A Taste of Killing and Romance (1994)

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

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.

ATOKAR was made pretty much just before Lau cracked the big time, and I'm pretty sure its one he would rather forget about. Feels very rushed with plot holes and a lazy story. Pretty standard HK action, not horrible but far from great. Oh, and Anita Yuen was so miscast as a pro killer, she looks and acts like a librarian more than a cold blooded killer for hire. Worth a viewing though. I don't know if it biased my opinion of it, but the English subs on the DVD i watched were incredibly shoddy, some of the worst i have had to endure. One other thing that struck me was the rating: MA15+. This movie has necrophilia (implied not shown), graphic violence, an old woman being killed with clingwrap, a young girl being forced to drink a bottle of antiseptic: these things just wouldn't get past the censors in the West, these scenes would be cut or the film given an R18+ at the least.

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.