After watching this movie, one could feel the immense similarity of the director's previous work "chasing the dragon". Although the story is set in a technological era, the color tone feels very nostalgic, and the characters are often shown in upper half body close-up shots. A major flaw comes from the loose and unconvincing script. For example, in one scene, the protagonist's former drug dealer partner seeks revenge on him because his family was destroyed by drugs (What was that?). This plot is too childish, conveyed in just a few seconds of footage, leaving the audience confused and asking, "What just happened?" The male actors are all veteran artists from Hong Kong, delivering standard performances that are neither outstanding nor objectionable. The female lead's role could have been better, but the audience is unable to feel her past trauma. It could be due to her emotionless acceptance of a proposed ring, or perhaps her bad girl vibe while smoking during pregnant, or maybe her nonchalant way of serving apples to guests, smiling so brightly and sunnily without a hint of the forced cheerfulness, which happened to someone who suffer mental illness. If not for the repeated trauma scenes that happened before, one would never sense any suffering in the female lead from the actress's expression. Basically, this also diminishes the audience's empathy for the male lead.
"Sorry, I am a police officer," a line that has been overused in Hong Kong cop movies since "Infernal Affairs". If the second male lead takes his identity as a police officer so seriously, why does he repeatedly save the male lead? Is it an inability to adhere to his duties, or is it a failure to withstand the test of friendship? Being pursued by the male lead's henchmen, he doesn't even get angry and scream back, is this really a normal behavior? Perhaps the director is suggesting that the second male lead also has tendencies of mental instability. I wouldn't know.
The actor playing the head of the police crime technology unit, his dubbing sounds is awkward and doesn't match his baby-faced appearance.
This movie would never leave a lasting impression on audience. Right after we're stepping out from the theater, we'd have forgotten 90% of the movie plots.
"Sorry, I am a police officer," a line that has been overused in Hong Kong cop movies since "Infernal Affairs". If the second male lead takes his identity as a police officer so seriously, why does he repeatedly save the male lead? Is it an inability to adhere to his duties, or is it a failure to withstand the test of friendship? Being pursued by the male lead's henchmen, he doesn't even get angry and scream back, is this really a normal behavior? Perhaps the director is suggesting that the second male lead also has tendencies of mental instability. I wouldn't know.
The actor playing the head of the police crime technology unit, his dubbing sounds is awkward and doesn't match his baby-faced appearance.
This movie would never leave a lasting impression on audience. Right after we're stepping out from the theater, we'd have forgotten 90% of the movie plots.
