Watching Dragon, Hidden Growler

INDEX

Many Chinese and East Asian films are very successful due to their fantastic creativity and innovation.

Here are a selection that deserve your attention.

Rawle Austin presents...

Infernal Affairs II (or Wu jian dao II)

[NOTE: This is my last film review before I leave for China for three months teaching English and experiencing the country (August 2004)] Before I start this review, a quick recap of the first installment. Infernal Affairs was the story of two men whose paths cross in extraordinary ways to a bitter ending. In an imaginative plot twist you will be on the edge of your seat waiting for one to meet the other. Make no mistake; this is one of the best films I’ve seen for a long time. It’s an intense thriller with stunning performances by all and the climax really pays off. During that film we were treated to a brief flashback scene showing both men in their younger days.

Spoken throughout in Cantonese language with English subtitles, Infernal Affairs II is basically a prequel to the first film, which highlights those early days for both men and sets the scene for the story to come.

Set between 1991 and 1997 in the last days before the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China, it shows all the old gangster elements fighting for survival and operating turf before a new law regime begins.

By using many of the same actors seen in the original movie and flashback scenes this gives both films a cohesive, satisfying feel.

Both men join the force at the same time but actor Edison Chen who plays undercover cop Chen Wing Yan leaves soon after. He takes up a long-term secret infiltration of the local triad organization and charts his journey through the gangster ranks. Actor Shawn Yue plays triad mole Lau Kin Ming who becomes a highly trusted member of the police force.

Both actors are teenage heartthrobs in Hong Kong. This is the second part of a trilogy that I feel will be bigger than the Godfather movies and other similar films.

You also get the see the early relationship of Inspector Wong (Anthony Wong) and Triad boss Sam (Eric Tsang), which starts off well but soon, devolves into a real hatred.

Their interaction is crucial to the story.

All the other supporting characters add much weight to the overall piece.

This is a sequel that at the very least is equal to the original if not surpassing it for breathtaking entertainment.

Given the subject matter there is a degree of violence peppered throughout the film, which dutifully serves to drive the plot forward rather than being there for the sake of it.

The directors Anthony Lau Wai-Keung and Alan Mak Siu-Fai have crafted a masterpiece set in modern day urban Hong Kong with stylized scenes and a perfect soundtrack to compliment the various moods.

At the time of writing Infernal Affairs III has just been released in Hong Kong.

This is one trilogy you do not want to miss.

Whether you watch this film individually or back-to-back with the others you will thoroughly enjoy the experience.

Running time: 119mins, Certificate: 18

2046 - A Review>

<The Emperor and the Assassin - A Review

Check out Dianying.com for an extensive database of Chinese films.

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