Mou gaan dou

Plot synopsis:
Infernal Affairs focuses on a police officer named Chen Wing-Yan (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai), who goes deep undercover into the Triad society, and Triad member Lau Kin-Ming (Andy Lau Tak-Wah), who infiltrates the police department. Each mole was planted by the rival organization to gain an advantage in intelligence over the other side. The more the moles become involved in their undercover lives, the more issues they have to cope with.The Prologue opens with the introduction of Hon Sam (Eric Tsang Chi-Wai), a Triad boss and the primary antagonist of the film. Sam is sending a number of young, green gangsters to the police academy as molesamongst them is one called Lau Kin-Ming (whose younger version is portrayed by Edison Chen Koon-Hei). At the same time another person named Chen Wing-Yan (whose younger version is portrayed by Shawn Yue Man-Lok) is shown joining the police force. Although he manages to impress the Superintendent Wong Chi-Shing (Anthony Wong Chau-Sang) and the police academy principal Yip, Yan is expelled from the academy. In reality Yan becomes an undercover reporting directly to only Wong and Yip. Yan's undercover job becomes stressful while Ming quickly climbs the ladder in the police department.The film begins after Yan and Ming converse at a hi-fi store where Yan works, neither of them knowing who the other is. Soon after, Yan attends a funeral. It is revealed that Yip has recently died and that Superintendent Wong remains as the only person who could identify Yan as a cop. Later a deal between Hon Sam and a Thai cocaine dealer is interrupted by Superintendent Wong and his team due to Yan's tip-off using Morse Code. However, Ming alerted Sam of the bust with enough time for Sam to order his minions Tsui Wai-Keung (Chapman To Man-Chat) and Del Piero (Dion Lam Dik-On) to dispose of the cocaine so the police would not have any real evidence on the drug deal. Now, both Wong and Sam realize that they each have a mole within their respective organizations, putting them in a race against time to root out the other mole.Later, Sam converses with Ming at a cinema with Yan watching. As Sam and Ming leave, Yan tries to follow Ming. At the crucial moment, Yan's phone rings and he is forced to back off, thus losing his chance to capture Ming.At the same time, Yan and Ming are both struggling with their double identities. Yan is starting to lose faith in himself as a cop after being a gangster for ten years; while Ming, on the other hand, becomes more and more used to the life of a righteous police officer and wants to erase his criminal background.Yan meets SP Wong a second time on the same rooftop unaware that Ming has his subordinate, CIB Inspector B (Gordon Lam Ka-Tung) and his team tracking him down. Sam, after getting intel from Ming, sends Keung, Del Piero and a gang of henchmen to confront them. Inspector B informs Ming and he sends an OCTB squad to attempt to save Wong. Yan eventually escapes the building by taking the crane but Wong is caught by Del Piero and is thrown off the roof. As Yan is about to escape, he witnesses Wong's fall to death, and is stunned. As the police close in, a shootout between the police and Triads breaks out, resulting in the death of 3 Triads, one of whom is Del Piero. In the aftermath of the gunfight, the OCTB squad arrives with Ming and Wong's second-in-command Inspector Cheung (Berg Ng Ting-Yip) on the scene, but they are too late to save Wong. Yan and Keung manage to escape from the gunfight. As Keung drives away with Yan, he crashes the car, and finding that he is wounded from the gun battle, Keung dies in Yan's arms.Eventually, Ming retrieves Wong's old cellphone and makes contact with Yan. They reach a deal to foil another one of Sam's drug deals. Inspector Cheung does not want to cooperate with the operation at first because of Wong's death, but he is later convinced by Ming to go ahead with the operation. With Yan's help, Sam's drug deal is interrupted and Sam is killed by Ming. Many of Sam's other gangsters are arrested. Everything seems to work according to the plan: Yan could now return to his true identity as a police officer and Ming has successfully erased his criminal connections by eradicating Sam and his gangs. However, back at the police station, Yan discovers Ming was the mole, and leaves immediately. Ming realizes what has happened, and erases Yan's identity from the police computer records. Yan spends an evening with his therapist Lee (Kelly Chen), whom he was falling in