DVD Review by David Blackwell

DETAILS: 101 minutes, Alternate Ending, The Making of Infernal Affairs, Confidential File, International trailer, Original Chines trailer

STUDIO: MIRAMAX/ MEDIA ASIA

RELEASE DATE: 12-7-2004

ANALYSIS: INFERNAL AFFAIRS is easily one of the best crime dramas I have seen this year. the plot, in a nutshell, is a criminal gang boos (Sam) has placed gang members to be trained as cops while the cops put a mole in the gang and one mole (Yan) starts his search for the police mole (Inspector Lau) who is also looking for Yan.

Tong Leung Chiu Wai plays Yan, who has been undercover as a gangster for ten years. Yan wants out and have his life back. Meanwhile, Andy Lau is Inspector Lau, a mole that Triad boss Sam (Eric Tsang) has planted in the police force. While Yan uses morse code to help the cops bring down Sam, Lau uses various methods to inform Sam of the cop's plans including giving the scanner frequency of the police walkie talkies. Yan finds out that Sam is using a mole in the police to find the one who is leaking info to the cops. Of course, Sam has a big ego that may lead to his downfall. Only one person knows Yan is still undercover in the Triad, SP Wong (Anthony Wang Chau-Sang). Wong makes Yan go see a shrink (Kelly Chen). On the other side of the law, Mary (Sammi Cheng) is starting to have an influence on her soon-to-be husband, Lau. Will Lau choose to be good and turn away from Sam? Will Yan be able to come out alive without being discovered by Sam?  This thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat as you wait for the events to unfold.

VIDEO/AUDIO: INFERNAL AFFAIRS is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. Color saturation and black levels are good, but the picture is soft and very fuzzy whenever you pause it. The transfer leaves room for improvement.

You can hear the movie in the original Chinese or the English dub version. Both are presented in 5.1 Dolby Digital. Dialogue is clear. Music and sound effects come through. English and Spanish subtitle options are also on the DVD.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

THE MAKING OF INFERNAL AFFAIRS is basically a 16 minute promotional piece as the actors and directors talk about the characters and the nature of good and evil. CONFIDENTIAL FILE- A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT INFERNAL AFFFAIRS shows stuff happening while the movie is shooting and when it isn't shooting and video of a celebration dinner.

The alternate ending is almost the same as the ending in the movie except for a twist at the end. INFERNAL AFAIRS would have worked with either ending.

Oddly enough, MIRAMAX has decided to include two trailers for the movie. I think the original Chinese trailer is superior to the International trailer. I do suggest you watch the trailers after you watch the movie. Previews on this DVD are for Miramax 25th Anniversary, HERO, and ZATOICHI.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Despite the transfer of the movie being average looking, you should definitely rent this movie on DVD and buy it if you like it (previously viewed or new). INFERNAL AFFAIRS is by far one of the best crime thrillers I've seen.

this DVD Review is (c)12-2-2004 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments to lodr_pragmagtic@hotmail.com and look for additional content (and site updates) at http://www.livejournal.com/users/enterlinemedia