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When Spl came out in 2005, it was like a breath of fresh air in a decade full of derivative, rehashed Hong Kong movies. (I am looking at you Ronald Cheng) Save for the Infernal Affairs Trilogy, there were not many Hong Kong movies of note that weren’t over-the-top slapsticks or action movie that looked cut from the same cookie cutter. It was a far cry from the Tsui Hark, John Woo glory years of Hong Kong movies. In the Asian movie scene, Japanese and Korean movies began creeping up on the Hong Kong market share, even among the Chinese speaking audiences.

Spl changed all that. Not singlehandedly, in-a-blink-of-the-eye type of miracle. But it reminded movie goers of the best in Hong Kong movies, tension between triads and police, balls-to-the-wall action sequences, brilliant fight choreography and a charismatic action hero (Donnie Yen) that you want to cheer on.