Mou gaan dou II (2003)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Directors:

Wai-keung Lau
Siu Fai Mak

Writers:

Siu Fai Mak (written by) and
Felix Chong (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

1 October 2003 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Birth Of A Legend (Yi Ge Chuan Qi De Dan Shen)

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Prequel | Police Academy | Shot In The Forehead | Drug Traffic | Police Internal Affairs

Awards:

4 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

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)
Ping Hui Tay	...	Hung the Solicitor (as Tay Ping Hui)
Roy Cheung	...	Law
Kai Chi Liu	...	Uncle John
Chapman To	...	Tsui Wai Keung
Hui Kam Fung	...	Cadet School Principal
Alexander Chan	...	Yee
Andrew Lin	...	Chung, Ngai's Brother (as Andrew Lien)
Kara Hui	...	Hau's Sister (as Wai Ying Hung)
Chi Keung Wan	...	Superintendent Leung (as Wan Chi Keung)
Chaucharew Wichai	...	Paul (as Chan Charoen Wichai)
Xiao Hai	...	Cheung
Kelly Fu	...	May
William Tuen	...	Sergeant Chan
Wing-Hong Cheung	...	Billy (as Cheung Wing Hong)
Roderick Lam	...	Father Kwun's Bodyguard
Kam Loi Kwan	...	Father Kwun's Bodyguard
Chung Ka Lung	...	Father Kwun's Bodyguard
Wai Lam	...	Hau's Button Man #1 (as Lam Fu Wah)
Yui Sang Wong	...	Hau's Button Man #2 (as Wong Yui Sang)
Chu Chi Ho	...	Hau's Button Man #3
Tiffany Cheung	...	Killer at Nightclub
Ken Ling	...	Killer at Restaurant
Tony Tai	...	Killer at HiFi Shop (as Tai Ho Fai Tony)
Chan Siu Kwan	...	Killer at Lift Lobby
Roger Lee	...	Killer on Motorbike (as Roger Li)
Lo Lou Fai	...	Killer in Thailand
Vincent Chi Mo Chun	...	OCTB Constable #1 (as Chi Mo Chun, Vincent)
Kin-Yung Tsang	...	OCTB Constable #2 (as Tseng Kin Yung, Tenny)
Cheung Pui Sai	...	OCTB Constable #3
Frank Michael Liu	...	OCTB Constable #4 (as Frank Liu)
Man Shing Wong	...	OCTB Constable #5
Cheung Yuk Sun	...	OCTB Constable #6 (as Cheung Yuk Sun, Simon)
Tang Tai Wo	...	Sam's Button Man #1
Chan Kam Pui	...	Sam's Button Man #2
Anthony Carpio	...	Sam's Button Man #3
Lam Kwok Kit	...	Sam's Button Man #4
Ken Chu	...	Gandhi's Button Man #1
Chow Chi Shing	...	Gandhi's Button Man #2
Fu Kwok Ho	...	Gandhi's Button Man #3
Ho Ka Ming	...	Gandhi's Button Man #4
Chan Kim Ming	...	Negro's Button Man #1
Cheng Kwok Wai	...	Negro's Button Man #2
Yiu Kai Tung	...	Negro's Button Man #3 (as Yiu Kai Tung, Richard)
Lau Tung Ching	...	Negro's Button Man #4
Ming Liu	...	Wah's Button Man #1 (as Lui Siu Ming)
Chi-Keung Lee	...	Wah's Button Man #2 (as Lee Chi Keung)
Peter Lee	...	Wah's Button Man #3
Cheung Yiu Kwong	...	Wah's Button Man #4
Li Wai Ming	...	Ching's Button Man #1
Cheng Kai Chung	...	Ching's Button Man #2
Wai Yin Tse	...	Ching's Button Man #3 (as Tse Wai Yin)
Wong Chun Lam	...	Ching's Button Man #4
Lai Wai Tak	...	Uncle John's Button Man #1
Ho Shu Wing	...	Uncle John's Button Man #2
Ricardo Mamood-Vega	...	Private Investigator #1 (as Ricardo Mamood)
Brandon Rhea	...	Private Investigator
Luk Auntie	...	Kwun's Wife (as Auntie Luk)
Hera Lam	...	Hau's Wife
Eva Wong	...	Yee's Wife
Georgina Chan	...	Hau's Daugher
Ting-Fung Li	...	Boy with Funny Face (as Li Ting Fung, Ken)
Anna Yau	...	Gandhi's Wife (as Anna Yiu)
Carmen Cheung	...	Negro's Wife
Yan Qing Yu	...	Wah's Wife
Ann Ng	...	Ching's Wife
Kwok Yuk Keung	...	Superintendent #1
Chow Chi Keung	...	Superintendent #2
Brian Ireland	...	Superintendent #3
Derek Skinner	...	Superintendent #4
Bey Logan	...	Inspector Calvin
Tung-Lit Mui	...	Noodle Shop Owner (as Mui Tung Lit)

