Infernal Affairs

A little bit The Departed... by which I just mean this much: it's really a shame that I saw that movie before the "original". I guess even the ratings would have turned out differently. Perhaps. I really liked it and I'm glad I finally sat down to watch it. If I had been standing... :-) Definitely for those who like crime and aren't afraid of a familiar story. In short, a complete acting concert by the famous "four" (Andy, Tony, Anthony, Eric). (02/01/2009)

The scales we apply when evaluating a film are different for each individual, so we cannot blame anyone for being enthusiastic about something that others do not like. However, if the Hong Kong movie Internal Affairs narrowly surpasses Martin Scorsese's The Departed, it is not evidence of great cinephilic erudition among users of FilmBooster. Internal Affairs is definitely not a bad film. It is a professionally directed gangster flick with very decent performances and if I hadn't seen Scorsese's remake beforehand, I would seriously consider giving it four stars. However, The Departed overwhelmingly surpasses Internal Affairs in every aspect, as it is more elaborately developed with well-drawn characters and logically functions much better in its plot. Internal Affairs is significantly more popcorn-like, with more dynamic editing, and moves towards its goal at a much faster pace. It doesn't burden itself with the psychology of the characters and is only interested in providing a fair amount of entertainment. Especially with its pathetic ending, Internal Affairs perfectly aligns with the expectations of the audience in line with the studio system, where the American version is dirtier and rawer. Where the villain Ming promises redemption to his girl and desires to do good, his American counterpart would reluctantly, but without hesitation, kill his love... Overall impression: 65%. (24/04/2010)

A truly excellent thriller, which pleasantly surprised me by keeping the action in the background and pulling out the perfect direction, which, with few exceptions, is sufficient without brutality and wild shootings and works only with hints and "independent" blurring of the narrative line into a seemingly incoherent stream of cuts and space-time jumps. The exposition part may be "shattered" too much and it takes a long time for the viewer to get oriented in the tangle of retrospectives and details, but then the perfectly balanced story of two double agents (each on a different side of the barricade) gets going wonderfully. The central duo is probably best captured by the environment in which they live - Inspector Lau in a well-furnished household with a pretty girlfriend, the heron Yan always on the run, from which he finds escape only on the roofs of houses and in the chair of his psychologist. The perfect atmosphere is ensured by a very specific and modern camera, as well as excellent acting and the musical undertone. Infernal Affairs is not a straightforward thriller. It plays with decent hints, it does not lead to a linear ending, but it questions good and evil and it can even surprise us with a quality twist. Although it is no colossus of thought or a particularly thoughtful labyrinth, it works exactly like a watch and is able to engulf via its special civil tone. (03/04/2006)

Infernal Affairs is a high-quality crime drama with standard subject matter, but with an unexpected outcome. The motif of a duel between two men on opposite sides of the law, each empowered by the other, is Woo-esque, albeit without amazing Woo-eque action. The characters are thoroughly well developed, as is the dynamic visual aspect, even in the peaceful scenes. One of the exemplary works of its kind, enhanced with an intellectual dimension that won’t exactly put a smile on your face. (26/04/2005)

There’s hardly any action, which I consider a fatal flaw in an action movie. And it’s not even saved by the interestingly constructed, though in essence banal, plot. The characters are well portrayed and you’ll whether you like Eastern mysticism and gimmicks or not, but that is the only positive aspect I found, the rest is boredom and mediocrity. Very average movie, I don't understand the high ratings, but that's normal here. (27/02/2010)