Infernal Affairs (2002)

An inspiration for "The Departed", but better!

I have to say that after I saw "The Departed", "Infernal Affairs" is a masterpiece compared to Martin Scorce's adaptation. Although both plots are extremely similar, "The Departed" was filled with so many long and unnecessary scenes and useless dialogue about nothing which helped to move the plot or understand why the characters do what they do. With I.A. and its prequel and sequel, you get a whole sequence of events that all tie together. All three films are filled with deep psychology and suspense. A must see. I'd choose this over the Departed any day. June 21, 2008

The GREATEST movie I have yet to see!

Infernal Affairs has to be the greatest movie I have seen. It was brilliantly directed, wonderful storyline and such great acting by Andy Lau & Tony Leung Chiu-Wa. We need more beautiful, crime, thriller movies like Infernal Affairs instead of that cheap stuff we get from Hollywood. I will not get into the details about the movie, but I think it's a movie for those who love drama, crime, and thriller

This masterpiece was horribly ruined by a director whom I used to think was great: Martin Scorsese - he thought it would be a good idea to adapt the movie into an American version. Turns out that idea was bad. The Departed was garbage, if you think that's good, you need to throw that trash straight to the recycling bin! I will not get into the details here, since this review is based on Infernal Affairs.

Once again, the movie was a masterpiece, definitely an instant classic.

5 of 5 March 18, 2008

"Wait. I will be the good guy in the story."

Directed by Andrew Lau, "Infernal Affairs" is a slick and subtle portrait of what can happen when ruthless honesty meets ruthless corruption--each hiding behind the guise of the other. Influenced by the Buddhist culture of Hong Kong and deeply rooted in the ingenious concept of two undercovers: one a cop become gangster and the other a gangster become cop, each trying to find the other from within their very uncomfortable frameworks.

This tortuous situation throws both, Andy Lau as Inspector Lau Kin Ming, the dirty cop who seems to be realizing the futility of his depravity as he carries it out, and Tony Leung Chiu Wai as Chan Wing Yan, a weary veteran undercover cop who grows tired of the double life he leads but also seems to accept it with a strange calm, as though his fate has already been chosen for him.

Anthony Wong Chau-Sang is probably the best actor in the entire film as Superintendent Wong Chi Shing: he has a sort of hard-faced, melancholy decency coupled with an iron will to defeat his opponent Eric Tsang, the crime boss who heads the mafia-like drugdealing group which has infiltrated the police department. His end is particularly bad.

Disaster after disaster occur until the unbelievable final one, which you will not see coming unless you've had the misfortune of some idiot already telling you in an excited frenzy; it is not conventional Hollywood fare to say the very least. Despite the very ugly realities which the film deals with, there is something ethereal and philosophical about many of the scenes here: Ming's longing for having chosen a different path in life, his idolatry of Yan's good nature even while he works against it--and the horrific symphony at the end. The symbolism is never heavy-handed and always comes off right.

This is a completely different film than "The Departed". Though the concept may be the same and some of the scenes are identical, Scorsese's version takes place in a completely different sociocultural environment and has completely different characters. It is also darker and much more brutal. Comparisons are unproductive and though it is a riveting experience, I'm not sure why so many people consider this version "better". In any case, this is a must see and proof that Asian cinema hasn't been completely hijacked by John Woo. January 22, 2008

Gripping crime thriller....

This is the original smash-hit Hong Kong inspiration for "The Departed"...only 50 times better. An absolute must see. Tony Leung is great in this and even the often stiff Andy Lau deserves some credit. Anthony Wong Chau-Sang and the always energetic Eric Tsang both take the cake for their superb acting.
One thing that just irked me is the hot chick on the cover of the Miramax re-release of the DVD. That piece of arse is none other than Elva Hsiao (or Siu if you prefer Cantonese). She's a famous Taiwanese singer and *snicker ahem* "actress". Elva was in the movie for no more than a total of 5 minutes. Then why is she on the cover? Hey, sex sells. Slap a hot girl on the cover of anything and it'll sell. Only problem is, "Infernal Affairs" is an awesome movie that has nothing to do with sex and stands in its own right. December 21, 2007

Way Better than the departed

Get this instead of the departed. This is the original story and it is superior to the departed. Great movie and well worth your money. September 15, 2007

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