Directed by
Wai-keung Lau		(as Andrew Lau)
Siu Fai Mak		(as Alan Mak)

Writing credits
Siu Fai Mak		(written by) (as Alan Mak) and
Felix Chong		(written by)
Siu Fai Mak		(characters) uncredited &
Felix Chong		(characters) uncredited

Produced by
Ellen Chang	....	line producer
John Chong	....	executive producer
Lorraine Ho	....	line producer
Wai-keung Lau	....	producer (as Andrew Lau)
Baoping Ma	....	executive producer (as Ma Baoping)
Daniel Yun	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Kwong Wing Chan		(as Chan Kwong Wing)

Cinematography by
Wai-keung Lau		(director of photography) (as Andrew Lau)
Man-Ching Ng		(director of photography) (as Ng Man Ching)

Film Editing by
Curran Pang		(as Pang Ching Hei)
Danny Pang

Art Direction by
Bill Lui

Costume Design by
Silver Cheung

Makeup Department
Yu Lai Cheng	....	makeup artist (as Cheng Yu Lai)
Miko Chu	....	makeup artist (as Chu Wai Fong)
Joe Kwong	....	hair stylist
James Lau	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Suparat Bruranaphant	....	production manager: Thailand
Tang Wai But	....	production manager
Lai Yin Chow	....	unit manager (as Chow Lai Yin)
Bonnie Shum	....	assistant production manager
Peanpen Udomchai	....	production manager: Thailand

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Wai Hung Chan	....	first assistant director (as Chan Wai Hung)
Ka-kit Cheung	....	second assistant director (as Cheung Ka Kit)
Ask Lee	....	third assistant director
Saetant Sakchai	....	assistant director: Thailand (as Sae Tant Sakchai)

Art Department
Chun Yim Ip	....	assistant art director (as Ip Chun Yin)
Pak Shing Lai	....	prop master (as Lai Pak Shing)
Sze Wan Leung	....	assistant art director (as Leung Sze Wan)
Wai Kong Leung	....	propman (as Leung Wai Kong)
Atisak Nokyu	....	prop master: Thailand
Ho Shu Wing	....	propman

Sound Department
Wing Lai Chin	....	sound mixer (as Bernard Chin)
Felix Chung Sze Ming	....	sound effects editor (as Chung Sze Ming, Felix)
Burnard To	....	foley recordist (as To Burnard)
Kinson Tsang	....	sound designer
Kinson Tsang	....	sound re-recording mixer
Johnny Wan	....	boom operator
Tse Kin Wong	....	dialogue recordist (as Wong Tsz Kin)
Chun Hin Yiu	....	dialogue recordist (as Yiu Chun Hin)
George Lee Yiu-Keung	....	dialogue editor (as George Lee Yiu Keung)
George Lee Yiu-Keung	....	sound re-recording mixer (as George Lee Yiu Keung)
Ting Yip Yuen	....	dialogue recordist (as Yuen Ting Yip)

Special Effects by
Kam Tong Fok	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Desmond Chan	....	computer animator
Hin Pu Ho	....	computer animator (as Ho Hin Pun)
Jesse Ho	....	computer animator
Terry Lam	....	visual effects creative director
Gary Leung	....	computer animator
Keith Leung	....	computer animator
Alex Lim	....	digital effects supervisor
Leo Ng	....	computer animator
Eddy Wong	....	visual effects supervisor
Victor Wong	....	visual effects supervisor
Ray Wu	....	visual effects producer
Siu Fai Yeung	....	senior computer animator (as Yeung Siu Fai)

Stunts
Tat Chiu Lee	....	stunt coordinator (as Lee Tat Chiu)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lo Lou Fai	....	gaffer
Chan Siu Kwan	....	focus puller
Chun-Shing Lam	....	electrician (as Lam Chun Shing)
Raymond Lam	....	Steadicam operator
Wing-Teng Law	....	best boy (as Law Wing Tong)
Chen Chiang Liao	....	grip (as Liao Chen Chiang)
Yuen Chun Ming	....	grip
Chun Kau Ng	....	grip (as Ng Chun Kau)
Hung Fei Wong	....	still photographer (as Wong Hung Fei)
Wai Lun Wong	....	still photographer (as Wong Wai Lun)
Kai Tin Yeung	....	electrician (as Yeung Kai Tim)
Chun-Wah Yuen	....	focus puller

