Infernal Affairs (2002)
Sometimes the remake is better than the original.
Presentation:
A precursor to The Departed, this Hong Kong original is still worse is nearly every capacity. Scorsese follows the script so closely it almost feels like plagiarism even in the smallest details and discussions. This makes it all the more impressive that the Western remake is so much better. Infernal Affairs is much shorter and as a result the entire film feels like a rushed action film. It covers the backstory in about 5 minutes which feels more like a recap than a movie. Plot-wise it’s pretty similar beat for beat with minor variations. The kingpin is not nearly as magnetic as Jack Nicholson and feels like a minor character with the limited screen time. The love interest is a joke inserted with as much chemistry as a blind date and the presentation is more of a bootleg DVD than cinematic tale for the ages. The music is overly dramatic and there is no reward during the execution of crucial plot turns. It still has the same DNA with dutch angles and plot devices, but I think this is not worth the watch.
Conclusion:
I suppose your perception of these films depends on which you watched first. I can’t fathom how someone would prefer this over The Deparated but it did come first and deserves a ton of respect for the compelling source material. Scorsese demonstrates why he is a master while Wai Keung Lau just made a commercial flick. Sometimes it’s not the story, it’s the execution.
Recommendations
One does not simply get revenge on Billy the Butcher.