love with, and sends a compact disc to Ming which is inadvertently intercepted by his wife Mary (Sammi Cheng Sau-Man) with a recording that Sam kept between himself and Ming. The two agree to meet on the rooftop of the building where Wong was murdered earlier. Yan disarms Ming without resistance. Yan holds a gun to Ming's head as rebuke and as reply to Ming's plea for forgiveness to remain a policeman. Inspector B arrives on the scene shortly afterwards and commands Yan to release his boss.The film ends with Yan entering a lift backwards with Ming hostage, when he is suddenly shot in the head and killed by Inspector B as he moved his head from behind Ming. Inspector B reveals that he was also a mole for Sam. He asks Ming to watch out for him, since their boss is already dead. As he and Ming enter the lift going down to the lobby, Ming shoots Inspector B dead, likely out of his desire to eradicate traces of his past and become a "good guy" police officer.The original ending climaxes with Ming identifying himself to the police as an officer, and paying homage to Yan at his funeral, where he is buried next to Superintendent Wong. Inspector Cheung and Dr Lee are present as well. A flashback reaffirms the point that Ming wished he had taken a different route in his life.Alternate EndingThe alternate ending has Ming exit the lift to be informed by Inspector Cheung that the police force have found evidence that he was a mole. He hands them his badge and is arrested without protest.

Tags: mystery, realism, violence, flashback, inspiring, suspenseful

Review:
- and music to the graceful ying-yang undertones (mirror-images are a key theme), the film's most heroic achievement lies in its leads and in the bold ending.Hearing that this is being considered for a remake stateside comes as no big surprise, but how Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio could possibly compete against Andy Lau and Tony Leung evokes cynicism at best.
As a minimum, I hope the great director Scorcese will make good use of the major plot line and generate a haute thriller and with the excellent cast, develop some in-depth characterization.
The plot may well have the occasional hole and have unnecessary personal details (Lau's girlfriend and Chan's ex weren't really needed) but the central story is well written and told with such urgency that it is hard not to be totally engaged.The film doesn't have many massive shoot outs or action scenes but it has a pretty consistent sense of tension that is enjoyable right up to a typical but impacting ending.
It may owe more to American cinema than that of the Orient but it is still a very good film and I hope the inevitable remake will be as good.The cast don't need to do that much apart from look intense and portray the tension of the story in a realistic fashion - something that they do well.
Chen and Cheng may not have a great deal to do apart from slowing the film but they both look good doing it.Overall this is a solidly enjoyable cop thriller, regardless of what country it comes from.
So I am putting in my piece.Hong Kong movies have changed a lot in the last decade and when Infernal Affairs came out it was a real change.
After I enjoyed Martin Scorcese's "The Departed, I decided to watch the film that inspired the celebrated director to re-make it and move the action from Hong Kong to Boston, MA, USA.
I must say that I liked the original movie better: 50 minutes shorter than Scorcese's magnificent remake, "Infernal Affairs" is tighter, faster, more compelling and tells the same story better.
It does not have a grand acting Jack Nicholson who basically plays Daryl Van Horne with the attitude and "Infernal Affairs" characters don't talk and don't curse as much as they do in "The Departed" but the Hong Kong's movie only benefits from it.
I'm late in discovering the Hong Kong crime thriller genre so I can only compare "Infernal Affairs (Mou gaan dou))" to its Hollywood compatriots.
Infernal Affairs: 9/10A brilliant cop movie out of Hong Kong, with a sublime plot and great acting by the two leads Andy Lau and Tony Leung (an indescribably great actor).
None of them bothered to discover that "The Departed" was a remake of this movie.Happily, some of the classic lines such as chopping one up and feeding him to the poor survived the Hollywood chopping block, but the fabulous method of communicating secretly via Morse Code did not make the transition from Hong Kong to Hollywood.My suggestion: if you loved this original, then do not disappoint yourself watching the Hollywood remake..
