Infernal Affairs II

Infernal Affairs II
Infernal Affairs II
	Theatrical poster of Infernal Affairs II
Directed by	Andrew Lau; Alan Mak
Written by	Felix Chong; Alan Mak; (Based on characters created by Alan Mak and Felix Chong)
Produced by	Andrew Lau
Starring	Anthony Wong; Eric Tsang; Edison Chen; Shawn Yue; Carina Lau; Francis Ng; Hu Jun
Cinematography	Andrew Lau; Ng Man Ching
Edited by	Danny Pang; Curran Pang
Music by	Chan Kwong Wing
Distributed by	Media Asia Distribution Ltd.; The Weinstein Company (DVD); Dragon Dynasty (DVD)
Release date	2003
Running time	119 min.; 110 min.
Countries	Hong Kong; Singapore
Languages	Cantonese; Mandarin; English; Thai

Infernal Affairs II (Chinese: 無間道II; pinyin: Wú Jiān Dào èr; Jyutping: mou gaan dou ji) is a 2003 Hong Kong crime thriller film directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. It is a prequel to the 2002 hit Infernal Affairs. Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang, Edison Chen, Shawn Yue, and Chapman To reprise their roles from the original film alongside new cast members Carina Lau, Francis Ng, and Hu Jun. Both Tony Leung and Andy Lau, who played the central roles in the original, do not appear in the film, as they are replaced by the younger versions played by Shawn Yue and Edison Chen, respectively.

Plot

The movie begins in 1991, eleven years before the events of the first Infernal Affairs, and begins with a young Ming walking down the streets of Mongkok heading for an opera studio, where he asks for a man named Uncle Kwun. When the old man appears, Ming shoots him dead immediately. The order for the killing was given by Sam's wife Mary without disclosure to anyone, including Sam.

The man Ming assassinated was in fact Yan's father, an underworld kingpin. Hau Ngai succeeds his father, and is an understated but effective kingpin. Yan is on the verge of becoming a police officer, but his ties with the Triad get him dismissed from the Hong Kong Police Force (This information was not given in the first film). However, he is given a choice to be "a good guy" when Superintendent Wong offers him a deep undercover assignment, where his identity is known only to Wong, and the Assistant Commissioner.

Hau Ngai is Yan's half-brother, thus making it easier for Yan to infiltrate the Triad, but harder for him at the same time because he has to go against his family. Sam works for Hau Ngai.

The film moves slowly from 1991 to 1997. We learn of the relationship between Sam and Wong.

Cast

Anthony Wong as Superintendent Wong Chi Shing (黃志誠)
Eric Tsang as Hon Sam (韓琛)
Edison Chen as Lau Kin Ming (劉健明)
Shawn Yue as Chan Wing Yan (陳永仁)
Carina Lau as Mary Hon (MARY姐)
Francis Ng as Ngai Wing Hau (倪永孝)
Hu Jun as Superintendent Luk Kai Cheung (陸啟昌)
Chapman To as Tsui Wai Keung (傻強)
Liu Kai Chi as Sam Suk (三叔)
Roy Cheung as Law Kai Yin (羅雞)
Fu Ka Lei as May
Wai Ying Hung as Ngai Wing Hau's sister (倪永孝家姐)
Chan Mong Wah as Ngai Wing Yi
Lin Hoi as Ngai Wing Chung
Fong Ping as Gandhi (甘地)
Wong Ngok Tai as Kwok Wah (國華)
O Chi Kwan as Negro (黑鬼)
Chan Tak Sam as Man Ching
Cheung Tung Cho as Ngai Kwan (倪坤)
Chiu Chung Yue as Mary

Reaction

The film was highly anticipated prior to its release due to the extreme success achieved by Infernal Affairs. However, the general response to the movie was mixed, with most saying that it could not be compared to the first one, while others claimed that it was the best out of the series. The original film won seven Hong Kong Film Awards, while this film only earned the award of Best Original Song.

Some fans of IA1 was disappointed, mainly hoping it to have flashbacks to the original film, which only occurs in one scene. The film aims to have a completely new storyline and not to be viewed in the same light as the first film, which was a gangster/crime thriller.

Style

The film is a lot slower than the first one, with no quick or slick Hollywood-style editing. It strives on minimalism, and being extremely low-key in all the killings, and deaths.

Camera style was different from the first film, IA2 was mostly filmed without tripods,resulting in shaky cameras.

The entire film works on developing the characters, being more of a character study than anything else. There is a wider range in terms of story and settings, making it more of an independent epic that feels completely separate from the other two films in the trilogy. The film is filled with slow-moving scenes, moments of still imagery, and close-up shots of characters, showing their emotion.

Also different is the score, being much more dramatic than the first film, with the opening Hungarian choir that dominates the intro. The entire movie thrives on the choir-based score. The cinematography is more grainy to create a deliberate contrast to the commercial style in the previous film.

Trivia

The cemetery scene in IA2 was where Yan was buried in the first film.
SP Luk's death was similar to SP Wong's death in IA1, with a sudden shock and emotional impact.
A notable film flub was Ming's character.In the first film he was a right-handed. In IA2 scenes such as him holding a parcel and hitting it against his leg with his left hand and saluting with his left hand near the end of the movie went unnoticed.
Infernal Affairs' website shut down recently and is now in open domain.

Box office

The film grossed 24,919,376 HKD[1]—big by 2003 Hong Kong standards, but only about half of the original's earnings.

Awards

Although Infernal Affairs II earned ten nominations for the 2003 Hong Kong Film Awards, it could not match its predecessor's success. The film won only one award, Best Original Film Song, for the song "長空" (performed by Cantopop band Beyond).

External links