brandon 1Infernal Affairs (2002)
March 14th 2008 05:00
I did not realize that The Departed (2006), directed by Martin Scorsese was a re-make of Hong Kong film, Infernal Affairs (2002). I liked The Departed and now that I’ve seen what it was based on, I am happy to say that the two films are as good as each other.
Both films follow the same plot, with some minor story changes. A rookie cop, Chan Wing Yan (Tony Leung Chiu Wai), goes undercover to infiltrate Hon Sam’s (Eric Tsang) gang of criminals. Meanwhile, one of Hon Sam’s underlings, Lau Kin Ming (Andy Lau) becomes a mole in the police force. The movie shows the two moles’ struggle to keep their identities a secret. Andy Lau is great as a morally bankrupt and career driven police inspector who secretly works for a crime boss. Tony Leung Chiu Wai is equally good as a man struggling to keep his sanity and hold onto his identity as a cop, both literally and philosophically.
Speaking of philosophy, Infernal Affairs takes a slightly more philosophical slant on the story. The original Chinese title means, ‘the non-stop path’, which refers to the lowest level of hell in Buddhism. It is suggested that the character of Lau Kin Ming’s is suffering through his own self torture from guilt- his own personal hell. Inspector Lau’s unknowing girlfriend continues to mention the book she is writing, about a man who is schizophrenic, which is an interesting way to interject spurts of narration and observation throughout the movie.
I don’t blame Scorsese for wanting to remake this. I can imagine him watching the film and thinking of how he can give it his own sense of grittiness. The Departed is more gritty and dirty. It accentuated the undercover cop’s degrading sanity, and made the undercover criminal more smug and detestable. Infernal Affairs has more of a hint of melodrama. For instance, the romantic sweeping string soundtrack that backs scenes with Chan Wing Yan and his psychiatrist, and the fact that the audience is given the chance to sympathize, at least a little bit, with Inspector Lau Kin Ming.
Infernal Affairs has an involving plot with characters that have depth. It is rife with suspense and it had me hooked from beginning to end.
4 out of 5
You mole!
Both films follow the same plot, with some minor story changes. A rookie cop, Chan Wing Yan (Tony Leung Chiu Wai), goes undercover to infiltrate Hon Sam’s (Eric Tsang) gang of criminals. Meanwhile, one of Hon Sam’s underlings, Lau Kin Ming (Andy Lau) becomes a mole in the police force. The movie shows the two moles’ struggle to keep their identities a secret. Andy Lau is great as a morally bankrupt and career driven police inspector who secretly works for a crime boss. Tony Leung Chiu Wai is equally good as a man struggling to keep his sanity and hold onto his identity as a cop, both literally and philosophically.
Speaking of philosophy, Infernal Affairs takes a slightly more philosophical slant on the story. The original Chinese title means, ‘the non-stop path’, which refers to the lowest level of hell in Buddhism. It is suggested that the character of Lau Kin Ming’s is suffering through his own self torture from guilt- his own personal hell. Inspector Lau’s unknowing girlfriend continues to mention the book she is writing, about a man who is schizophrenic, which is an interesting way to interject spurts of narration and observation throughout the movie.
I don’t blame Scorsese for wanting to remake this. I can imagine him watching the film and thinking of how he can give it his own sense of grittiness. The Departed is more gritty and dirty. It accentuated the undercover cop’s degrading sanity, and made the undercover criminal more smug and detestable. Infernal Affairs has more of a hint of melodrama. For instance, the romantic sweeping string soundtrack that backs scenes with Chan Wing Yan and his psychiatrist, and the fact that the audience is given the chance to sympathize, at least a little bit, with Inspector Lau Kin Ming.
Infernal Affairs has an involving plot with characters that have depth. It is rife with suspense and it had me hooked from beginning to end.
4 out of 5
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I loved Infernal Affairs, it was involvolving and provided food for thought later.
The Departed was Ok but lacked the necessary punch I expect from Scorsese.
Comment by Cibbuano
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Infernal Affairs, though, fantastic. Even the second one, which is not great, seems exciting because of the first movie..