Triad Underworld (2004) User Reviews

Great cast gets lost is in a too showy tale of a gang leader wanting out

[dbborroughs · 6/10 · 23 July 2007]

Andy Lau stars in the the story of Hung a triad leader who is looking to get out due in part to the birth of his son. Unfortunately a contract has been put out on him and he expects that some time in the next few hours some one is going to try to kill him. At the same time as the story of Hung unfolds we also witness the story of two young friends who have taken a contract to kill a triad leader.

Well acted by a cast of Hong Kong stalwarts including Lau, and made with a technical flash that would put many western films to shame this is a good, but not quite great tale of friendship and loyalty. The problem for me is that there is often too much of a reliance of the technical wizardry to cover up the fact that this is, ultimately, a story thats been done dozens of times before (especially in Hong Kong). Take for example one of the later scenes between Hung and Lefty, Sitting at a table the pair are having a discussion about how they got to this situation. It a beautiful well craft scene that is amped up too much by having the table the pair is sitting at rocking back and forth while they are talking, its an odd effect that distracts from what they are saying. Earlier scenes with the young gangsters in the club use flashy techniques for seemingly reason other than to look cool. To me it seems that the filmmakers felt they couldn't trust the story, which is well worn but serviceable, to be told by the excellent cast of characters.

I liked the movie a great deal but I wanted to love it.

Is it worth seeing? Yes, the cast is first rate and its not really a bad film, just one that seems to self aware to let the film be what it is.

A must-see with interesting twist

[CloudedYoda · 7/10 · 4 November 2005]

I bought this DVD after watching Infernal Affairs trilogy. The fact that I kept it for over 6 months before watching it shows that I didn't have much faith in this movie (as there wasn't much hype about it).

This movie has an amazing twist at the end that made watching it worthwhile. Like many, I hit myself in the head saying "Damn, why didn't I notice the hints throughout the entire movie before they reveal the twisted ending".

Although there were certain scenes that don't seem right (i.e. the guy who sells the guns wears a weird coat, why being a gangster is the only profession they can think of), I would still recommend it as a must-see.

I liken this to "The Others", a movie where you couldn't quite figure out why they spend so much time on many unnecessary scenes when you expect a predictable ending. But at the end, the twist tied all the knots and leave your mouth wide open.

Just OK

[kymah89 · 7/10 · 17 July 2005]

For you people who have seen 'Infernal Affairs' this film is similar in some ways, but not as brilliant! It has a very nice twist in the end though I must say!

The 2 main characters Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung pull this of fantastically, together there have been friends for a long time. You see the rivalry and caring relationship they have towards each other.

The 2 other supporting actors are Hong Kong singers: Shawn Yue and Edison Chen. Shawn does a good job once again, but Edison seriously need to take some acting lessons to be the same standard as Shawn Yue. Both have starred in many films together (IA, Inital D), but every film Shawn Yue wins the toss. These 2 play 2 youngster trying to get into the "gangster world"

Overall I rate this film a 6.5/10 don't expect too high ratings for this film.... those of you who haven't seen Infernal Affairs, I definitely recommend that you watch "Jiang Hu" (Blood Brothers/Gong Wu) first then watch Infernal Affairs! You will see a HUGE difference!!!

Decent.

[blackheart981 · 6 August 2004]

There was much hype about the latest crime underworld movie called Jiang Hu. Sad to say it didn't do so well in the Hong Kong Box office and it was repeatedly slammed by Critics. Ironic though is that I find most non-official Critics such as fellow IMDb users, Internet users, and myself giving this film anywhere from thumbs in the middle to thumbs up. I'm probably not going to go much into the film since most reviewers have already elaborated on it. I am going to say though that it was sort of a waste to pit most of the "Infernal affairs" cast into this movie and yet you walk out not necessary caring for one of the characters. Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung are the highlights of the film though. Their dinner conversations on playing "Triad-chess" ignites the fuse on this film. Edison Chen and Shawn Yue surprisingly have improved on their acting on a margin of 80%. The last thing(s) that captivated me on this movie was the Musical Score, the wonderful lady- sung ballad in the opening and closing credits, and Chapman To's rendered Jiang Hu theme. For those who are looking for an abundance of Triad fight(s), look elsewhere. Sure this movie still has some violence, greed, lust, and full-on betrayals, but it is rather jelly-filled dialogue instead. Jiang Hu isn't a terrible movie but it isn't a best I've seen either. I give it a 7/10.