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Supavan Na Ha Korn	....	wardrobe: Thailand
Ling Fai Lau	....	assistant costume designer (as Lau Ling Fai)
Yun Mei Man	....	wardrobe (as Man Yun Mei)
Kwan-Kwan Siu	....	assistant costume designer (as Siu Kwan Kwan)

Music Department
Nicolaus Eszterházy	....	orchestra (as Nicolaus Esterhazy)
Lászlo Kovács	....	conductor (as Laszlo Kovacs)
Nirmal Kulu	....	musician: didgeridoo
Nirmal Kulu	....	musician: sitar
Anna Kwan	....	musician: cello (as Kwan Ton An)
Po Shek Tam	....	musician: bamboo flageilet (as Tam Po Shek)
Edmond Tsang	....	orchestral arrangements

Other crew
Kwai Wah Chan	....	set production assistant (as Chan Kwai Wah)
Man Fai Chan	....	set production assistant (as Chan Man Fai)
Fiona Chow	....	production coordinator
Surasak Harunda	....	set production assistant: Thailand
Chaiyo Kairattanaluke	....	set production assistant: Thailand
Chutima Kanjanathammarat	....	translator: Thailand
Woratat Kongsubto	....	set production assistant: Thailand
Henry Lau	....	script supervisor
Larry Lee	....	production assistant
Tao Ling	....	production coordinator (as Ling Tao)
Calmen Lui	....	laboratory consultant
Jensan Matrwijitr	....	set production assistant: Thailand
Yod Saehang	....	location manager: Thailand
Chaipat Sitthisaramkul	....	translator: Thailand
Chi Fai So	....	set production assistant (as So Chi Fai)
Leo Sze	....	production accountant
David Wong	....	production accountant
Ronald Wong	....	production coordinator
Chi Wai Yeung	....	script supervisor (as Yeung Chi Wai)
Yung Lin Yeung	....	tea lady (as Yeung Yung Lin)

Production Companies

• Media Asia Films
• Mediacorp Raintree Pictures (in association with)
• Eastern Dragon Film Co. Ltd. (in association with)
• Basic Pictures

Distributors

• A-Film Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Bright Angel Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Comstock (Japan) (theatrical)
• Dragon Dynasty (2007) (USA) (DVD) (special collector's edition)
• MTV Netherlands (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Media Asia Distribution
• Media Cooperation One (MC-One) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Mediacorp Raintree Pictures (2003) (Singapore) (all media)
• Mega Star Video Distribution
• Pan Vision Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Tartan Video (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Tartan (2004) (UK) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Menfond Electronic Art & Computer Design Company

Other Companies

• Hype Films Co. Ltd.  production house: Thailand
• China Star Production Services Limited  post-production
• Media Business Service Limited  sound studio
• O.K. Post Production Co.  dubbing
• i Zone Sound Design  foley artist
• Salon Films  camera and lighting equipment
• V.S. Service  camera and lighting equipment
• Sound Production Co.  sound equipment
• Digital Dream Works  avid editing
• Mandarin Laboratory (International) Ltd.  laboratory
• Mandarin Laboratory (International) Ltd.  subtitles
• Kantana Animation Co. Ltd.  digital intermediate
• Oriental Post Co. Ltd.  digital intermediate
• Kodak (Hong Kong) Ltd.  film stock supplied by

Also Known As:

Infernal Affairs II (Hong Kong: English title) (International: English title) (Singapore: English title)
Infernal Affairs 2 (Australia)
Wu jian dao 2 (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
Asuntos infernales 2 (Argentina) (festival title) [es]
Infernal Affair: Mugen jokyoku (Japan) [ja]
Infernal Affairs - Abstieg in die achte Hölle (Germany) [de]
Infernal Affairs II (Finland) [fi]
Infernal Affairs II (France) [fr]
Infernal Affairs II (Italy) (DVD title) [it]

Runtime:

119 min | Germany:110 min (TV version)

Country:

Hong Kong | China | Singapore

Language:

Cantonese | English | Mandarin | Thai

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Taiwan:R-12 | Australia:MA | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15A (original rating) | Ireland:15 (video rating) | Italy:T | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | UK:15

Company:

Media Asia Films

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.

Quotes:

Ngai Wing-Hau: My father always says "what goes around comes around."

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Chuet chung tit gam gong (2003)

Soundtrack:

BLACK HAWK

Outstanding and Recommended

After phenomenal success of "Wu Jian Dao (2002)" (or IA for short), a lot of hypes generated around when next two movies in the series are announced. I tend to ignore them and do not expect anything about IA2. Before I got into the cinema, "how would the screenwriters present this time,and how would they connect the characters between them?". After the movie, I would say I am not disappointed.

