Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

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.

This isn't as violent as I was expecting which makes the violent scenes appear all the more brutal and effective.There are a lot of twists and turns and back stabbing and double crossing all the way through the film making it hard to know who's side a particular character is on.The plot is pacey with some good dialogue and character development and gives an interesting view of the workings of the Triad gang it follows.The violence when it comes is brutal, no guns or martial art scenes with special effects, this is believable in your face violence and for all the dialogue you are never allowed forget that the Triad is a violent criminal organisation.The ending is surprising but thoroughly consistent and believable.

enjoyed the movie and efficient Confucian crime drama, the old order survives the threat posed by a brash young greedy man, no doubt representing modern society. I thought the final scene was strange and could not understand if we were to believe that big D was being punished for being greedy or it was part of the plan a long. I loved the scene and for once in a Chinese movie, the violence was not a choreographed martial arts fest. On thing that always amuses me about HK films is that the main influence the British seem to have had is to introduce 'yes sir' and 'sorry' into the local language and its amusing that long after we have gone, they are still there.

Johny To makes here one of his best style exercises, making a strong film with a good Yakuza's story. The election of the new Yakuza's boss is the beginning of a war inside the organization.In my opinion the violence is wise used in the context, making a very strong gangs film. I specially love the way he tells the history, moving around all the roles inside the Yakuza's family, and making that we see the violence, like the only way they have to solve their problems...Talking about, the technical aspects, the film is a good example of paused, rythmic and planified way of shooting a film. One of the Hong Kong Films of the year. Is like Infernal affairs, but without the easy action-violence scenes, and the confused storyline. Strongly recommended to all Asian films lovers.(sorry for my English, better do in Spanish lol)