enjoyable gangster drama

[chrichtonsworld · 6/10 · 9 May 2007]

From start to the finish "Blood Brothers" looks slick! The cinematography is excellent! All the actors are dressed stylish and look very cool! And the music score is fitting! The acting is decent but could have been much better! The story is a bit confusing at first! The twist ending will explain most of this confusing story! Don't expect much of the plot! Apart from the wonderful ending the story doesn't seem to have a point! I did miss depth in the characters! I want to know what makes them tick! And why they act the way they do! Sure there are enough scenes that provide insight of the main characters lives! But not enough to really understand the characters! Why should I be interested in these characters! Since they aren't real interesting! There is one scene that is quite disturbing and doesn't make any sense! This is the scene where Turbo gets beaten up! The only reason I can come up is that this scene provides a contrast and makes the twist ending more effective! Overall I enjoyed this movie but could have been much better if the characters would have been more interesting!

Stylish

[threeJane · 6/10 · 23 April 2008]

Way stylish, to the point of being auto-erotic sometimes. The lead actors and actresses are gorgeous, their clothes and hair are oh so casually to-die-for, and the pink furry coat and moving table shots are indeed ridiculous (as noted by others). Sometimes this film tries too hard, and the implied violence is faux Tarantino.

I enjoyed this gangster film when it was moderately stylish, and wonderfully so. Right from the opening scene (shot through a transparent clock into a busy restaurant kitchen) this film shows what it is capable of. Plot-wise, by the time it came to the 'amazing twist', I didn't really care.

Jiang Who? (and the blahs)

[jenlim · 3/10 · 5 October 2004]

Somewhere on the Internet someone said Jiang Hu had the curse of coming after the Infernal Affairs series. Actually, that was not its only curse, and appeared to be the least of its worries. Forget the bar against which good triad movies are compared; just take the ordinary standards of a passably all-right movie that's worth your money and you will find yourself feeling short-changed.

Nothing much happened in the movie, and what did happen in the movie, well, sucked. Sure, there was a really clever twist in the way the story was told, but that was a high point in an almost two-hour long low point, unless you are looking to find out more about triad philosophy, love weird disco scenes with weird looking people strutting weirdly at weird angles, or find sense in hearing Western music in a triad movie set for the most part in an Italian restaurant. Jiang Hu came off totally pretentious: one could actually feel that whoever was making the movie was trying desperately to come off as a sophisticate, intellectual and visionary, which is too much baggage for a tired plot. The distracting music and dance sequences, the 'play' on lights, the script from hell, the sudden silences, and the spastic Edison Chen added to a pretty long list of what could have been re-shot, reworked, rewritten and redone.

Even to one who is no cineaste, hopping from one Chapman To movie to the next and going from this cheesy film to the next farce, it's a hard movie to watch and even more difficult to enjoy. Lower your lowered expectations.

Great throwback to HK cinema's golden age, unfairly dismissed

[PiranianRose · 10/10 · 23 October 2005]

The general consensus among HK cinema followers is that Jiang Hu suffers from this and that, so I expected it to be mediocre. Truth is, it turned out to be the most delightful surprise in many years. Right from the start, the bar scenes are filled with energy and dazzling lighting effects, maximizing the cinematic excitement. The film's retrospective score and set design evoke the old Chinese city which was previous achieved to perfection only by Wong Kar Wai's IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE. Jiang Hu's director seems to have learned more than a few tricks from Kar Wai, from utilizing well-placed retrospective songs to capturing the moment for maximum mood. This is to say, Jiang Hu is an outstanding work of art that captures the essence of triad life-cycle and blood brotherhood.

