Infernal Affairs III (2003)
Reviewed by: magic-8 on 2004-02-27
Summary: Good to the Last Shot
"The more things change, the more they stay the same" is the best way to sum up "Infernal Affairs 3" (IA3). This sequel to the successful "Infernal Affairs" returns to the main characters, Yan and Ming (Tony Leung and Andy Lau). And, once again the script by Felix Chong and Alan Mak is dense and full of circuitous plot elements that provide the ebb and flow of the film. The directors, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, use the narrative convention of slipping back and forth in time with Yan's death as the dividing line of past and present. This allows characters, dead and alive, to continue to exist in the world of movie magic. This time out, Leon Lai Ming joins the cast as Yeung, a police investigator at odds with Andy Lau's Ming.

At first "Infernal Affairs 3" may be a bit confusing as it weaves a story told before and after Yan's murder. But once things get going, it's a fast downhill ride. The first IA movie was all about the cat-and-mouse game of wits; IA2 showed how everyone was evil; IA3 demonstrates that what you see is different from what you get, and that appearances can truly be deceiving.

In IA3, Tony's charisma burns bright while Andy turns in a fine and demanding performance, with a nod to Kelly Chen for adding some soul to the cold and calculated predicaments. As Yan gets his vengeance from the grave, Ming grows remorseful and takes on some of Yan's traits to help him through the guilt. Some of the movie's most effective scenes are those with Kelly, Tony and Andy, featuring hypnotism, relaxation therapy and an occasional Freudian slip. Wong and Sam revert to background characters as the emphasis shifts towards Chen Dao Ming as Shen and Yeung.

This true sequel helped to put the prequel IA2 out of my mind, as IA3's shifting of time to bring past and present together was a great device. The star power of Tony Leung and Andy Lau didn't hurt either. The script held together much better than in IA2, where too many inconsistencies interrupted the viewing pleasure. IA3 remedies this by returning to the main presence of Tony and Andy and allowing them to pick up directly from where they left off from the original film.

"Infernal Affairs 3" is a worthy sequel in every respect, with a grand finish.