Chan sam ying hung

Leon Lai teams up with Lau Chin-Wan to defeat two triad lords. This film made me remember the "old" heroic bloodshed´s - like "The Killer", "Hard Boiled" or the genesis of it all, "A Better Tomorrow". There´s still hope for Hong Kong cinema lovers... A superb movie. A true masterpiece. A fantastic mise-en-scene - stylised and romantic - from Hong Kong craftman Johnnie To. Where primitive cinema meets barroquian style and women nature becomes truly fundamental...

The film opens in Thailand, where Triad member Jack (Leon Lai) lets off some steam as he shoots up bowls of fruit and a fortune teller. Afterwards, he steps outside to take a pee, joined by his teammates as big, sweeping music ascends, accompanied by the usual, beautiful, Johnnie To cinematography!

You can't help but smile at some of the over-dramatic moments in A Hero Never Dies. Either the music is just too much for what's going on, or the cast really milk their screen time with some cheesy posing or slow-motion cigar lighting...

There is definitely a hint of dark comedy stretched throughout this heroic bloodshed Milkyway production - from the tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the main characters, to their lines and overall situation of using a barman at their local club, as their middle-man for passing messages to each other (like a married couple bickering, and a child caught in the middle). One extended scene of them trying to enjoy a glass of wine, while they each try to destroy one another's glass, is a prime example. Wonderfully shot, beautifully lit - but just ridiculous at the same time in a fun way.

It took me a couple of watches to enjoy A Hero Never Dies. I think a nice clean Bluray HD version would help! While it has plenty going on in its first 20 minutes, including a number of gun-fights and a darkly funny decapitation by a car door; it still feels slow. But do stick with it as the pace eventually picks up!

Leon Lai does great as the moody Jack, but it has to be Lau Ching Wan who really steals the show as Martin, with his pencil moustache, cowboy hat, and outrageous outfits. Both are great hitmen, and while they are secretly best friends and deliver some funny moments, they each are ruthless when it comes to taking down the enemy or pointing their gun.

Martial arts star and villain, Yen Shi Kwan (Fearless Hyena; Once Upon A Time In China) plays Jack's boss and Triad leader, Mr. Yam, with the great Henry Fong (Shinjuku Incident; So Close) playing Martin's boss. Johnnie To regular, Lam Suet, is present of course as are a host of other recognisable faces...

By the half-way mark, the film takes a dark turn in true Hong Kong style with Johnnie To turning things up a notch, which results in some great drama, gun-play, and heroic bloodshed action. A stylish, beautifully shot film with great performances and violent action that is well worth the watch!

Overall: If you loved A Better Tomorrow, you will love this!!

Other than his good looks and swagger, Leon Lai doesn't have much going for him in this movie. The guy who plays the Wayne Newton/Clark Gable-like character is a better actor.

The movie starts out with a fortune-teller and his altar getting shot. Is it supposed to say something about man determining his own destiny? The female characters are very strong even though they're the gangsters' girlfriends who sacrifice themselves for their men. Fiona did the best acting of anyone in this movie.

I don't understand the plot details and judging from what I've read, other people don't understand it either. The ending's pretty funny.

7/10

Great film, no wonder Mister To won a few festivals with this film.

His work has a director is brilliant in this movie ! Specially the Sukiyaki scene ! Where he proves in an eight-minute scene, that you don't need words to describe a relationship between characters ! Just good shoots, an excellent montage and great actors ! That scene should be a cult scene ! As for the story, it's the story of two men, working for an opposite gang, but still men of pride and honor, this is a story about love, friendship, betrayal, vengeance and hope.

Something I really noticed in this movie, is the great soundtrack ! You might feel that To is trying to use it to easily, but it just works out fine in every scene !

So in a few words : A great film, a must-see ! And should definitely be seen by everybody !

This movie was kind of ridiculous. It's about two gangs that fight each other. Each of the gang's best members got kicked out (in a shoot-out, of course). One gets shot a lot of times, the other loses his legs. This teaches us a valuable lesson, don't get shot. They both survive. One vows for revenge on his boss, the other for his boss. There are many violent gun fights, they're a little ridiculous (get shot? no problem, just keep shooting back!).

7/10