Sha shou de tong hua

I read several reviews on Asian DVD sites that stated this is sort of a gem among actions films; a romance with stylized and well choreographed gun battles. Interested by these comments I decided to purchase this film as a "blind buy" since it was relatively cheap from where I got it (www.yesasia.com). However, upon viewing the film I would have to disagree with comments made by these reviewers...

The film featured a fairly conventional narrative that conformed to many clichés you expected from this genre. The film is essentially unoriginal in most respects. The film lacks any real artistic quality in the production of the film: the cinematography is relatively bland with static camera shots, the editing is standard, and the sound/music seems to possess recycled material from other action films. Lastly, the acting from the majority of the cast is often "over-the-top" and unbelievable...

However, this doesn't mean the film isn't without a few merits (albeit, minimally). The chemistry between the two leads - Andy Lau and Anita Yuen - is actually good and believable which is pretty much a result from their acting skills. The choreography of the action is the main highlight of the film, though they aren't memorable; they're good but no better than other action films of its ilk.

With the negative attributes so heavily outweighing the positive, I can not recommend this title. However, if you are a completest of Andy Lau films or of the Heroic Bloodshed genre (also called Gun-Fu and Bullet Ballet), this title won't be a complete disgrace to your collection... Though it won't add much either. Plus the cheap price helps.

Essentially for completest only, otherwise skip it.

A TASTE OF KILLING AND ROMANCE: Here's yet another ANDY LAU action, gangster, hitman flick. I mean to tell ya, the man must really enjoy his "likable killer" roles so I guess all these movies aren't too terribly bad because they probably helped him define his character for his greatest role yet, in JOHNNIE TO's gangsta masteriece, FULLTIME KILLER. But this time, it's not hot shot action lead, ANDY LAU that stands out in memory about this film, it's the main "bad guy", actor MARK CHENG. I mean, this guy is hardcore! If you're going to be a "bad guy" in a movie, then by all means, go all out, I say. And he most certainly does! He strangles old women in wheelchairs with plastic wrap. He murders little girls by dumping bleach down their throats. He chops off the fingers of women. He kills male prostitutes by bashing their skulls open with lifting weights. He even goes on to hang his boss and then rapes her dead body. DAMN! This guy's insane! I love it! Oh, the story, you ask... it's simple: Killer A (ANDY LAU) meets Killer B (ANITA YUEN). They fall in love and decide to leave the "business". Their boss sends Killer C (MARK CHENG) to do them in. Throw in a few outclassed detectives on their trail, and that's that in a nutshell. I know, I know, but I can think of worse things to watch on television.

Veronica Chan's one and only film as a director, is one that seems to split fans of the genre as to whether it is worthy of a watch as a Hong Kong action thriller, or one to be passed. For me, A Taste Of Killing And Romance gets a thumbs-up!

While it may not offer anything overly new in its storyline of one hired killer falling for another, the film covers its clichés and flaws with some great action scenes, and nice cinematography by Fan Chuen Lam. The action choreography is handled by the one-and-only Stephen Tung Wei, who offers plenty of nice shoot-outs and stunt work that come often enough throughout the film. The fantastic Bruce Law backs Wei up with some great vehicle and fire stunts also.

While Anita Yuen may seem miscast, she doesn't do a terrible job as a killer-for-hire, and has great on-screen chemistry with star Andy Lau as the likeable assassin. Both walk through life looking pretty and carefree, as if their jobs are non-existent, quickly falling in love before realising it may be time to look for new employers if they want to keep this going - which is obviously not going to be as easy as it sounds. I did find, however, that it was this flirty fun and light-hearted take on the relationship that seemed to hinder the characters in question, and shift the tone of the film somewhat.

The great Waise Lee plays the hardened cop, dedicated to bringing down Lau any way possible (so much so that it causes Andy to have a bizarre nightmare of his take-down), but it is third assassin, Mark Cheng, who steals the show as the violent opposition who takes no prisoners going so far as to smother a crippled granny with cling-film, choke a little girl with bleach, and stick a dog in a washing machine!

Although she is no Ringo Lam or John Woo, Veronica Chan offers a pretty decent film for her first and last time as director. A Taste Of Killing And Romance may not be the best of the bunch, and while flawed and void of anything spectacular, it still entertains...

Overall: Stylish, yet confused. Violent, yet romantic. A Taste Of Killing And Romance is worth the watch at least once for some great moments!