Why did Russel Crowe and Meg Ryan have to kiss in this movie?

Why did they have to? I say, why not? I like some romance in my action flicks if I can get it. The purpose of the kiss was to show that Terry was in love with Alice and that part of the plot made the story better for me.

I thought that kiss was so tender and appropriate. He wants to show his feelings but he also realizes the boundaries. He steps over the boundary with a kiss JUST ONCE. To let her know. Without expecting any answer or for her to change her marriage or for his to change his mission. Awesomely heroic!

My, we're certainl judgemental, aren't we? I mean, considering you have absolutely no idea what is going on in any of these peoples' personal lives.
Mind if I use your sig with a minor change?

"you ma'am, are a moron."

MrsKrabappel, you wrote: "cause they were fcking at the time, while she cheated on her husband dennis quaid "

Gay Talese on infidelity.

"Here's what people don't get. Sex is not that important. It isn't the most important thing in any relationship. Marriage is never about sex, and yet in American fiction so many stories and novels present a sexual dalliance as an unpardonable sin. (In real life) I never thought that should be true. Marriage is the main event. These other relationships bring me into worlds I would otherwise not know. These relationships have helped our marriage. ..I think of all these people who get divorced over minor matters...I don't see how people can live in conventional marriages. "

Gay Talese has a fifty year marriage with a very accomplished,independent and fiscally successful wife.

Alice (Meg's character) was starting to have feelings for Terry (Russell), or at least be attracted to him. He was starting to fall for her as well. Apparently there was a scene filmed of the two of them giving in and having sex. I'm not sure where it was in the context of the film, but it was definitely before they found out something went wrong, the deal seemed to be off, and it appeared that the husband might be dead.

Anyway, as said in a post above, it was left on the cutting room floor because there was already some negative publicity against Crowe and Ryan for their affair. So the kiss seemed to appear out of the blue. However I saw this movie without realizing there had been a sex scene that was cut, and it took it as Terry kissing her to show her he had feelings for her. Because despite his feelings for her (or maybe because of them), he was going to rescue her husband, and he knew there would/could never be anything between them going forward.

JP

I agree with the OP. I just didn't feel Terry would lean that way and it felt like a leaden weight was being added to the film which BTW was a minimum 30 minutes too long. It may have been epic length, but really wasn't telling an epic story. I just think the film would have worked better devoid of romantic sub - plots and corporate machinations.

Bingo...you're the only one in this thread who gets the scene.

Correct.

Meg might have accidentally improved the film by insisting the sex scene be removed. The kiss was surprising, sudden, and seemed like a rare impulsive emotional moment for uber-professional Terry, and Alice was clearly onboard with it.

I felt sorry for Morse who has now been demoted to cuck but has no idea.