Watching Jiang Hu is like experiencing the 21th century Chinese update of The Godfather or any number of European and Italian American gangster classics in the 60s/70s. In our jiang hu, Loyalty is at stake. Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung, two of HK's finest, reprise their boss-follower roles from AS TEARS GO BY, complete with Jacky's impulsiveness and Andy's more calm personality. Their pure friendship from years ago is turning pale as Jacky's ambition pull him towards the dark side.

While Jacky favors violence as primary resort, Andy Lau's character is more of a pacifist. I find his peaceful resolution approach representative of Buddhist ideology in some manner. When warned that Jacky may turn against him, Andy responds: "I am not worried. If my death is what it takes to make Jacky realize the meaning of blood brothers, then so be it." Andy has reached the top of the game, where money and fame have lost their meaning. He only wishes to change his old friend for the better before time runs out. But Andy does not shove this idea down Jacky's throat; he shows Jacky the way through demonstrations of sophistication and wit, instead of blood and force. In the end, after leaving his words, Andy walks away from the table. Whether Jacky accepts his invitation to recover their brotherly bonding is up to Jacky.

Some viewers have pointed out the lack of brutality/blood. This ties back to Andy's philosophy that success can be achieved without blood, as he expresses many times in the movie. It is a central theme to the story.

Another criticism is about the two intertwined story lines - some think it's confusing. However, let's not forget this kind of narrative structure is featured prominently in Godfather Part II, considered a classic. In that movie, 2 parallel story lines, involving the present day Michael and previous accounts of Vito Corleone, switch back and forth throughout the movie -- very similar to the style of Jiang Hu. I personally think Jiang Hu's approach is even superior to Coppola's classic, since here the parallelism is much stronger (and perhaps more meaningful).

Jiang Hu is the third masterpiece I saw in 2004 (the other two being GONG FU and 2046), a fairly kind year for HK cinema. The film is a bit showy at times, but above all, Jiang Hu is more than a standard gangster flick; its artistic passion yields a touch of timelessness which I suspect will outendure many genre classics. As I write this review in October 2005, no HK film I have seen this year comes close to exhibiting Jiang Hu's rare quality to honor the integrity of the medium.

Frustratingly awful; a music video posing as a film

[gridoon2024 · 2/10 · 5 July 2008]

This is the second Ching Po Wong film I've watched recently, after "Mob Sister"; I'll try my best to avoid anything he might make in the future. The man clearly thinks that he is the best thing since sliced bread, when in fact he lacks even elementary skills of storytelling, or simply putting two scenes together. "Jiang Hu" plays more like a music video, where the most important thing is how "cool" the images look (about half the film seems to be in slow motion; add pretentious camera angles, and of course lots of rain) rather than narrative coherence or viewer involvement. The climactic set piece, the attack on Andy Lau's character, is a disaster: it's impossible to tell what's going on. The cast is good (including a small but touching performance by Yuan Lin), but wasted, because the director won't allow anyone to take the spotlight away from him. I'd give this film 0.5 out of 4 stars.

Nothing is more Original than Hong Kong Triad movies! Proof..!

[44to852 · 8/10 · 2 May 2005]

Style, class, intensity, mystery - loyalty?/betrayal? love for the art of film ...Jiang Hu is without a doubt a Simply TERRIFIC and ORIGINAL film! For those who have not seen this I will just say.. be Not critical of the film until you have reached the MAGNIFICENT ending!! At first the acting might seem poor from a few characters but it is the correct method to enhance the plot! You Will understand after - Promise!! Second of all this has to be one of the few rare movies to create such Depth in a single film, that will make you enjoy re-watching the film ..Straight after!! Even the credits show more depth to the film! Thirdly this shows the revival of consistency in great Hong Kong films! Like Infernal Affairs, there has not been a movie like Gong Wu (Cantonese title!) There is a SUPERB Twist at the end of this film, Andy Lau is Class! (The triads mole in Infernal Affairs!) In fact the whole cast is BRILLIANT! From the new talent to the veterans. I almost did not see this film because of the poor reviews given to it.. This is why i feel the need to have registered on this site (yes i'm a IMDb virgin) and tell the world how JIANG HU is simply another Amazing, Original/Anti Hollywood Triad film! I can Easily turn this review into a thesaurus of Compliments .... WATCH IT!

