and memorable experience.
Bonuses include an informative interview with director Benny Chan who details his start in the industry, as well as his work on this film and other career highlights. There’s a lengthy visual essay with an Asian cinema expert who discusses the disperate genre tropes used in the film and where they originated. It’s intriguing and will leave viewers adding many more titles to their to-see lists, but at times it does come across as a bit dry and general, with the figure delivering an extended list of movies that influenced this title.
It’s alright, but the audio commentary by Asian film authority Frank Djeng is exceptional. This critic gives plenty of background information about the production and cast, analyzes the thematic elements and even camera placement in certain scenes, as well as giving listeners trivia about Hong Kong’s underbelly (apparently, the color of neon street signs can carry connotations about services being provided to customers). There’s an amusing story about producers fighting with Lau and his obsession over how his hair looked onscreen. The expert also discusses rumors about a producer stepping in and helping first-time filmmaker Chan shoot some of the more complex sequences. There’s a treasure trove of information available in this audio track and it is a wonderful listen. You’ll also get a trailer, a reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned art, and a booklet with new writing on the picture.
Despite being familiar with most of the individuals involved in A Moment of Romance, it hasn’t been an easy title to come by in these parts. Radiance Films has done a top-notch job transferring the movie and giving viewers background about how it came to be and what inspired it. This reviewer may have arrived at the party some 30 years late, but is grateful to catch up with the move and really appreciates that it is now available on Blu-ray for everyone to see. This is a slick, stylish and interesting effort that will please any enthusiast of Hong Kong cinema and the “limited edition” disc is definitely worth picking up.