Unlimitedia Sick Product of a Sick System

GazerRise Fantastic!

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Mathilde the Guild Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

CousinBagunca ACTING 9/10 A Better Tomorrow (1986) does great on showing the emotion on every scene. I like how those kinds of movies handle drama. Sometimes, it can be over the top, but, in the end, you might be left with a knot down your throat.SOUNDTRACK 5/10 You'll be hearing the same song over and over and over, with little nuances here and there, kinda like the Super Mario World Super Nintendo game.VISUAL EFFECTS 10/10 Everything is practical and kept simple.PLOT 8/10 A beautiful plot about choices, principles, friendship and loyalty.OVERALL 8/10 A Better Tomorrow is a nice drama to watch. It's not for every one, but those who end up getting interested for this movie won't get disappointed.

Anssi Vartiainen Director John Woo's first big breakthrough movie and still considered to be one of the best Hong Kong action movies. A movie that helped popularizing Hong Kong action in the West and is still, after multiple decades, an iron hard nailbiter.Sung Tse-Ho (Ti Lung) is a member of the Triad in charge of their money deliveries. With him he has his trusted partner Mark Lee (Chow Yun-Fat). But things take a turn for the worse when his last deal goes south - don't they always - and he is caught by the police, thus letting his younger brother Kit (Leslie Cheung), a freshly graduated police officer, know about his criminal tendencies. And thus Ho's life is completely ruined, for even when he gets out of prison, he has lost his position in the Triad, his brother has cut all ties with him and even his partner isn't doing as well as he used to.What I like the most about this film is its ability to mix crazy, completely wild action scenes with scenes of surprising depth and character. Ho and Mark's struggle to regain their footing and position in the world is very identifiable, and Ho's willingness to at least try to straighten up makes him an admirable character. We also have Mark, whose character arc isn't as defined and deep, but who works as a good counterpoint to Ho because of his innate coolness and entertainment factor.John Woo is a legendary name in the action genre, and for a good reason. All the fight scenes are amazing, the special effects have withstood the test of time surprisingly well and you're never lost in space, even though the fights are very energetic and fast-paced.Woo has an instantly recognizable style and if you haven't seen any of his movies, this is a great place to start. It has it all. Great characters, even better action scenes, scenic locations, high stakes and boiling tension. Definitely recommended.

OllieSuave-007 This movie contains what is probably Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat's signature role, Mark Gor. He plays a triad member who teams up with gangster Sung Tse-Ho (Lung Ti) in running a counterfeiting ring. However, a double-crossing sends Ho to jail and Mark injured from a gunshot to the leg. Complicating matters is that Ho's brother Sung Tse-Kit (Leslie Cheung) is a graduate of the HK police academy, whose career as a cop might be tarnished by Ho's crimes.This movie has a powerful plot from start to finish, from the intense drama between the two brothers (Ho wanting to go straight and Kit wanting to have nothing to do with his older brother) and the downtrodden Mark, who, after his injury, yearns to have Ho rejoin him in reviving their crime syndicate. The addition of Emily Chu as Jackie, Kit's girlfriend, gives this intense story a little tenderness, as Jackie wants to lead a quiet life and wants Kit and Ho to make peace with each other. There is also plenty of mind-blowing action, most notably the scene where Mark duns sunglasses and a trench-coat, blasting away a bunch of gang members mercilessly with two shotguns at a restaurant. There are many more gun action scenes, some to the point that is a little overkill. The scenes leading to the climax could have been a little more captivating. But yet overall, the ensuing drama and the powerful acting makes this one of the most iconic Hong Kong action movies.Grade B

MovieMaster95 After watching two of John Woo's action flicks (Hard-Boiled & The Killer) I decided to check out another one of his classics 'A Better Tomorrow'. And while I wasn't a fan of its fewer action sequences ad slower paced style, at first, after re watching the film I think its probably Woo's best.I think the reason I disliked at first was the fact I was expecting a huge over the top actioners like Hard-Boiled and The Killer. But this film is a heroic bloodshed crime drama and focuses on the characters and emotions rather than the action (Which is still fantastic). Plus, it was dubbed...nuff said.The plot revolves around the big boss of a professional counterfeit business named Ho. His brother Kit however is training to be a cop and is unaware of his brothers business. Ho's best friend Mark (Played by the legendary Chow Yun-Fat) works with him as a professional killer who despite his occupation, is a very loyal and caring friend. After a betrayal during a bust, the three characters change over the course of three years and have to go through a lot of hell to deal with their new lives.All the characters keep your interest throughout and feature some really well acted emotional scenes. Ho is constantly struggling to deal with his brother, best friend and the triads he used to work for. Kit becomes a stubborn cop who doesn't know when to let things go. And Mark, one of the coolest characters ever has to deal with struggling life and helping his best friend. Chow Yun-Fat's trademark trench coat, sunglasses and match stick in the mouth increases the appeal of the film.The action scenes, though not at their peak(As said above) are some of the best around at the time of the film's release and are just as cool as ever. Duel pistols, exaggerated blood and ballistic shootout, all trademarks, Woo would later be famous for, appear here for the first time and influenced action cinema to this very day.The film is shot is such a classic fashion but also unique in many places of the film. The soundtrack for the film is also amazing, some of the best film music ever. More could be said about the film but I think this is a film you just have to see. But if you are going to see it, make sure you watch the Cantonese track with subtitle as the dub ruins the emotional moments. Also some DVD's don't have the original soundtrack, so be aware before you buy. Netherless, A Better Tomorrow' is one of the best films I've ever seen and is a definite must see.