In recent years I have watched many of such high profile robbery movies like this. But for the life of me this has to be one of the most intense ultra violent movies I have ever witnessed. A cop who personally has a grudge against a mob known for knocking off bank trucks begins to question his own integrity.
With every turn, his case becomes even more complex as he searches for a known criminal Cao Nam (Jun Hu). Convinced the man is the mastermind behind every heist Inspector Lui (Andy Lau)then tries to deceive his department by concealing evidence that would put Cao away for life. But because of the city's endless resources of using cameras on every block, he is recorded shifting evidence at a crime scene.
Pitted against a wall now Lui recruits an ex-offender Bong (Ka Tung Lam) to become a mole within the harsh environment of Cao's gang. Everything then goes horribly wrong when the police are called in to catch the real genius behind the curtain. That being Paco (Ray Lui) who was released on parole just before Bong.
Now with the city in turmoil over a few officer deaths, the last scene of catching Paco turns into one of the most intensifying shoot outs in movie history. Using over twenty thousand bullets, and explosives down town Hong Kong becomes a virtual war zone as police, and Paco's gang exchange firefight every second. Cars, buses, even city blocks are no match.
I have to say this was an excellent vision of a heist film. Every element was used. Emotions, deception, rage, anarchy, and closure. Alan Yuen in my view wrote a fantastic script which involved the human nature to its most basic, and minute levels. To see the characters go over board to keep themselves alive aside from the obvious.
The music was top notch, the directing was beyond par, and Yuen gave us a glimpse of how so much of china's moral has lessened in the last twenty years. Money is the object now, no more family traditions, nor old or past mistakes taken into account to rectify the future of its citizens. It is a gritty, violent, and audacious piece of filming. Alan Yuen will be the next generations director. Highly recommended to those who love heist films. Not for those under age 17.
With every turn, his case becomes even more complex as he searches for a known criminal Cao Nam (Jun Hu). Convinced the man is the mastermind behind every heist Inspector Lui (Andy Lau)then tries to deceive his department by concealing evidence that would put Cao away for life. But because of the city's endless resources of using cameras on every block, he is recorded shifting evidence at a crime scene.
Pitted against a wall now Lui recruits an ex-offender Bong (Ka Tung Lam) to become a mole within the harsh environment of Cao's gang. Everything then goes horribly wrong when the police are called in to catch the real genius behind the curtain. That being Paco (Ray Lui) who was released on parole just before Bong.
Now with the city in turmoil over a few officer deaths, the last scene of catching Paco turns into one of the most intensifying shoot outs in movie history. Using over twenty thousand bullets, and explosives down town Hong Kong becomes a virtual war zone as police, and Paco's gang exchange firefight every second. Cars, buses, even city blocks are no match.
I have to say this was an excellent vision of a heist film. Every element was used. Emotions, deception, rage, anarchy, and closure. Alan Yuen in my view wrote a fantastic script which involved the human nature to its most basic, and minute levels. To see the characters go over board to keep themselves alive aside from the obvious.
The music was top notch, the directing was beyond par, and Yuen gave us a glimpse of how so much of china's moral has lessened in the last twenty years. Money is the object now, no more family traditions, nor old or past mistakes taken into account to rectify the future of its citizens. It is a gritty, violent, and audacious piece of filming. Alan Yuen will be the next generations director. Highly recommended to those who love heist films. Not for those under age 17.