A Moment of Romance III (1996) User Reviews

Different From The Rest, But Still Entertaining!

[Movie-Misfit · 7/10 · 26 April 2020]

Andy Lau and Wu Chien Lien return for the third and final part of the Johnnie To produced saga, with the man himself taking the helm as director, delivering a film that is pure Johnnie To and like the adopted brother of the series.

Set in 1938 amidst WWII, Lau plays a fighter pilot of the Chinese Airforce who is forced to ditch in a field of a farming community, who help nurse him back to health. It is here that he meets Wu Chien Lien, who soon falls for the war hero in another tale of forbidden love!

Part 3 is a lavishly shot, period drama, that carries more romance than the previous two, that of which is helped by its setting. While the script and story may be pretty generic, Andy Lau and Wu Chien Lien (along with To), make the best of it and provide a decent film with some nice war action, and plenty of tear-jerking drama. While not my favourite, part 3 still looks amazing and definitely has its moments, with Alex Fong adding to it in his role.

The chemistry between Lau and Wu is undeniable, having joined forces in the first Moment and starring together the year before this, in Ringo Lam's, The Adventurers...

Overall: Completely different than its predecessor's, part 3 is totally a Johnnie To movie that entertains, but ultimately is a love story!

Don't expect this to be a sequel...

[toyguy · 9/10 · 15 March 2004]

For those who have seen A Moment of Romance I and II, don't expect motorcycles racing down the streets of Hong Kong. This takes the basic premise (a Romeo and Juliet type love story), and transplants it to a completely different period and setting. The film takes us to the WWII era in Japanese occupied northern China. This time out, Andy Lau and Wu Chien-Lien reprises their lead roles. I was completely hooked when I saw part I, but part II left me a bit dissatisfied when the male lead was given to Aaron Kwok. Part III was a very well done period romance with a strong female lead character. Unlike the Kate Beckinsale's Evelyn in Pearl Harbor who was basically very passive, our female lead in this film shows much sacrifice through action.

The movie opens with fighter pilot (Lau) crash landing in a rice field. When nearby villagers (including Wu) lends a helping hand to get our resistance hero back to the war effort, the two inevitably falls in love. Through much turmoil they eventually get the plane airborne again, but that also means good-bye, (the oxen dying while pulling the wreckage out of the ditch was particularly gut wrenching to watch). This is where our female lead endures much more hardship. Having to leave her village, the only life she's ever known, she will search for her love in the big city where danger lurks at every corner ranging from muggers to Japanese bomb raids.

Very few film-makers in the west have attempted to show WWII events in this part of the world. Spielberg did `Empire of the Sun' but its very much a surreal story seen through western eyes. This film although not produced in the west, is done in the vein of Titanic and Pearl Harbor, where a fictional love story is integrated into a very real historical setting. But it was very refreshing to see a strong female lead who is not a throw-away character.

I won't give away much more in terms of story-line and spoilers, but it suffice to say that fans of the original `A Moment of Romance' will leave satisfied, knowing that Lau and Wu's characters have finally gotten their "second chance". A solid 8.5 out of 10.