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

In the movie, we see Dr Yee's notes about Yan twice. The text in both scenes are in English and has nothing to do with Yan. In fact, the text is a discussion about a blind person who regained his sight sense. Moreover, though both text tells the same thing, the texts are not the same in those two scenes.

---

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

Referenced in Pop Culture Beast's Halloween Horror Picks: The Entity (2015)

---

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

Feel the heart of the Chef

I've watched Infernal Affairs I, II & III, in a year time. I loved the first one very much. It gave me a very unexpected feeling. It's simple but strong in impact. Though one could mention a lot of flaws in the plot, I just couldn't resist its charm. The second one made me disappointed because it lacked the kind of impact the first one gave me. Now after watching the third one, I realise why there needs to be a second one in totally different style than the first one. It's a preparation for the audiences adapting to the change in the third one.

I like this third one. Without the second one, probably I would have been like the other audiences critising the change of style from the first one. It's this kind of change, it's made the film more solid, full of human feeling. The first one indeed was touching only the surface of the hole. This third one is more into the content of it - the heart of the people.

I love particularly the part describing Andy Lau's psychological sufferings and changes. The shadowing effect he had with Tony Leung should deserve a credit for script writing, directing and editting. The interlacing of stories between that happened before and after Tony Leung's death has been editted great. I feel sorry for people who don't read this or who don't like it. It's certainly the best part of the film which should earn a credit rather than negative critics.

I would conclude that the first one is like spicy cuisine which is strong in taste and quick in making one like it immediately if you can stand it. The third one is somehow a French cuisine where you have to be patient, taste it slowly together with the wine before you appreciate the marvellous cooking skills and feel the heart of the Chef.