"Days of Being Wild" is a beautifully shot film, directed by the acclaimed Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-Wai. It has more style than substance, but it’s a respectable, satisfying effort.

The film includes many effective and powerful moments of romantic intrigue. But the whole isn’t quite as strong as the parts.

The first of Kar-Wai’s colorations with the immensely talented cinemagrapher, Christopher Doyle, it doesn’t come close to matching their other collaboration, "In the Mood for Love," which is one of the most gorgeous films I’ve ever seen. Like "In the Mood for Love," the film takes place in 1960s Hong Kong as is evident from the costumes.

Kar-Wai has a big following in America. He was a big influence on Quentin Tarantino, and Tarantino’s company, Rolling Thunder Pictures even distributed one of his early works, "Chungking Express." In addition, Sofia Coppola even acknowledged her debt to him in her Oscar acceptance speech.

The main character is Yuddy (Leslie Cheung), a selfish cad who likes to seduce women and cast them off when another female catches his eye.

Maggie Cheung is excellent as Si-Li-zhen, one of Yuddy’s conquests. She is the most sympathetic and well developed character, a shy woman who sells food at a soccer concession stand. She desperately tries to maintain her dignity even though she loves Yuddy, a man who has no respect for her. Callously cast aside by her former lover,

she risks abuse by showing up at his apartment in the hopes he will take her back, but he treats her with total contempt.

Yuddy is also involved with Mimi (Carina Lau), an uninhibited, flamboyant, and sexy showgirl. Yuddy’s two lovers also have their own admirers.

Tide (Andy Lau) is a police officer that has an unrequited crush on Si-Li-zhen, and Zeb is attracted to Mimi. But of course, in classic film noir fashion, the women gravitate more toward the man that will treat them badly.

"Days of Being Wild" is nothing more than an exquisite looking soap opera, but it is elevated by the strong characterizations, convincing performances, and sublime camera work.