Like IA, this is also a drama about clashes of characters, not in the form of breath-taking kung fu / wire-work actions we find in traditional Hong Kong cop movie, but starting from their own desire, intentions, hate and positions. If you are looking for a non-stop action flick, I am afraid IA2 would not fulfill you.

But unlike last year's blockbuster, the main theme of IA2 is about the rise and fall of a great gangster family Ngai, other than about the police. The difficult part in making a prequel lies in the fact that as audiences all know too well the new appearences would drop-out one way or the other and the characters from IA must be okay. So the story does not waste efforts in describing most of the adventures, rather, concentrate on how these events shapes things to come. It is sure to the scriptwrites' credits and this alone casts a strong contrast to prequel movies like "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones" (2002).

Moreover, it is not surprising for many audiences relating this with similar movies like "The Godfather". I am not comparing them here, but rather I would point out that the actor Francis Ng, who plays the new gangster head of Nagi family, runs the show. He plays a young, well-educated, cool,calculating, witted, cruel, cunning -- and unpredictable leader. As some critics say, a CEO-style triad boss. On the other hand, he successfully shows Ngai is actually a passionate man whose family comes first. On the other hand, late gang leader is screened for one shot only (pun intended), his character is only reflected, not by flashbacks, but by short monologues recited by Ng. It is a quite demanding job and I would say Ng has done a really good job here.

Speaking of characters, another drift from IA, and many other traditional movies in the genre, female character actually plays "real" effects. Mary, played by Claudia Lau, is the closest girlfriend of Sam Hung. She is not just a powerless, declorative character. Like many female in the course of human history, she is the ignition point of the whole storm.

If the audiences has not forgotten IA actually hints that Inspector Wong (played by award-winning Anthony Wong) and Sam Hung (played by also award-winning Eric Tsang) have known each other for a long time. IA2 unveils their long-time mutual respects, and how all these change as the story flows along. Anthony Wong still delivers a high standard of acting just like in IA and how he plays the 3 ups-and-downs of Inspector Wong is simply terrific. On the contary, gangster Hung, Wong's arch-enemy in IA, is much lighter and more human. As with Wong, this character experiences changes which shapes of what to be seen in IA. However, I find the last party scene is unnecessary and does not seem to connect with the firece and uncanny Hung we used to know.

Relatively, the other major characters seems week. Mainland actor Jun Wu, plays another inspector who is a close partner with Wong. I could see the actor tries. Unfortunately, Wu's character is just too flat. His friendship and his clashes with Wong could not mark strong impressions among the audiences. I have a (probably false) feeling that this character is created to be destroyed and it is a waste of Wu's talents.

The actors portriating the young Wing-yan Chan (by Shawn Yu) and Kin-ming Lau (by Edison Chan) would be the weakest link in IA2. Except for a few scene, Edison puts up a regular expression of somewhat between arragonce and anger. For example, towards the end of airport scene, Lau would have a mixed feeling of guilt, anger, loss and vengence. This is an important scene for Lau's self-centered character, however, the actor simply fails to convince me.

The same goes to Shawn. He fails to play as someone who is torn between his role as a "policeman" and a triad member, his loyalty and duty. Most of the time, he just plays plain and "flat faced". To be fair, he gets a tad better towards the end of the movie as his character begins to merge with the character in IA.

Nonetheless, young actors weight must less as the others.

Speaking about continuity, IA2 does not fail in providing bits and pieces about the backstory of IA. And it is not hard for anyone to catch the images of other minor characters from IA. However, I have a few issues.

First, in IA, we see Hung was an ambitious and man of vision, that is why he implants many moles in the police department in the first place. However, the initial character of Hung seems too soft and passive. Why does he stand by Ngai in the time of crisis? We could not see his importance rises afterwards. Why didn't he use the chance and take out his opponents or expand his influence in the triad, then? Was he just covering himself for his long-term plan?

Also, why Wing-yan Chan remains in the end, even in light of his well-known ties with the Ngai family? How come does he becomes a subordinate of Keung? In IA, the position of Keung and Yan seems to have switched.

Apart from some goofs (accuracy of shooting from a paper bag, ignorance of emptied handgun and way of corspes could be burnt to ashes), the run of the movie stops rather abruptedly twice as timeline transits from year 1991 to 1995 and from 1995 to 1997. The effects on and changes of characters are not appearent so it leaves the audiences with a lot of imaginations and mental exercises. (Not that I hate mental exercises, it is rare for Hong Kong movies to make me enjoy doing so) I think the director could handle the storytelling a bit better smoother and tighter.

Despite of cliches, IA2 delivers a more powerful drama than the original. The acting, directing and many other technical aspects are top notch. The scriptwriters are very clever in telling from the other side of the theme and breaks away the shadow casted by the successful predecessor.

Looking forward to see the real "final" this December.

8/10