Eric Tsang and Anthony Wong both turn in performances that buttress the theme of dichotomy as two weathered veterans, engaged in a human chess match with the lives of their protégées at stake.The story revolves around a would-be officer, played by Leung, a former academy standout, hand-picked to infiltrate the Triads for an indefinite amount of time.
Probably the main thing that kept me glued to the screen was the performances of the two leads, especially Andy Lau, I am not too familiar with his work, you know I have just recently been introduced to Asian films(thanks to Ain't It Cool News for pointing this one out along with Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance) he is amazing, his face alone can hold a scene.
Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Anthony Wong and Eric Tsang all give excellent performances with Tony Leung's tortured undercover cop character completely owning the film.
However, one hopes that with Scorsese at the helm the film can only get better (even though 'Gangs of New York' was horrible).This movie is a must watch for people who've followed triad movies in Hong Kong, and is at least worth a rental.
Every shot of this movie is well done, every actor does know to play (Oh my God, putting Andy Lau, Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang, Edison Chen, Shawn Yue & Tony Leung is just making the DREAM TEAM !).
However, I couldn't do so until I had seen the 2002 Hong Kong film upon which it was based, 'Mou gaan dou {Infernal Affairs},' directed by Wai-keung Lau and Siu Fai Mak. Fortunately, not too long ago, my local movie rental store was having a sale on their superfluous VHS tapes, at a price of $2.00 apiece.
'Infernal Affairs' combines an irresistible story of intrigue, loyalty and betrayal with some extremely slick editing and camera-work; it's no surprise that the film has acquired an impressive following in the West.Tony Leung plays Chan Wing Yan, an overwrought undercover cop who has spent the last ten years infiltrating numerous dangerous gangs and exposing their criminal dealings.
There are certainly countless parallels to be drawn between the characters, but what struck me most were the contrasts between the two: Ming is a cold, devoted and ruthlessly efficient, whilst Yan has been reduced to a tired and neurotic wreck after a decade of living in fear.The plot of 'Infernal Affairs' moves forward at a ripper pace, probably owing more to Western action cinema than that from its own region.
Renowned directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak delivered a visionary art form of action and suspense in the Hong Kong award-winning masterpiece, INFERNAL AFFAIRS that takes you into the world of organized crime and police corruption.A Superintendent (Anthony Wong- John Woo's HARD BOILED, BLACK MASK and THE MEDALLION) recruits a rookie cop ("Tony" Leung Chui-Wai- Jet Li's HERO) as an undercover operative to work his way into the triad ring and help bring down the leader (Eric Tsang- THE ACCIDENTAL SPY and Jet Li's CONTRACT KILLER).
What the two are unaware of is that the leader has a mole (Andy Lau- HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS and Jackie Chan's LEGEND OF DRUNKEN MASTER) who works in the police department.The story in INFERNAL AFFAIRS will appeal to movie lovers of TRAINING DAY, DARK BLUE, RESERVOIR DOGS, and CITY ON FIRE.Andy Lau plays Lau Kin-Ming who grew up around the life of crime headlined by triad boss Hon Sam (Eric Tsang).
Both bosses eventually learn that the other has a mole working for them and loyalty turns into betrayal, then things begin to unfold.Renowned action choreographer Dion Lam (THE PROMISE, EXIT WOUNDS, SPIDER-MAN 2, and DOOM) also stepped in to take part in the film as one of the triad members who takes down an important character in the movie.The movie featured masterful cinematography, nice action sequences, suspense, and a strong cast to help pull the strings and earn it Best Picture at the 2002 Hong Kong Film Awards.
This tells you that if it was not for INFERNAL AFFAIRS, THE DEPARTED would have never came into existence, which is more evident that the movie was a crime-thrilling phenomenon and a highly recommended film for American audiences.This movie is a phenomenal classic due to its excellent story, a supporting cast, and a nice twist, which makes it an enjoyable cop movie and a masterpiece in cinematic excellence for years to come.
I would've liked to watch this on the big screen.The acting - save Tony Leung - could be a little better (are you reading this, Andy Lau?), but overall the movie is excellent.
