Infernal Affairs II (2003)
"Mou gaan dou II" (original title)

In this prequel to Mou gaan dou (2002), Chan Wing Yan has just become an undercover cop in the triads while Lau Kin Ming joins the police force. Both the triads and the police find an enemy in a rival crime boss.

Directors:

Wai-keung Lau, Alan Mak

Writers:

Alan Mak, Felix Chong,

Stars:

Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Francis Ng, Edison Chen

4 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang	...	Inspector Wong Chi Shing (as Anthony Wong)
Eric Tsang	...	Hon Sam
Carina Lau	...	Mary Hon
Francis Ng	...	Ngai Wing Hau
Edison Chen	...	Officer Lau Kin Ming
Shawn Yue	...	Chan Wing Yan
Jun Hu	...	SP Luk (as Hu Jun)
Tung Cho 'Joe' Cheung	...	Kwun (as Joe Cheung)
Henry Fong	...	Gandhi (as Fong Ping)
Peter Ngor	...	Negro
Arthur Wong	...	Wah
Teddy Chan	...	Ching
Chung-yue Chiu	...	Mary (as Yu Chiu)
Phorjeat Keanpetch	...	Sunny
Shipin Ye	...	Socialites (as Ye Shi Pin)

Storyline

In the prequel of Infernal Affairs. Chan Wing Yan has been expelled from police academy in cause of his relatives to the triad. Now SP Wong give him a chance to undercover the triad family controlled by his half brother Hau. Besides of Ming. He has been ordered to killed Hau father and infiltrated the police department. The story get complicated when Wong's related to Hau father's dead. The avenge is begin when Mary. Sam's wife is the hit order. Now everything is complicated and related

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Plot Keywords:

prequel | police academy | gangster | organized crime | shot in the forehead | 

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Taglines:

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. We all climb towards heaven. We all fall towards hell.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Hong Kong China Singapore

Language:

Cantonese English Mandarin Thai

Release Date:

1 October 2003 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Infernal Affairs II

Company Credits

Production Co:

Media Asia Films, Mediacorp Raintree Pictures, Eastern Dragon Film Co. Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min 110 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The line that SP Wong says, "Evil prevails. Only the good die young," is a simplified translation of what he actually says in Cantonese which is an old Chinese saying.

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Quotes

Chen Wing Yan: I only want to be a good man.

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Connections

References Goodfellas (1990)

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Soundtracks

"LONG SKY"
Composed by Wong Ka Keung
Lyrics by Wong Ka Keung and Yip Sai Wing
Arranged & Performed by Beyond
OP: Beyond Publishing Ltd.

User Reviews

Engrossing and intelligent prequel

A loose prequel to 2002's hit Infernal Affairs, this goes back to the 1980s and '90s when the Hong Kong police force and the city's ruling triad sent undercover agents into each other's organisations.

Tony Leung and Andy Lau are missed as the supermoles (played here by young look-alikes) but directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak have something smart up their sleeves, shifting the emphasis of the story onto the able shoulders of the pair's world-weary veteran superiors. Anthony Wong and Eric Tsang are excellent as the morally compromised cop and likable but capable capo, ageing friends who understand they stand just over the line from each other.

A knowledge of the first film helps navigate the labyrinthine plots of the dizzying opening act but once it finds its pace, it's a slick, slow-burning thriller all the way – marred only by the directors' occasional lapse into Godfather pretensions – while the backdrop of 1997's hand-over of Hong Kong is effective shorthand for the huge changes taking place within the forces of both law and disorder.