Loving You

Viewed August 3, 2021. e To would go on to make with frequent collaborator Wai Ka-fai, especially the transformation of the main character and the unusual choreography of the film's final set piece (where Lau's character has to pull and drag the pregnant Carman Lee - as she begins to give birth - to safety from the film's villain). But the aesthetic and tone is closer to a typical HK action melodrama from this period, somber where To and Wai's movies would be more colorful and imaginative.

The action works, the drama works and Ching Wan Lau makes the characterization work. There is some melodrama and some loose ends but it's never enough to detract from the story being told.

A mix of genres;crime and family drama. The action crime part is quite decent. But its the family drama and characterizations that pulls this down. The redemption and change of character by the protagonist comes quite out of nowhere. This could have benefited from a longer run time to develop his growth better. But then even with only a 80 minute run time the movie already felt like it lasted more than 2 hours, which is never a good sign.

Not as sophisticated as To's best actioners, but still engrossing in the way it depicts a cop given a second chance after being shot in the head -- losing smell and taste -- and seeing his wife almost going away when she gets pregnant of other man. Melodrama segments don't always glue -- the montage puts them with some bad pop music in english -- but action sequences are well-shot and provides that wide-angle, close-up structure only To can pull off. Final set-piece is skillful as hell.

okay movie