[1999 was a good year.] When Johnnie To released The Mission, the film was like a tsunami across the cinematic world. At the time, it was his finest work. It placed the director firmly in the spotlight of international fame. Looking back from 2007 after a festival screening of Exiled [2006], the film holds up well. It is still quite compelling and visually stunning. The performances by the principal players still hold great resonance. To, after a brief comedic period, has made some better films like the grim police thriller PTU and the esoteric Throw Down. This movie is still an absolute must-see if you are new to the films of Mr. To.