Infernal Affairs is the film The Departed was based on, and when I say based on, I really mean remade wholesale. Scorsese lost a few points with me that night, as Infernal Affairs tells the same exact story (very much with the same details) with 40 fewer minutes and a villain that out-badasses Jack Nicholson. Tony Leung and Andy Lau aren't bad either... what am I saying, they're great! Throw in Christopher Doyle's beautiful cinematography and you have a high end Hong Kong picture that tends to outshine its American copy.
Though I may be tainted by having seen The Departed before this movie, I do think Departed is the better movie, and contrary to carlos below, think that it also has a darker ending. A Chinese friend of mine of course disagrees with me strongly. My conclusion is therefore that preference between the two is just that, literally a matter of preference. The two are essentially the same film, only the styles and actors differentiate them.
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 14 of 14
Siskoid
Infernal Affairs is the film The Departed was based on, and when I say based on, I really mean remade wholesale. Scorsese lost a few points with me that night, as Infernal Affairs tells the same exact story (very much with the same details) with 40 fewer minutes and a villain that out-badasses Jack Nicholson. Tony Leung and Andy Lau aren't bad either... what am I saying, they're great! Throw in Christopher Doyle's beautiful cinematography and you have a high end Hong Kong picture that tends to outshine its American copy.Earring72
Exciting crime drama!Strange use of editing though with the black screens.
Gonna watch The Departed again soon.....
george4mon
it would have been better without the black and white cuts with cheesy music but i still really enjoyed it.Monteyn
Music was extremely kitschy, I couldn't stand some so-called powerful songs in there because of 80's synthesizer tones.Skyscore
http://www.afisha.ru/movie/172530/review/154740/Oneironaut
Really enjoyed it. Might watch The Departed sometime to see how it compares, but really, a remake wasn't necessary.FrankHowley
Fantastic.Skyscore
http://www.afisha.ru/movie/172530/review/154740/ReVision
Awesome movie, i think it's better then The Departed.manwithpetgull
Though I may be tainted by having seen The Departed before this movie, I do think Departed is the better movie, and contrary to carlos below, think that it also has a darker ending. A Chinese friend of mine of course disagrees with me strongly. My conclusion is therefore that preference between the two is just that, literally a matter of preference. The two are essentially the same film, only the styles and actors differentiate them.Samlion
seen in 2004 in a movie theater, everything is great and looks even better after seeing the poor american copycarlosortegap
Great film. Still think that The Departed is better in everything but the end. This end is chilling.mi-16evil
Great Hong Kong gangster film! Better than The Departed in my opinion.natrajan
awesome movie