I didn't like itInfernal Affairs
March 7th 2008 23:40
Infernal Affairs is Hong Kong film upon which the original of the Oscar winning remake The Departed is based.
I had the choice between watching the original and the Hollywood version - I chose the original. To be honest I had low expectations of Infernal Affairs even though I knew it had received widespread critial acclaim - the reason being most Hong Kong action films I've watched have been B-grade. The premises are good, but in my experience the production values are pretty low grade and the genre confused.
But I was so pleasantly surprised with Infernal Affairs, and especially Andy Lau's acting.
The story is about Yan (Tony Leung - Leo di Caprio is his Hollywood counterpart) who is handpicked from cadet school to infiltrate one of the Triads and Ming (Andy Lau - Matt Damon plays this role in The Departed) who has been recruited as a teenager by Triad Boss Sam to infiltrate the police force. Yan is mentored and controlled by the police chief and Ming by Sam. The film is essentially about Ming's struggle between good and evil. Yan's character is a bit more straight forward. He knows who he is and what his mission is. Once both side figure out the other has planted a mole deep within each organization, the fun and games begin.
I was on the edge of my seat for most of this film. It is definitely one of the best action films I've seen. Would Ming reform? Would the good guys win? Does Yan ever get a chance to leave the triad?
One thing that I felt could have been fleshed out a lot more are the female roles (Yan's ex-lover, Ming's partner and Yan's psychologist). They were rather token but if they had been fleshed out would have been really interesting. It was a very testosterone pumped film and the women's role could have been developed as they all played a pivotal role in the plot - even though their screen time probably totals less than ten minutes.
I really liked the ending, though people in mainland China, Singapore and Malaysia would have seen a different ending. Apparently this alternative ending was made to appease censors.
Which ending did you see?
I had the choice between watching the original and the Hollywood version - I chose the original. To be honest I had low expectations of Infernal Affairs even though I knew it had received widespread critial acclaim - the reason being most Hong Kong action films I've watched have been B-grade. The premises are good, but in my experience the production values are pretty low grade and the genre confused.
But I was so pleasantly surprised with Infernal Affairs, and especially Andy Lau's acting.
The story is about Yan (Tony Leung - Leo di Caprio is his Hollywood counterpart) who is handpicked from cadet school to infiltrate one of the Triads and Ming (Andy Lau - Matt Damon plays this role in The Departed) who has been recruited as a teenager by Triad Boss Sam to infiltrate the police force. Yan is mentored and controlled by the police chief and Ming by Sam. The film is essentially about Ming's struggle between good and evil. Yan's character is a bit more straight forward. He knows who he is and what his mission is. Once both side figure out the other has planted a mole deep within each organization, the fun and games begin.
I was on the edge of my seat for most of this film. It is definitely one of the best action films I've seen. Would Ming reform? Would the good guys win? Does Yan ever get a chance to leave the triad?
One thing that I felt could have been fleshed out a lot more are the female roles (Yan's ex-lover, Ming's partner and Yan's psychologist). They were rather token but if they had been fleshed out would have been really interesting. It was a very testosterone pumped film and the women's role could have been developed as they all played a pivotal role in the plot - even though their screen time probably totals less than ten minutes.
I really liked the ending, though people in mainland China, Singapore and Malaysia would have seen a different ending. Apparently this alternative ending was made to appease censors.
Which ending did you see?
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Another fine review of a quality film.
I enjoyed Infernal Affairs more than the Departed just for its rougher edges. Andy Lau is a great perfromer too, several of his films are in my collection.