Hottest HK movie in 2002: Infernal Affairs



Infernal Affairs
pictures credit: yesasia.com

Starring: Tony Leung, Andy Lau, Kelly Chen, Sammie Cheng, Elva Hsiao, Edison Chen, etc.

Summary:
Carried by four superstars of the silver screen "Infernal Affairs" has had a golden harvest, earning over $50 million ever since its release in the Christmas season. Alone on the first day of its Hong Kong release it broke all box-office records by earning a stunning $2.56 million, making it one of Hong Kong's most visited movies in 2002!

Ming (Andy Lau) is a mole in the police department. On the command of his Triad boss Sam (Eric Tsang), he became a cop when he was merely 18. After a decade of hard work, he has become a police sergeant in the Criminal Intelligence Bureau. With the help of Sam who tips him off with intelligence of his Triad rivals, Ming manages to earn kudos from his superiors. After passing a recent examination with flying colors, he has high hope of being promoted to probationary inspector.

Yan (Tony Leung) is a police mole in the Triads. Recruited before he even graduated from the police academy, he was initiated into the Triads as a teenaged underling. During his decade as an undercover, he has been convicted eight times of causing bodily harm to others, jailed twice, and sentenced to compulsory psychological counseling. As a Red Pole, or enforcer, his immediate boss is none other than Sam.

Leading parallel lives, Ming and Yan are feeling increasingly trapped in their false surroundings. Wobbling in the inferno between the living and the dead, they are desperate to find a way out. Ming would like to sever all ties with his illegal past and become a real cop. To do so would mean the elimination of Sam. Yan is sick and tired of chopping people up in the name of justice, and is striving to regain his real identity. Only one person can help him: Superintendent Wong (Anthony Wong), the man who recruited him as an undercover.

Their curious paths finally cross each other one fateful evening. During a police attempt to topple Sam's illegal operations, both sides realize there's a mole amongst themselves. A series of cat-and-mouse chases ensue, as each side is competing to uncover their mole first. To make things even more chaotic, Ming is finally promoted to probationary inspector and is transferred to Internal Affairs. His first assignment is to uncover Sam's mole in the police department...

The hyper thrilling police-bandit undercover story that was co-directed by Andrew Lau ("Young and Dangerous" , "Storm Riders") and Alan Mak ("A War Named Desire") uses the duel of opposing parties that try to outsmart each other as theme and does not draw on the traditional formula of flying stunts and big budget explosions; yet it succeeds in keeping everybody's eyes pinned to the screen from start to finish, even after continuous viewings!

Prior to "Infernal Affairs" Andy Lau and Tony Leung had paused to team-up for quite a while, but in this outstanding cinematic pearl they once more try to outdo one another by both presenting top-notch performances! On top of that they are backed up by two other screen attractions Eric Tsang and Anthony Wong, i.e., overall four Hong Kong film legends are gathered in this cinematic milestone! Furthermore, this blockbuster also features female superstars Sammi Cheng, Kelly Chen and Elva Hsiao plus teenage idols Edison Chen and Shawn Yue turning it into the absolute movie smash of 2002!

source info & credits: Yesasia.com

arb3i's note:
I just watched this movie last night, and I must say, I'm stunned. :) First of all, mas Tony Leung CAKEP bangeth disini..... tipe2 cowo matang dan mapan gitu deh ^ ^ hi hi. Second of all, perannya disini bener2 rasanya cocok banget dimaenin sama dia. Down to earth banget banget.
I've always prefer him better than Andy, so, somehow yach ga terlalu perhatiin si andy lau banget. Kayaknya tuch kalo si Tony, he could play naturally tanpa harus ada image ditambah2in/dibuat2. His character just flowed naturally.
On the other hand, I must say Andy Lau has his own image because of his popularity and all, but in this movie, I couldn't be more agreed to the writer's idea to have him as the 'bad' one. Tampangnya kayaknya lebih 'sepa' dan 'senga' juga, dan cocok dengan perannya disini.

"Infernal", the word itself, has a meaning of or relating to hell. It implies a Buddhist term that refers to a hellish place roughly known as "infernal hell". People that are trapped in this "infernal hell" have to suffer from endless tortue of combustion. It "parallels to the situation the two characters are entangled in. Their identities are kept secret and they have to live in the dark and suffer from great pressures every day."
Therefore, the title Infernal Affairs is not a typo, *it's not INTERNAL affairs*, and it is rather a careful and creative decision to describe the message of the movie itself.

I must say this is a MUST SEE movie, if you haven't seen it. Especially when you like thriller/action movie, plus a great cast full of famous actors/actresses :)

The girls, Kelly Chen, Sammie and Elva, are all pretty and attractive, even though they have a very small part in the movie. As a supporting character, I must say I enjoy seeing Andy's character and his girlfriend (sammie), cocok juga mereka mainin perannya sebagai couple in preparation of their wedding.
Elva's character is rather confusing and maybe the weakest link of them all. She showed up suddenly, being a girlfriend of Tony's past, without further explaination of why and how. So I think these ladies are there just to commercialize the movie, ... yah sebagai bumbu2 indah aja kali ya.... he he :P


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