Kelly Chen and Sammi Cheng don't have much to do in terms but they look good.I had seen the Hollywood remake, 'The Departed' before and it does not come close to this movie in terms of quality.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film no end, mainly because of the fantastic acting performances from two of my favourite actors Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu Wai.What made this film the box office smash that it was,was the intensity of the two actors in there pursuit of founding out about each other.The stylish camera work and the lush scenery were nothing short of breath taking.Not all HK films need the bullet ballets of John Woo to make a great film as Infernal Affairs shows!.
if you like creative story-telling, interesting characters, great acting and camera, this is for you.the best way to describe it is simply "cool".
It's a smart, expertly made film, which succeeds in telling a good story without relying on slo-mo shots or hyperbolic shootouts.The Hong Kong-based film revolves around two men working on opposite sides of the law: Yan (Tony Leung) is a talented cop who's been doing undercover jobs in the Triads for ten years, Lau (Andy Lau) is a mole placed by gangsters inside the police.
The plot is brilliantly constructed, with believable characters (most notably Yan, given tragic intensity by Leung) and remarkable, intelligent twists, mixing genre archetypes with Shakespearean sadness and grandiosity.In short, one of the best Asian movies of recent years, and a great appetizer to enjoy before watching Martin Scorsese's The Departed, a remake that, for once, manages to be as good as the original, if not better..
Infernal affairs is definitely one of the better triad films to emerge from Hong Kong.Staring Andy Lau, and the incomparable Leung Chiu Wai, the aptly named Infernal Affairs concerns two men.
Lau is a triad plant in the Hong Kong Police force working for your typical big-boss-bad-guy (Eric Tsang).
If you want a gripping, tortuously plotted gangster movie with some amazing, stylised, set piece action you're going to score this as an 8 or 9 at least.As a genuine exploration of character (which it promises to deliver all through the film) it will score less well.
Infernal Affairs is proof that to find increasingly good films we are all looking abroad to places like Hong Kong and Japan.
This film has an excellent "New Wave" HK Director, a first-rate cast, great script, good production values and an overall rich and elegant style which defines it as being one of the best HK films in the last few years.The film is a cat and mouse tale of two undercover agents, operating on different sides of the law, working to bring down each other's organization and expose each other's true identity.
Chan Wing Yan (Tony Leung) is a Hong Kong Police officer undercover within the HK Triads; led by the intense and unpredictable Sam (Eric Tsang).
On the opposite side of the scale is Inspector Lau (Andy Lau), a Triad working for Sam who is climbing the ranks of the Hong Kong Police Department in an attempt to restrict their monitoring of the Triads' activities.Needless to say, the film goes into far more detail than that, emphasizing strong character development, personal relationships, and issues surrounding honour, love and sacrifice.
Anthony Wong gets a rare opportunity to play a good guy, and seems to adopt naturalism and non-theatrical conviction, reminiscent in performances such as that in "Hard Boiled".The film is a powerful reminder of how fantastic a movie can be when all the necessary elements come together.
I had not regained hope in Hong Kong films until I recently watched this movie.In the final segment of the director's commentary on the DVD version, the director says that, aside from all the beautiful cinematography, sophisticated plots, superb acting from the cast, he wants the audience to be thinking about this movie after they exit the theatre.
Or is he just a bad guy who has relapses of good conscience?Wu jian dao is one of those movies I can watch over and over again just to re-live the excitement and analyze its complexities and I think the world-wide audience shouldn't be missing out on this great masterpiece from Hong Kong.10 out of 10.
The film manages to combine unbearable tension with raw human emotion demonstrated with excellent performances from the cast, each of which has their part to play as their characters career towards the final face off between Tony Leung and Andy Lau on the rooftops.
Also worth mentioning is the inspired music; ranging from tension building opera, pounding techno and the ambient notes of the rooftop scenes.In some ways it can be seen as similar to John Woo's classic heroic bloodshed film 'Hard Boiled'in that there is the idea of the undercover policeman in the Triads (and Tony Leung does play this character in both).
