DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Infernal Affairs 2 (Special Collector's Edition)

By Jeff Swindoll Feb 22, 2007, 14:13 GMT

$Drawing favourable critical comparisons to \'The Godfather - Part 2\', \'Infernal Affairs 2\' similarly explores, in prequel form, the events that took place as Lau Kin Ming (Chen) and Chen Wing Yan (Yue) infiltrated the police and criminal forces...$

Drawing favourable critical comparisons to \'The Godfather - Part 2\', \'Infernal Affairs 2\' similarly explores, in prequel form, the events that took place as Lau Kin Ming (Chen) and Chen Wing Yan (Yue) infiltrated the police and criminal forces... ...more

Though the back of the box plays up the fact that Matt Damon and Leonardo Di Caprio play the characters in Martin Scorcese’s remake, The Departed, this prequel stands on its own merits.

The creators of Infernal Affairs (2002) found such critical success with that film that they made this prequel in 2003. It follows the earlier lives of the characters of Infernal Affairs, Lau (Edison Chen) and Chan (Shawn Yue). It doesn’t hurt that Chen and Yue portrayed younger versions of Lau and Chan in Infernal Affairs. Kwun has been assassinated and his son Hau (Francis Ng) steps in to take over for the fallen crime lord.

Chan is drawn into the Triads

Hau is seen as a weak replacement for Kwun since he was an accountant in training. The Triad bosses are just waiting for Hau to fail, but Sam (Eric Tsang) remains loyal to Kwun’s family. Lau (played by Tony Leung in Infernal Affairs) is a young enrollee in the police academy and Inspector Wong (Anthony Wong) sends the young Chan (played by Andy Lau in Infernal Affiars) to infiltrate Hau’s organization.

Both of them have their secrets that will be reveled as the prequel unspools. The film covers 1991, 1995, and 1997 in the lives of our various characters and reveals some of the reasons why they are the way they are in Infernal Affairs.

Before I begin the review breakdown I should admit that I’ve not seen Infernal Affairs (or the Departed either for that matter). I was a bit peeved that they chose to highlight Di Caprio and Damon on the back of the box and not mention the actual cast of this film. Marketing people, what can I say? I’ve heard very good things both about Infernal Affairs and the Departed. Some things are rather obvious, even to myself. Such as when a particular character (who I know to be in Infernal Affairs from its plot description) appears on the screen at the beginning with Inspector Wong and is revealed by a musical sting.

Obviously this character is shown in a different light in Infernal Affairs (listed as ruthless in the plot description of it) and the audience is supposed to notice this. I pretty much considered that I’d be lost in the plot and not end up enjoying the film. The opposite was true since I ended up actually liking it very much. Now I do offer that opinion with reservations since I’m not familiar with the events of Infernal Affairs and have yet to dig it out of my DVD collection to watch it.

Hau finds himself propelled to Triad boss by the death of his father

The film has been favorably compared to the Godfather II and I can see that comparison. Towards the end of the film there’s a series of assassinations that mirror that film quite nicely and are probably the reason for the comparison. All in all, I did end up greatly enjoying the film even with my unfamiliarity with the storyline. Having watched this one first may enhance the nuances of the characters when I finally sit down to watch Infernal Affairs.

Infernal Affairs 2 is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Dragon Dynasty lays on the special features for the U.S. debut of this film on DVD.

There’s a commentary (in Cantonese with English subtitles) with director Siu Fai Mak, Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang, actress Carina Lau, Edison Chen, actor Chapman To, actor Jun Hu, Francis Ng, and other cast members. Next are 11 minutes of deleted scenes and is followed by the 21 minute “Making of Infernal Affairs 2.” It has interviews (again in Cantonese with English subtitles) with the cast and crew.

“Confidential File” runs 5 minutes and shows some behind the scenes bits, including an elaborate blessing ceremony for the film’s production. Finally, the trailer gallery contains the teaser and final trailer. An Infernal Affairs trilogy pack is also available with the original Miramax disc of Internal Affairs and the Dragon Dynasty versions of 2 and 3.

Infernal Affairs 2 was a film that I watched against my better judgment since I haven’t watched the “first” one yet. However, I ended up liking the film. Those that have watched the film will surely appreciate the insight into the character’s motivations that are provided with this prequel. Some nice special features make this a must own for fans of the trilogy or first film.