Infernal Affairs III (2003)

Months after the events of the original film, Ming suspects a police superintendent as being a new mole for the triads, while years earlier, Yan embarks on his first mission.

Directors:

Andrew Lau Wai-Keung (as Andrew Lau), Alan Mak

Writers:

Alan Mak, Felix Chong

Stars:

Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Andy Lau, Leon Lai

3 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Chiu-Wai Leung	...	Chan Wing Yan (as Tony Leung)
Andy Lau	...	Inspector Lau Kin Ming
Leon Lai	...	Inspector / SP Yeung Kam Wing
Daoming Chen	...	Inspector Shen Chen (as Chen Dao Ming)
Kelly Chen	...	Dr. Lee Sum Yee
Anthony Chau-Sang Wong	...	SP Wong Chi Shing (as Anthony Wong)
Eric Tsang	...	Hon Sam
Sammi Cheng	...	Mary
Carina Lau	...	Mary Hon
Edison Chen	...	Young Lau Kin Ming
Shawn Yue	...	Young Chan Wing Yan
Chapman To	...	Tsui Wai-keung
Waise Lee	...	Chun (as Lee Chi Hung)
Ka Tung Lam	...	Inspector Billy
Ting Yip Ng	...	Inspector Cheung

Storyline

Because Chan was being expelled from the school in 1991, SP Yeung Kam Wing graduated, with all police reports distinctions, being the first in whole class. Twelve year later, he was being sent, working to Lau. Ten months after Chan dies, Yeung's spy had blew a case and the spy wish to kill Yeung, but Yeung took his gun and shot him to conclude this failure. Lau gave Yeung car park seat B3A6 when Yeung met Lau. Yeung asked Chan who he is, but Chan didn't remember him. Sam works with Yeung and Lau is recording Yeung's words so that he can sue Yeung. Yeung is a police SP, which is being sent to Sam as the spy from police. Lau doesn't really know Yeung's Police SP position and wish to catch Yeung to the police head. Yeung work with another inspector who is a good friend of Yeung himself. Lau sneaked into Yeung's office, stealing the cassette, and ask the head to tell him that Yeung is the spy of the triad, Sam's triad. The inspector friend of Yeung, without found by Lau, changed Lau's own...

---

Plot Keywords:

violence | asian cast | cop | main character shot | main character dies | 

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Hong Kong]

Country:

Hong Kong China

Language:

Cantonese Mandarin

Release Date:

12 December 2003 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Infernal Affairs III

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$1,540,579 (Hong Kong), 12 December 2003, Limited Release

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,468,597

Company Credits

Production Co:

Media Asia Films, Tianjin Film Studio, Eastern Dragon Film Co. Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min 107 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Inspector Lau is looking at the cameras which he placed in Yeung's office through his mobile, you can see a timeline at the bottom of the screen of the mobile. Thus revealing it is a pre-recorded shot.

---

Quotes

Inspector Lau Kin Ming: I'm a cop too!

---

Alternate Versions

Director's cut (available on Hong Kong DVD) runs ca. 10 min. 40 sec. longer.

---

Connections

Follows Infernal Affairs (2002)

---

Soundtracks

Road To Inferno
Composed by Andy Lau, Kwok-Leung Chan and Marco Wan
Lyrics by Andy Lau
Produced by Andy Lau, Kwok-Leung Chan, and Tony Kiang
Performed by Hacken Lee

User Reviews

An effective film if you love the series and the characters; an OK one if you have seen the first two films and a pointless one if you haven't seen anything

Where Scorsese's recent version of Infernal Affairs all the loose ends pretty much got tied up during the film whereas with the original we were left with an open (but much more emotionally impacting) conclusion. The first sequel was a prequel so part III was left to pick up afterwards while also going back over the original film and filling in more detail. In doing this it marks itself out as one that is aimed at the fans rather than being just out for money. The downside of this is of course that if you are not a fan you might find this hard to follow along with (and if you have not seen the first film then just forget it totally). Personally I thought the first film was an enjoyable cop thriller but I didn't think it was brilliant or developed characters that well but the tension was great. With the third film the focus was very much on the characters rather than the tension – with the fate of Ming being the modern thread that holds the film together.

If you are into the characters and the parallels with the original film then it is worth seeing because it does do it pretty well. It does ask you to pay attention but it rewards you if you do and have been. There is action but mostly it is the Ming's ongoing struggle with who he is that the film pays most attention to. I quite liked this but must confess that this film still didn't do a great job of bringing out the characters that well and it is more the events and revelations that kept me interested rather than an emotional buy-in with the characters. Lau is perhaps partly to blame for this because I thought he was buttoned a bit too tight – it was understandable in some regards but the third film should have been the point where he shows more of a breakdown (which he does, but again it is events rather than emotion). Leung is good again but his scenes don't seem as relevant or as interesting within this film – again it is probably to do with the lack of emotional buy-in I felt with his character; his performance is natural and engaging though. Outside of these two the rest of the cast are pretty good. Again I didn't think much of the use of Chen but Wong and Tsang are both solid in their small returns.

Overall then an effective and enjoyable film if you love the series and the characters; an interesting one if you have seen the first two films and a pointless one if you are looking to join in at the last minute. Tying up the loose ends of the series, the film isn't tense enough or emotionally impacting enough to be worth a look unless you are really already into the characters but it is an interesting way to bring things to an end – with restraint and tragedy rather than excess.