ThiefHott Too much of everything

Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

Limerculer A waste of 90 minutes of my life

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Leofwine_draca Johnnie To's gangster movies are much lauded by the critics, but I'm someone who fails to see what the fuss is all about. This is no exception. I find it a quite serviceable gangster thriller that makes pretty good use of a very old storyline, about two rivals battling for control of a Triad gang. The film looks good, with plenty of stylish camera-work, and the script emphasises realism more than most. But I found this film to be missing an emotional core, so that the action plays out like a comic book, between characters we neither care about nor like very much at all.On the plus side, the acting is strong, dominated by two polar opposite performances. Simon Yam plays an icy, detached and friendly mob boss very well, and Tony Leung is his opposite: borderline psychotic, vicious and ill-mannered. There's plenty of sparks between them. The supporting cast is engaging, with solid turns from To regulars, and a nice cameo from David Chiang as a police chief. But for the most part, while I enjoyed this on a superficial level, I failed to connect with it. Aside from a couple of moments of startling violence at the climax which made me sit up and take notice, this is very much par for the course.

sol- Not Alexander's Payne Oscar nominated comedy, this Johnnie To drama of the same name focuses on division within Hong Kong's high profile gangs as they try to choose a new chairman for the local triad. It is a curious choice of title because while a new leader is eventually elected through senior members voting, it is not as simple as all that with violence, ever-changing alliances and greed get in the way of an ostensibly democratic system. Released within months of To's breathtaking 'Breaking News', it is hard not to draw comparisons between the two films and this latter effort feels somewhat restrained in contrast. The violence, while graphic, is noticeably minimal considering the gangs involved. To's decision to focus on all sides of the election conflict also makes it difficult to get under the characters' skins. There is such an extensive amount of pivotal characters here that it is sometimes hard to keep track of who is who. And yet, the film has so many memorable scenes that it is hard to dismiss altogether. A porcelain spoon eating scene stands out the most, but the initiation rituals are fascinating too, and there is a part where a wooden log is used on a victim cowering in tall grass, plus the not-so-idyllic final fishing scene is shocking brutal. Cited by Quentin Tarantino as his favourite film of the year and selected to compete at the Cannes Film Festival, the film certainly has a lot of interest for its insight into ritualistic gangs where the most important decisions come in words rather than actions, but one's mileage with the film is likely to vary.

AlexanderExtazy Forget all the Hollywood crap about Chinese gangsters with black suits.. that's a myth.Election series (I & II) focuses on a Triad branch that has a unique election system compared to other organized crime groups.Initiation, membership, and loyalty within their ranks is completely different from other crime groups.What is amazing about this movie is that it shows us life in each member.. from low rank to the top level; and the length (as well as limits) one would go to take the big seat.As one Dutchman once told me about the Triads in Rotterdam; "Menthol". I could also use the same term in this case !The story, the plot, the acting.. was very realistic in my point of view.. No director ever produced an astonishing piece of work that's based on Chinese Triads as good as this. Wonderful work.2nd series is even nicer. The story is more lovely. I can't say more, you watch. =)For those putting low scores on this.. they probably are Hollywood goons who are paid to write these reviews so people can admire Hollywood's own production of similar movie plot.

Jackson Booth-Millard I spotted in the guide to films list for the Santa Barbara Film Festival, where I went when I was in Hollywood, that this film was in screening. Basically there is an election for the new chairman of the Hong Kong Triads Wo Sing Society coming up, so you can imagine how much violence that is going to occur during this. The struggle is between "candidates" Lam Lok (Simon Yam) and Big D (Tony Leung Ka Fai) for control of the oldest and most powerful Triad parts of the society. Also starring Louis Koo as Jimmy Lee, Nick Cheung as Jet, Cheung Siu Fai as Mr. So, Lam Suet as Big Head and Lam Ka Tung as Kun. There are some good realistic corruption themes and moments, just about enough action, apart from maybe when the cops get involved, but a sequel followed, so it's a pretty worthwhile crime drama thriller. Very good!