As someone who enjoyed the original Infernal Affairs I thought a prequel, while I don't think it's necessary I don't have any big objection to it. So I decided to sit down and watch it and it seems to me that they wanted to tell anything BUT an Infernal Affairs prequel and more of a cop drama about taking down a leader of the triads.The plot is that in 1991 after Lau Kin Ming from the first movie kills a man... Wait WHAT? Isn't the point of his character in the first movie supposed to be that he has no criminal record so nobody would suspect him? Anyway, his son becomes a triad boss who can dig up every bit of personal information at the drop of a hat. Years later he begins to seize more power as Superintendent Wong from the first movie tries to stop him and put him away for life.Okay this movie goes way over-the-top. Whenever some people die in this movie there's that music that means they want you to feel sad, almost like you're meant to feel shocked that extra #12 got shot... Now with the first movie the deaths that were portrayed in that light worked because they were completely unexpected, you got to know the characters even a little bit and they were major and memorable characters plus even though some might consider them as over-the-top they at least fitted.Then there was the continuity errors. I said one being that Lau committed criminal acts in this one when the reason why he was chosen to be a mole in the Police Force was because they wouldn't suspect him among others. For example, Wong and Chan's had a conversation that established that the only other person who knew his identity retired... YEAH! by being blown up in a car explosion. There are inconsistencies like that in this movie.I think this movie would have been a whole lot better if it was just a cop drama where the cops try and take down a triad leader. I know it would have been clichéd but I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it didn't have the Infernal Affairs name on it. I would say go watch it. There is a good movie behind the complaints I raised but the inconsistencies and how over-the-top things are just drag it down.

This is the second of the 'Infernal Affairs' trilogy, and is a prequel to the events portrayed in the 2002 film Infernal Affairs. Concentrating more on the Triads and the power struggle that ensues when one of their bosses is assassinated. In particular the rise of Hon Sam is portrayed here along with the relationships he develops within the Hong Kong police. More of this later, here's a brief summary first (summary haters, and those that don't wish to know about the plot, please take out another crime boss while I write the next paragraph).When the main Triad boss, Father Kwun is killed, his son, Ngai Wing Hau takes over the business. The other bosses don't agree at first but soon fall into line when they realise Hau is no pushover. Lower down the pecking-order, Hon Sam is just waiting for the opportunity to move up the ladder. He already has contacts inside the police force, including Inspector Wong Chi Shing, who would dearly love to take him down. Chan Wing Yan is an undercover cop installed in the gang to gain information on their activities. Sam is also grooming a young cop to be his inside man in the Police not realising that this young cop has a serious crush on his wife, Mary. As events progress more and more of the Triad bosses meet grizzly ends and it soon becomes a show-down between Sam, who has survived an attempt on his life in Thailand, and Hau. Will the Police have a say in the outcome though? I'll leave it there so as not to upset the Hong Kong Spoiler Police.This is a pretty well made film with some good performances and quite a nice soundtrack. It is quite violent and some of the violence is quite graphic in places. As I said, good performances, particularly from; Anthony Wong Chau-Sang as Inspector Wong Chi Shing, Eric Tsang who was excellent again as Hon Sam, Carina Lau as Mary Hon, Francis Ng as Ngai Wing Hau, Edison Chen as Officer Lau Kin Ming and Shawn Yue as Chan Wing Yan.Because it concentrates on the workings of the criminal elements, I felt this film was almost trying to be a Chinese version of 'The God Father'. It's clearly not as good as that, but there's enough double-dealing going on to make it a good candidate. I did find it a little too long, but it did keep my attention. Not as good as the first one, but still quite watchable… Recommended.My Score: 7.1/10

excerpt, more at my location - That there was a sequel to Infernal Affairs is not a surprise. In Hong Kong, if something works, odds are it will be sequelised, or simply ripped off. Even so, the bar was high for Infernal Affairs II. Did directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak clear it, or did their endeavours fall short?A thrilling surprise of a picture that enriches repeat viewings of the (mildly superior) first film, making the viewer appreciate it even more, and not simply by favourable comparison. Andrew Lau and Alan Mak are beginning to reveal the width and breadth of the canvas on which they are painting an epic Hong Kong crime drama - the question remained, could they pull it off one more time?A superb achievement, to offer something different while remaining faithful to the original film. Comparisons to first two Godfather movies is not hyperbole.

First I want to point out the bad point; The plot is convoluted and requires the viewing of the original and possibly its sequel, IA3 in oder to watch this one to full effect. This is definitely not a good place to start for someone who wants to watch the trilogy, the original would be better for them. I watched the original before this and that really engrossed me into the story of this one.The good points; the acting, cinematography, soundtrack.Acting; All round great performances giving each character an extra layer of depth. Shawn Yue and Edison Chen are fantastic with their understated performances. If they over played their parts it would have ruined the whole movie. The other newcomer Francis Ng also shines as the triad boss and the regulars such as Eric Tsang are brilliant like usual.Cinematography- The night time locations are used more often than the original and makes the movie all the more atmospheric.Soundtrack- I have to say it was the haunting soundtrack that made me give the movie a 9 and not an 8. The music really helps build the tension and dare I say it, nearly made me cry (I'm really macho).This isn't as good as the original but it is uniquely different which is a good thing.