Tsui Hark, who did us a favor in not directing part one of this series, is here to remind us, that it better that way. Since John Woo(ldn't) want to have any of this sequel/prequel or whatever you like to call it, they had to find somebody else. And although the idea is nice, it was completely unnecessary and uncalled for. Not every movie brand needs a trilogy ...
Although you have familiar actors here, the stories just don't seem to mix up, with what happened or will happen in the A better tomorrow movies. You will also notice a change of style here. Now I won't hold it against Hark that he tried something different here (it's the "damned if he does, doomed if he doesn't" situation), but it just doesn't work. Watch "Bullet in the Head" instead to see, how this could've looked like, if Woo directed it! :o)
Although you have familiar actors here, the stories just don't seem to mix up, with what happened or will happen in the A better tomorrow movies. You will also notice a change of style here. Now I won't hold it against Hark that he tried something different here (it's the "damned if he does, doomed if he doesn't" situation), but it just doesn't work. Watch "Bullet in the Head" instead to see, how this could've looked like, if Woo directed it! :o)