A Better Tomorrow (1986)

A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.

Director:

John Woo

Writers:

Hing-Ka Chan (as Chan Hing Kai), Suk-Wah Leung (as Leung Suk Wah)

Stars:

Lung Ti, Leslie Cheung, Yun-Fat Chow

6 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lung Ti	...	Sung Tse-Ho (as Ti Lung)
Yun-Fat Chow	...	Mark (as Chow Yun Fat)
Leslie Cheung	...	Sung Tse-Kit
Emily Chu	...	Jackie
Waise Lee	...	Shing (as Lee Chi Hung)
Feng Tien	...	Father Sung
John Woo	...	Inspector Wu
Yanzi Shi	...	Mr. Yiu
Kenneth Tsang	...	Ken
Fui-On Shing	...	Shing's right hand man
Hsieh Wang	...	Mr. Wang (as Hap Wong)
Chi Fai Chan	...	'Little' Wang
Ming Leung	...	Uncle Chan
Hing-Yin Kam	...	Mr. Mok
Pierre Tremblay	...	Interpol Officer

Storyline

This story is the tale of two brothers: one a successful counterfeiter and the younger a fledgling graduate of the HK police academy. The plot revolves around the split when the younger brother learns the other is a criminal and the efforts of the criminal brother to reform. Along the way are plenty of heists, double-crosses, and shoot outs.

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Plot Keywords:

slow motion scene | shot to death | shooting | friendship | blood | 

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Taglines:

The movie that began it all.........

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese Mandarin English

Release Date:

2 August 1986 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

A Better Tomorrow

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinema City,Film Workshop

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Dolby (5.1 Surround Sound) DTS (DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1) (Blu-ray release)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Mark gets brutally beaten by Sheng's men was initially toned too violent. But John Woo went all out to ensure that the scene remained intact within the film. Woo discussed it with the people at the censorship board that he felt it was important to show just how far gangsters are willing to go.

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Goofs

The cello playing at the "audition" (c.11 minutes) is inaccurately mimed.

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Quotes

Mr. Yiu: [to Shing as he keeps calling him "Bastard"] So, what did Ho say, bastard?

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Alternate Versions

All 5.1 and 7.1 sound mixes found on various DVD- and Blu-ray editions feature added and re-dubbed sound effects, and vary greatly from the original monaural soundtrack.

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Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: The Arrival of Multiplexes and Asian Mainstream (2011)

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Soundtracks

Main Shi Chi
Performed by Chen Xiao-yun

User Reviews

Still holds up

This movie kick-started many things. The very fruitful partnership between John Woo and Chow Yun Fat, the successful career for of them, the heroic bloodshed movie (don't try this at home or let kids watch them) and a lot of imitators! So one should be really thankful to Tsui Hark, because it's a really good thing he couldn't direct. Otherwise we most likely wouldn't have any of the above!

But being as it is, you can watch this movie and see how it is done correctly. Replacement Killers eat your heart out! This movie still is superior to imitators such as the named one or a few others. Yes I know that some have argued that it is dated and other movies (such as Matrix) have not only copied some of it's styles, but improved them. Not for me, they haven't! Because it's not only about copying a slow motion effect here, it's about the story too. And the characters and their believes. And of course the acting!