In this prequel to the original, a bloody power struggle among the Triads coincides with the 1997 handover of Hong Kong, setting up the events of the first film.
Acting
Francis Ng's Ngai is quiet menace personified.
Direction
Lau and Mak turn a handover ceremony into funeral dirge.
Writing
Every death in Part 1 lands harder here.
Director
Alan Mak Siu-Fai
Shawn Yue
Chan Wing Yan
Edison Chen
Lau Kin Ming
Francis Ng Chun-Yu
Ngai Wing Hau
Eric Tsang Chi-Wai
Hon Sam
Carina Lau
Mary Hon
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang
Wong Chi Shing
Hu Jun
Luk Kai Cheung
Andrew Lin Hoi
Ngai Wing Chung
Roy Cheung Yiu-Yeung
Law Kai Yin
Liu Kai-Chi
Uncle John
Joe Cheung Tung-Cho
Ngai Kwun
Chapman To Man-Chat
Silly Keung
Kelly Fu
May
Henry Fong Ping
Gandhi
Peter Ngor Chi-Kwan
Negro
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 1997 handover isn't backdrop—it's another character, witnessing power transfer from British to Chinese hands while Triads mirror that chaos.
Edison Chen and Shawn Yue studied Tony Leung and Andy Lau specifically to match their physical rhythms for the original's callbacks.
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