Hong Kong is a beautiful city and they took advantage of that - especially in the climactic showdown near the end.Only one thing kept me from giving this a 10 and that's the use of 2 other actors to portray Andy Lau and Tony Leung as younger versions of themselves.
I was really sad when his character died in the movie in the end but overall, the movie was no doubt one of the best shows I had seen in year 2002.I think that this is a better movie about police and triad moles than the 1990 Hollywood movie Internal Affairs starring Richard Gere and Andy Garcia.
There were some similarities but overall, the HK movie was a better one.Infernal Affairs II was a good effort by the HK film makers too.
Maybe in original movie they overplayed with some scenes which kinda looked a bit cheeze and not so "in your face" style like in Martin Scorsese movie, but overall you should definitely see "Infernal Affairs" even if you have seen it USA version.
Andy Lau as the mole and Tony Leung as the undercover cop are easily the best, but the supporting cast is also strong, though not quite all of them receive the screen time they perhaps would have deserved.
So not really a flaw, but something to keep in mind.Overall Infernal Affairs is a great crime film and I can see why they wanted to make The Departed after seeing it.
The reason for that is that without the remake I would probably not even have heard of "Infernal Affairs", yet and if I did, I probably wouldn't have understood it.Whereas "The Departed" took its time to develop the background story of the characters, "Infernal Affairs" rushes straight to the first big coke deal - a real Edge-Of-Your-Seat moment in Scorsese's movie.
We don't feel any real emotional connection to the heroes and villains at all in "Infernal Affairs".I know it's not fair to compare the Hong Kong original to the American version scene by scene, but you just can't help doing it when you've seen "The Departed" first and enjoyed it as much as I did.
Apparently, Scorsese has never seen the original before he made his movie, which would explain why he made his version so differently.Lau's character was arguably more interesting in "Infernal Affairs".
Infernal Affairs (2002) *** 1/2 (out of 4) Since I consider Martin Scorsese's The Departed to be one of the best movies I've seen in a very long time, it was finally time to catch up with this, the original version.
Maybe because I didn't try to, but any way to me the movie is watch able with a solid story line and acting than most other Hong Kong movie.I don't know, I think they try too hard to make the movie very complicated looking with different tricks and situations.Anyway the movie is somewhat watch able and is recommended by most people, but to me it only worth one to two watch, but at least i think it would be better than the US remake.Rating: 7/10 (Grade: B-).
"Infernal Affairs" is the Hong-Kong based crime movie that eventually led to the birth of the "The Departed" by Martin Scorsese.
Like me many people that have watched 'The Departed' may not know that the original plot of the film came from this masterpiece.
You would think how can such a simple plot be so good however great direction, cinematography and acting has made this film a joy to watch.
The Departed was a good film, Infernal Affairs is a better one.
The Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs about two moles - in the Police Dept and the Triads - was made four years ago.
The use of music is sparse but appropriate.Not the usual violence galore we see in a lot of Asian films, Infernal Affairs is a relevant and intelligent story about the fate of persons who set out from the same starting point but follow different paths in life and end up on opposing teams in a complex web of lies and deceit.
Yan's interest with Dr Lee is unnecessary and the music for the scenes were cringey a.f. Yan's relationship with May was also completely unnecessary here and out of place with the May's daughter being the "is she or isn't she" makes no sense within the context of the movie.But overall, this is the best Hong Kong film that came out in the 21st Century, and it is conclusively better than Scorsese's The Departed..
super movie..the first time i actually enjoyed a hong Kong made film that much...
Whatever the reason, I thought this a greatly inferior film.The central premise is very strong; Andy Lau is brilliant and creates a deeper, more conflicted and sympathetic character than Matt Damon; Eric Tsang creates a bizarre, but riveting, version of barely restrained insanity and violence; Hong Kong looks great.However, the story is so rushed, so full of blink-and-you-miss-it plot turns, that it becomes extremely confusing.
Set in Hong Kong, it's the story of two cops, one good and one bad and both on the wrong side of the fence, but I guess if you're familiar with The Departed then you'll already know that.