Director: Wai-Keung Lau, Alan Mak
Writer: Alan Mak, Felix Chong (Screenplay)
Starring: Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang, Carina Lau, Francis Ng, Edison Chen, Shawn Yue, Jun Hu
Plot: In this prequel to Mou gaan dou (2002), Chan Wing Yan has just become an undercover cop in the triads while Lau Kin Ming joins the police force. Both the triads and the police find an enemy in a rival crime boss.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Bringing Us Back to Beginning
Story: Infernal Affairs II starts by showing the relationship between SP Wong (Wong) and Hon Sam (Tsang) who we see on opposite sides of the law in the first film but with that twist we learn about the connection between the two. We move on to meet Officer Lau (Chen) who has finished his training but has to work his way up the police force while also following expelled candidate Chan Wing Yan (Yue) as he starts to make his way up the Triad ranks.
We see how Sam works with Lau to benefit the both of them trying to climb the ranks where Sam believes it is his time to run the Triads even if Lau is on his payback. We see how Wong is also trying to get to the next level within the police department with his plan to planet Yan inside the Triads. This is all building to where we were in the first film.
Infernal Affairs II puts us into the world where we know the final outcome but puts us into the how they got into the position they are in during the first film. We get to know how far they went and we see the how the connection were made. The twists from the first film get introduced in this one which is important because it doesn’t need to be ignored. In the end this is good introduction to the characters we know from the first outing.
Actor Review
Anthony Wong: SP Wong Chi Shing recruits Yan to be his undercover officers while already having connection with Sam as he looks to discover as much as possible about the Triads to keep them under control and improve his name within the force. Anthony does a good job in this role where we see the character get built on.
Eric Tsang: Hon Sam is just a low ranking member of the gangs, he wants to reach the top by planet Lau within the police force he has an upper hand on their raids while he looks to take over becoming the most powerful man in town. Eric is good in this role getting a lot more time on camera.
Edison Chen: Officer Lau Kin Ming has finished his training with the police academy and now it is time to start at the bottom within the force as he looks use his position to help Sam take over the criminal underworld. Edison is good in this role take over the role he only had a smaller part as in the first film.
Shawn Yue: Chan Wing Yan is the aspiring police officers who gets kicked out of the training program only to be recruited by Wong to go undercover for the department as they look to get the upper hand on the gangs. Shawn is great in this role and also taking over the small role well.
Support Cast: Infernal Affairs II has a good supporting cast that all make this a much bigger story happening.
Director Review: Wai-Keung Lau, Alan Mak – The pair continue their saga with this great addition to it.
Action: Infernal Affairs II has slick action throughout the film.
Crime: Infernal Affairs II brings us into the crime world that we know with more bosses than we met first time.
Thriller: Infernal Affairs II manages to bring us to the edge of our seats again even if we know where the four main characters end up going.
Settings: Infernal Affairs II uses the settings well again with this one.
Suggestion: Infernal Affairs II is one to watch as you look to continue the saga created here. (Watch)
Best Part: Wong and Sam relationship through the film.
Worst Part: We kind of know where it will be going.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: 2 out of 3
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 59 Minutes
Tagline: It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. We all climb towards heaven. We all fall towards hell.
Overall: Brilliant continuing story of the criminal underworld
Rating
