Now this is how a remake should be like.

Rating: 9/10 (17 October 2006)

Now this is how a remake should be like. Not too long ago I went with a friend to see this movie not exactly expecting much of it as it was a remake, and as they say, Hollywood version of an already great smash hit Asian movie tend to suck major ass. However that didn't stop me from going as the director of this piece of movie was no other than Martin Scorcese himself. A master director in my mind. I walked out of that cinema and thought, yep, this was actually better than the original.
Infernal Affairs appear more stylised than The Departed. In fact the reason why I liked The Departed more is because of Scorcese's style and cinematography. TD appears more gritty and realistic than in IA. When I watched IA again, I just can't help but think that everything in it was just glamorised. Even the fight scenes, they just didn't shout 'gritty' to me. I'm blaming this on the use of colour and lighting. Most of the time the settings of the locales are in some sterilised environment with tall skyscrapers and buildings. The colours blue and silver seems to be the film's favourite which creates a more modern day feel to it. Scorcese is renowned for his usual dark settings. In TD it was more 50/50 imo but that didn't really bring me down. Some parts of TD where they show the pivotal scenes was actually portrayed more realistically and more believable than in IA. For instance the part where Martin Sheen's character fell from the rooftop seemed more realistic. No music was played to coincide with the scene and that is what makes it more believable, although I do have to say the presentation and portrayal of that particular scene in IA was tapping more on the emotional side with its use of a melodic song to go with that scene.
In IA the film actually wants to go somewhere, as in it actually wants to move on to the next scene. Whereas in TD it primarily focuses on the development of the two moles. You could say that TD incorporates both IA1 and 2 into the frame. Some viewers may find that the development of these two characters tend to drag on a bit but I personally think that this sets a good ending with their minds being psychologically motivated in capturing and exposing one another. Like I said before, TD is more realistic so presentation wise, it wasn't 'perfectly' set out and co-ordinated in a fixed linear pattern compared to IA. But this is what I like about TD and Scorcese's style and cinematography. The fact that everything is hectic and fast paced shows how chaotic the world around them is and this is what he is exactly trying to convey to us. In IA it just seems like a more perfect world tbh. Everything seems so orderly and 'peaceful' in a way (even though its not).
The music in TD also conveys to us how chaotic and gritty the world is. In some scenes we hear a piece of Irish song played and then it immediately cuts off afterwards. Again this shows how the world and the characters in this film isn't set out on a pre-destined path. The film wants to show us how life is unpredictable, it wants us to feel that there is an ulterior motive or a different agenda to any of the scenes. And this unable us to think what is going to happen next. However since I've seen the original version, I already knew whats going to happen but it is that what distinguishes itself from the original.
I was surprised that it was an all star cast. Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Leonardo Di Caprio, Jack Nicholson and Ray Winston. I just thought, woah, I really do hope that this movie will turn out to be a great movie. I didn't want them to pull a Troy on this one. And I wasn't let down. The cast were amazing. Great actors in the frame especially Ray Winston's character. But my initial thoughts on Jack Nicholson playing a mobster leader was a little sceptical. I always see him as a deranged serial killer or eccentric/madman. And thats what actually put me off in this film. I'm guessing its the smile on his face and his frizzy hair cut. It just shouted 'MADMAN' at me. Most of the time you usually get mobsters being displayed as a calm, cool headed, confident and authoritative fella. Here you seen him as your quite chubby womanising smooth talking uncle, if you have an uncle like that that is. He didn't really have that authoritative figure but hey, neither does IA's mob leader. It's more about the actions that they did, the dialogue they used which makes them appear sort of like a mob leader.
But overall the whole movie was great. Watch the original if you get the chance and you can make comparisons for yourself. You may like the original more than this as some members on this board have already stated.