Very clever

[y0ud0ntseeme · 21 August 2004]

I find this movie to be very cleverly written and directed. IMDb has the wrong names however. Jacky Cheung's character is called Mr. Left not Left Hand and Shawn Yue's characters name is Yik. All that aside, I really liked this movie. It's not your typical triad movie with lots of fighting and no character development. Don't get me wrong there is some action in this movie but unlike most triad movies you actually care what happens to the characters. I loved the dinner scene where Hung and Lefty are talking and the room behind them seems to be moving in an odd fashion, maybe it was a play off their emotions but I thought it looked really cool.

I was a bit surprised by what this movie really was about. Because as you are watching it you think you know exactly what the movie is about and where its going, but the last 15-20 minutes gets you. You realize that you don't really know anything, everything you thought you knew is wrong.

Why so much flak for this film?

[simon_booth · 8/10 · 14 July 2004]

Jiang Hu seems to have met with surprisingly negative reviews for a new, all-star very slick gangster movie out of Hong Kong. Not too long, most fans were complaining that HK seemed to have stopped making this type of film altogether (and swearing that if they saw another romcom with Sammi Cheng they'd kill someone) - then we get one of the most interesting gangster films for years and everybody bitches. Go figure :p

Anyway, I thought the film was very enjoyable, with buckets of style and an above-average focus on character development. It suffers in places from trying to be too clever/cool for its own good (the moving table cam near the end was just ridiculous), and there's some awful acting (Chapman To especially), but there was also a lot to like (Jacky and Andy's performances for instance) and I found it compelling and entertaining to watch.

It should be noted that the film apparently ran into some trouble with the censors, and was substantially cut prior to release. There's a bunch of deleted scenes on the 2nd disc in the Mei Ah DVD, but unfortunately without subtitles. There was one particular scene, with Edison Chen and a dog, that isn't listed in the deleted scenes menu. However, if you choose "Play All" and skip to the end, you can see the scene. It's actually very short and I don't think it needed to be cut, and it does significantly hurt the plot development.

Anyway, if you miss the stylish HK gangster films of yore, be sure to check out Jiang Hu. It may not be the best of them, but it's definitely worth your time.

fantastic

[cheeky_monkey · 10/10 · 12 July 2004]

I have always preferred Asian action films over the standard Hollywood equivalent, and this film is a clear reason why. It doesn't rely on glossy action sequences that look good (although the fight scenes in this are superb all the same), it holds the audience with a compelling and emotive plot. Along with these points the acting is great and the script top drawer, some of the camera shot are unique, but the really exquisite moment is the twist which you can't see coming and is one of the best ever.

Anyway instead of me talking this up anymore you should just go out and get a copy!!

What is the film really about???

[gazebo · 14 September 2004]

First of all, I have to say, the acting in this film is aces! Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung are terrific as two best friends who are powerful gangsters. Edison Cheng and Shawn Yue are also very engaging to watch as two young men involved in the gangster underworld. The scenes, the camera work, the peculiarly cheery music playing in the background all add to the pure visual pleasure. This is a great stylish looking film. One of the most watchable scenes in this movie was simply Andy Lau's character and Jacky Cheung's character having a meal in an empty, elegant Italian restaurant. These two actors play off each other very well. It was riviting to watch them talk to each other.

But the story? I had trouble figuring out the story. I rented this movie without English subtitles and my understanding of cantonese is very general.

I watched it twice to figure out everything. The twist in the end is surprising but not very satisfying.

What I got from this movie was this: this is not really a typical Hong Kong gangster film. This film is really about the deep friendship and love (I mean the platonic kind) between two good friends.

