Infernal Affairs on DVD (2002)

Traitors, traitors everywhere. This Hong Kong blockbuster shows us how Cop dramas should be done.

theOneliner.com from Truth or Consequences, Scotland , 15/03/2004

Adds a few embellishments to the cops vs. mobsters genre that makes it more thought provoking than the usual throwaway nonsense. While Lau (Tony Leung) is busy infiltrating the mobsters on behalf of the police, Ming (Andy Lau) is an undercover gangster working his way up the police ranks allowing his boss Sam (Eric Tsang) to stay one step ahead of other mobsters and the police. The usual undercover cop torment of the 'good guy in a gangsters role' is given an novel counterpoint by Ming's doubts over his choice of lifestyle, although it also packs enough action into it's tightly told story to ensure it doesn't become a rambling treatise on the nature of being. The cast list is a who's who of the HK A-list and all perform to their high expectations with Wai Keung Lau directing some of the best action since John Woo's neutering at Hollywoods hands, with any deaths on either side feeling as though they have real consequence compared to the astronomical body counts of some efforts. Highly recommended.

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The old switcheroo

B Cooke from London , 04/05/2004

Film viewing is a hit and miss business. Half the time when I walk out of a cinema I'm thinking about various ways to get my money back.

Not so with this little beauty.

Basically, two young men are recruited to infiltrate their opponents (the police and a gang respectively). They do not know who the other is, only that they exist. Lies, deceit and brutal violence follow. No one is exempt no matter how much screen time they occupy.

The premise feels so original and interesting it had me thinking about it for days afterwards.

I'm certain that we'll see a Hollywood remake of this sooner or later.

Watch it now and you'll be able to say, 'I saw the original'.

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a hong kong classic

Craig from Durham [Highly rated reviewer] , 15/07/2004

this film is quite simply of one the best hong kong films i have seen in a long time.

infernal affairs has been described in many film mags as being like Michael Mann's Heat. In many ways, this is true but the film is far more than that.

A tale of two moles on both sides of the law (a mole on the police force working for a triad boss and a police informer in the triad gang)you can somehow expect this film to be remade by hollywood sooner or later.

I feel the film is a slow burner and contains very little action. But when the action happens it does have an emotional impact. Something Hong Kong films tend to do better than Hollywood.

I still rate this film 5 stars. It has Hong Kongs finest actors and the ending...ha let's say its not what you expect.

A marvellous film.

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Arguably the best 'cop' film ever made

Aman1 from Middlesex , 06/08/2004

Barring L.A. Confidential, the ‘cop’ genre is one that Hollywood seems to continually do wrong, so it not surprising to find a movie which is arguably the best film this genre has ever seen, appear from abroad.

It is very hard to make a good ‘cop’ film, let alone a ‘great’ one. Far too many contain too much testosterone, and the slower ones are simply boring. This film balances subtlety and action to perfection. In fact, there is far less action than you may expect. But the action that is there, is fast-paced and very effective.

Yan and Ming are played masterfully by Andy Lau and Tony Leung. It is quite rare to see two performances that are so commanding, and the few scenes that we see them together are electrifying. This film also has a sharp sense of humour, that manages to come across even in the subtitles!

The director seems to have an intuitive sense in knowing what the perfect shot is, and some of his camera work helps this film to transcend its genre.

The plot is gripping and intelligent, and with a prequel just released in the cinema, and another film in the pipe works, these films could stand tall next to The Godfather trilogy.

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Traitors, traitors everywhere. This Hong Kong blockbuster shows us how Cop dramas should be done.

theOneliner.com from Truth or Consequences, Scotland , 15/03/2004

Adds a few embellishments to the cops vs. mobsters genre that makes it more thought provoking than the usual throwaway nonsense. While Lau (Tony Leung) is busy infiltrating the mobsters on behalf of the police, Ming (Andy Lau) is an undercover gangster working his way up the police ranks allowing his boss Sam (Eric Tsang) to stay one step ahead of other mobsters and the police. The usual undercover cop torment of the 'good guy in a gangsters role' is given an novel counterpoint by Ming's doubts over his choice of lifestyle, although it also packs enough action into it's tightly told story to ensure it doesn't become a rambling treatise on the nature of being. The cast list is a who's who of the HK A-list and all perform to their high expectations with Wai Keung Lau directing some of the best action since John Woo's neutering at Hollywoods hands, with any deaths on either side feeling as though they have real consequence compared to the astronomical body counts of some efforts. Highly recommended.

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Azad#1 from LONDON , 26/10/2004

solid, satisfying thriller, with some good characterisation and urban action, not a bad nights viewing

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