Mou gaan dou II (2003)

Directors:

Wai-keung Lau
Alan Mak

Writers:

Alan Mak (written by) and
Felix Chong (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

1 October 2003 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

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

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 | Gangster | Shot In The Forehead | Mob Boss

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
Qing Yan	...	Wah's Wife (as Yan Qing Yu)
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)
Alan Mak

Writing credits
Alan Mak		(written by) and
Felix Chong		(written by)
Alan 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

• Media Asia Distribution (2003) (worldwide) (all media)
• Mega Star Video Distribution (2003) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Bright Angel Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Comstock (Japan) (theatrical)
• Tartan (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dragon Dynasty (2007) (USA) (DVD) (special collector's edition)
• MTV Netherlands (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Media Cooperation One (MC-One) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Mediacorp Raintree Pictures (2003) (Singapore) (all media)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Pan Vision Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Tartan Video (2005) (UK) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Menfond Electronic Art & Computer Design Company

Other Companies

• 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
• Sound Production Co.  sound equipment
• 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
• Click Music Studio  music recording studio
• Dreamworks Digital  avid editing
• Hungarian Choir  choir
• Hype Films Co. Ltd.  production house: Thailand
• Phoenix Studios  music recording studio
• V.S. Services  camera and lighting equipment

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]
To cartel (Greece) (DVD title) [el]

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:

In the scene where Ngai Wing-Hau's lawyer leaves the family claiming, "I'm not one of you" a copy of "Noble House", James Clavell's blockbuster novel about Hong Kong, can be seen on the bookshelf behind him.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

References The Godfather: Part II (1974)

Soundtrack:

LONG SKY

Interesting – a very different movie from the first film but sadly an inferior one too

Set before events in Wu Jian Dao, the murder of the head of the Ngai family see his son, Hau, stepping up – immediately upsetting the power balance in the region. Small time boss Sam has a close relationship with officer SP Wong both of whom wish to see the Ngai family removed from the scene. Meanwhile, triad Lau Kin Ming is sent to infiltrate the police force and gradually work his way up with help from Sam while Wong sanctions Chen Wing Yan (the half brother of the Hgai family) to infiltrate the triads and work his way up to Hau.

I approached this film wondering what it would do – how would it manage to be interesting given that we already know (from part 1) how it goes. I also expected it to be roughly the same as the first film in terms of being an enjoyable thriller – however this was not the case and it was hard to get into the film for what it was. The story is not really about Yan and Ming so much as it is about the leading figures behind them – this film belongs to Sam, Wong and Hau and this was a bit of a surprise but one I was able to get over quickly and settle into a pretty interesting story where we see the shift of power in the HK crime families – unsurprisingly framed by the shift of political power from Britain to China. However interesting it is the film lacks in several areas. Firstly the praise for the first film seems to have got to the makers' heads and part 2 is a much more overblown affair that injects every scene with a sense of overblown drama that it tries to create as oppose to earn. This is a little tiring as it seems to be forcing us to accept the film as some sort of epic where it would have been much more effective to underplay the story and let it stand on its own. Making this more annoying is the fact that the script doesn't really help the audience much and only the sharpest viewer will make it through the first 20 minutes without struggling to get hold of the story and work out who everybody is.

In stark contrast to the tight thriller of part 1, this film is a much bigger story and, as such, occasionally struggled to keep me emotionally involved. Sure, the politics of crime were interesting and produced plenty of good stuff but only occasionally did I get behind the characters and struggle to know who to support like I had in part 1 – in fact the film could have easily lost Yan and Ming without losing much story. However it is still worth seeing as it does manage as a bit of a twisty crime story (but not a thriller) but even as this it doesn't really stand out as being that great. The loss of the great performances from Lau and Leung is a massive hole that neither Chen or Yue ever get close to filling – the fact that the material gives them no help either is not their fault. As before, Wong and Tsang are both good and they benefit from being the focus of the prequel. Ng is a good addition as Hau and he is suitably professional, cold and has a powerful presence suiting his character – it also helps that he was very easy on the eye too! As with the prequel, the female parts are pretty thin and the potential to use Lau's Mary better is not taken.

Overall this is not a bad film by any means; in fact it is an OK story of crime between the ruling families (as shown by a few individuals) however the film hurts itself by trying to force itself into the shape of a 'sprawling crime epic' when nothing in the material actually justifies this aim. The poor use of Yan and Ming is a problem that is only slightly helped by the increased focus on Sam and SP Wong. An OK film but not a scratch on the original and not even necessary viewing to enjoy that better film.