Is this film worth watching? Absolutely. Is the story good? So so. Even though I was not particularly satisfied with the ending, I still think it's a film worth watching and enjoying.

Recommend a best movie and good actor

[jameswong-93991 · 10/10 · 4 June 2022]

One of the best movies in Hong Kong, full of unique movie shooting style, there is an actor who plays suicide in particular, his are superb acting, his name is Franco Wong Chi-ho from Hong Kong china .

Perhaps not the best movie, but genuinely cool experience.

[jysan2001 · 28 July 2004]

Before getting a copy of this, I looked into the details. Gangster movie? Cool. A hit on a mob boss? Interesting. Andy Lau? Even better. Jacky Cheung, Edison Chen, Eric Tsang, Wu Chien Lien, and Shawn Yu? Awesome.

I almost thought, "What is this, Infernal Affairs all over again?"

So I had pretty high expectations. I started the movie. I was pretty impressed throughout with the camera work. There was a definite style in this movie. But the movie seemed to head nowhere. I was more eager to see what happens in each scene rather than in the movie as a whole.

So it follows two punks about to kill and a mob boss trying to find his traitor. Big Deal. For an 85 minute movie it seemed to take forever to get there. And throughout most of the movie all I could think was, "So what? What does that have to do with anything?"

Then the ending hits. If you've read any of the other reviews, you'll know that it completely changes the whole movie. I have to admit, it was genuinely cool.

But should a movie completely hinge on a single plot twist? I think not, though I admit I can't really see how they could have done it any other way.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Despite the smart twist at the end, you will probably feel a little dissatisfied. However, if you want to see some stylish film-making, great acting, and find out what the plot twist is, definitely check it out. The movie is definitely made for the experience.

Looks clever

[harry_tk_yung · 23 June 2004]

Spoilers !!!

Written by a university undergraduate, the script for Jainghu came to the attention of the filmmakers through a competition. Producer Eric Tsang said in a radio interview that it was love at first sight with this clever story. The 24-year-old director chosen to make this movie has no commercial movie experience, but has made his mark by several controversial indy work, including Fu Bo which was highly acclaimed in the 2003 Hong Kong International Film Festival. With this combination, you would expect something new, even if the majority of the casts have been teleported from Wu Jian Dao.

The script could very well be a one-act play using a divided stage or some similar technique. Strip away the whistles and bells, it really hinges on one single clever twist, which, even with the spoiler warning, I'm not going to explicitly disclose. Suffices to say that in a small way, it tries to create the 'Sixth Sense' kind of shocking impact and, in a small way, achieves some results. The author being a young lady, the script does not build on the macho man bonding that is the foundation of so many John Woo films, but rather dwells on subtleties and titillating dialogue. Eric Tsang intimated that while 'jianghu' (literal translation 'rivers and lakes') usually refers to the gang-land world, and this movie is about the gang-land world, it is meant here to encompass intricate human relationships in a broader scope. For example, the back-stabbing applies, even if not literally, just as well to the business arena.

The director, obviously conscious of the fact that this is his first commercial endeavor, takes particular care with every single frame to give the audience something different, but not stray too far away from the mainstream. This does work sometimes, particularly in the crisp, efficient technique of omitting the key frame where the action actually takes place e.g. when Andy Lau hands a piece of fruit on the tip of a knife to his wife, or when the gangsters kill two small children. However, after watching the entire movie, one tends to feel on the whole that he is a little overboard with this style thing.

People talk about the influence of Godfather in Jianghu. Fact is, the baptism-and-murder montage has become so classical that to see it in one form of another in a movie is really no big deal (even Kitano Takeshi's 'Zatoichi' has it). Talking about similarities and influences, how about Big Fish, in the parallel development of stories in two time slots? Another example is the scene where physical aggression arouses sexual desire, referencing to a similar situation in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and, if a more literary example is needed, Robertson Davies' Deptford Trilogy, in the third book, World of Wonders.

