To Be No. 1 (1996)
Reviewed by: jfierro on 1999-12-21
Nothing special about this entry in the Triad Boyz genre. Julian Cheung is a hotheaded punk who uses his rashness and lack of morals to rise through the underworld, making many enemies along the way. Of course, the filmmakers make it look like plenty of fun, until the obligatory violent ending. But the moralizing at the end doesn't make up for the outright glamorizing of triad life over the first 3/4 of the movie. It's not like the movie has any power anyway. I'm sorry, but pretty boy Julian Cheung just doesn't make for a very intimidating figure. And frail, delicate Allen Ting is really miscast as Julian's womanizing, tough-guy best friend. I only wish the real Triad Society was made up of such powder puffs.