Turning to the cast, cool Andy Lau is what you would always expect. Although there's no delight unlooked for, you won't be disappointed. The explosive Jackie Cheung, on the other hand, will make you sit up and pay attention, particularly if you remember him last in the mild-disposition school teacher in July Rhapsody. It's the spark between these two that is really enjoyable, especially in the long, stage-play like scene in the plush restaurant, a duel of words. It's also good to see the young pair continuing to improve since Wu Jian Dao. Shawn Yue finally got some fire in his belly, especially in the scene where he witnesses the killing of his brother. Edison Chan, on the other hand, tackles a more subtle character, playing second fiddle, but with the maturity of showing the seriousness behind the clowning. Must also mention Wu Chien-lien who, after a period of absence, appears in such radiant loveliness, even better than in her Tian RuoYou Qing days.

Although a little flashy, Jianghu is a good collaboration between two newcomers, giving the audience a freshness in an escape from banality.

Skip the critics and watch it

[daffygirl · 1 January 2005]

In my opinion, this movie is to Chinese cinema what the likes of Scarface and Taxi Driver and The Godfather are to American cinema. They're genre pieces, and many people who don't like that genre won't like the movie. And many who do like the genre will find some problem with it, too. But they are important classics that will leave footprints on whatever comes after. Therefore everyone needs to watch them and decide for themselves. I am in no way making a direct comparison between Jiang Hu and the American movies I listed. I know of nothing from Hollywood that directly compares. However I feel its following and its importance have yet to be discovered, and therefore have not been realized. It is shot beautifully, scripted masterfully and cast perfectly. And, if you have the chance, buy the special edition. The packaging and presentation are so absolutely top-shelf that I truly have not seen anything nearly this grand from any American distributor for ANY American movie. My friends will have to come to my house if they want to watch it. I refuse to loan it out.

Very interesting ending...But otherwise not worth the time.

[cosmo_kramer-3 · 12 December 2004]

I was very excited about this film when it was first introduced and had been dying to see it. There was a lot of hype surrounding the film, as the last time Andy Liu and Jacky Cheung, two of the most popular figures in Hong Kong pop culture, collaborated before was sixteen years ago, and the media kept reporting the effort and time the actors put into the film. However, just as the reports were on mundane details such as the hairstyles and the time put into the hairstyles, the movie was mundane at best.

The ensemble cast was great, gathering some of the most prominent figures in Hong Kong and Taiwan entertainment. In fact, the producers even convinced Wu Chien-Lien, who had not appeared in a Hong Kong produced film in a long time, to make a cameo to play Andy Liu's character's wife. However, it seemed that the movie planned to run on star power and paid little to no attention to the details. First of all, although the acting of the four main characters of the two different arcs were solid, Andy Liu and Jacky Cheung could be better, given their talents. Secondly, the supporting characters' acting were mediocre and even many were prominent names, they seemed to be misused and underutilized, thus making it feel like they were forgettable and unnecessary. For example, Eric Tsang, a very versatile actor who even won a Golden Horse Award (the equivalent to the Oscar in the Taiwan, Hong Kong and China sphere) and able to play many different characters while making them feel convincing, felt very one-dimensional here. In fact, he could be killed off and nobody would care. Next, the plot jumped from one story arc to another at what seemed to be the worst possible time, making the film feel confusing at times. Finally, the script, except the end and the restaurant scene where the mastermind of the whole plan was, was very formulaic and seemed like any other Hong Kong made crime thriller.

Still, compliments had to be given to the camera work and the ending. The camera work was excellent, giving the film a dark and mysterious aura that matched nicely with the plot and the tempo of the film. And the ending was excellent. It was very thought provoking and left the audience, if they still followed the film and did not get bored to death, something to think about. It gave the film a different perspective, which I personally appreciated, and made sense of the whole film. It was one of the best twists that I have seen in a while.

Overall, the film, until the ending, receives 5 out of 10. This maybe biased because I have seen too many films with the same kind of plots. With the ending, it is a 6 out of 10 film. Although the twist was great, it was just too late, as half of the audience probably would not care anymore. Watch it if you love Hong Kong produced crime thrillers and have the time. Otherwise, watch Infernal Affairs instead.

A Mesmerizing and Visually Stunning Film by Ching-Po Wong

[gradyharp · 10 September 2011]

TRIAD UNDERWORLD is a little masterpiece of cinema. Though it was made in 2004 it is only now available in this country courtesy of Palisade Tartan Asia Extremes, but the wait was well worth it. Not only is the story (as written by Chi-Long To and Director Ching-Po Wong) mesmerizing through out the film, but the fact that it pulls a Guy de Maupassant-type ending that takes the audience by complete surprise. The aspect that makes this film an art work is the extraordinary creative cinematography by Charlie Lam and Kenny Lam: every frame of film is like a masterpiece of lighting and brilliant use of colors that give clues to the characters and the story - shots taken from beneath a glass floor during a fight, interludes of a near blank black screen except for windows of carefully suggestive color and luminous lighting, extensive use of slow motion photography during the very choreographed fight sequences all contribute to the mood of the Hong Kong underworld in the finest manner. The musical score by Mark Lui also deserves special recognition: often soundless mayhem is accompanied by ballades using both Eastern and Western thematic material.

The story seems rather straightforward: Triad leader Hung Yan-jau (Andy Lau)'s wife gives birth to a baby boy, and event that causes Hung to consider considers leaving the world of the gangsters. Hung's closest lifelong friend Left Hand AKA Lefty (Jacky Cheung) reminds Hung that Hung has always said he would leave the crime world if he had a wife and child. Lefty is more the playboy and both Hung and Lefty own spectacular restaurants. Should Hung decide to leave, taking his wife (Chien-lien Wu) and newborn son to New Zealand then the head of the Triad would pass to Lefty. Despite disagreements the two men stick together, especially when it becomes known that two young members of a rival gang Wing (Shawn Yue) and Turbo (Edison Chen) are out to become the next leaders of Hong Kong's famous 'jiang- hu' underworld and they are ordered by the competitive gang to Triad to kill Hung. There are brutal encounters and balletic street fights that take place outside the seeming quiet elegant restaurant dinner being observed by Hung and Lefty in honor of Hung's newborn boy. And at the denouement the roles of all concerned are revealed in a terrifically exciting manner! What had seemed to be action inside and outside is actually an amalgam of past and present!

The cast is uniformly excellent and the pace of direction is impeccable in arriving at the surprising ending. But the true glory of this film is the cinematic magic: a more artistic use of film would be difficult to imagine. This is one of those movies that should be part of the libraries of audiences who love fine thrillers and art lovers who are keen on performance art. Highly recommended.

Grady Harp

First Anticipated HK film of 2004

[goodmen · 8 July 2004]

Major Star (like Fantasia), with more than half the main crews act in Infernal Affairs.

Plot: We quickly find out that Hung's (play by Andy Lau) lieutenants (Eric Tsang, Tsui Siu-Keung and Miu Kiu-Wai) are not that loyal or that great. A rumour is spread that someone wanted to kill him. Luckily he has a trusted yes heartless friend Jacky Cheung, who is nickname Leftie because his left hand doesn't work. Well in this movie it constantly change back, to another 2 best friends who want to make it in the triad world. Turbo (Edisen Chen) and his boss (friend actually) Yik (Shawn Yu), are given an assignment to hit a boss. Back to the Andy Lau case, his wife just given birth to a son and Jacky Cheung want him to retired and live a happy life...

A very stylist and cool film, the director really makes these characters shine by making them look cool. It makes you want to be a gangster too. Edisen Chen acts an amazing job in this movie and is showing he got some skill and not just some black wannabe. Shawn Yue like IA 2, did another fine job, though the chemistry between them were not has well has Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung. The main storyline was beautifully handle and entertaining, but a lot of subplot was not mention which I think a sequel can answer those.

Spoiler

A scene I don't like about the movie is how Edisen Chen get his hand busted