This drama series is not your run-of-the-mill crime thriller, writes Loong Wai Ting
WHAT’S more exciting? Popular Hong Kong crime movie Infernal Affairs gets its own TV treatment or watching former top TVB stars pitted against each other, playing hardened officers and ruthless mafia bosses? I’m all for the latter.
Infernal Affairs, which starred Andy Lau, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Anthony Wong and Eric Tsang, was previously helmed by directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. It inspired Hollywood director Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning film, The Departed (2006). The film has also inspired many remakes, including Kim Dong-won’s City Of Damnation and JD Chakravarthy’s Telugu film Homam.
Produced by Media Asia and former TVB producer Tommy Leung, Infernal Affairs will stretch through three seasons with each season consisting of 12 episodes. Currently, the series can be streamed online on several Chinese streaming portals. Good news for the local audience. The series is currently showing every Saturday and Sunday at 11.30pm on TVB Jade (Astro channel 326).
The TV version of Infernal Affairs uses the same concept but with an entirely new story and characters. Former TVB actor Him Law plays Wai, a probationary inspector who aspires to be the fastest and youngest officer to be promoted in Hong Kong.
During a drug raid, he encounters Ng (a cameo by singer-songwriter Edmond Leung). In the past, Wai and Ng didn’t always see eye to eye in all matters. Seeking to settle a personal score with his old nemesis, Wai decides not to help Ng when the latter gets entangled in the drug raid.
When Mainland officer Bullet (Wayne Yang) pops by to visit Ng, he is shocked that the former has fallen to his death, presumably from a drug overdose. Bullet resolves to find out the truth and to prove his friend’s innocence.
Later, he discovers that Ng’s death is not what it seems to be.
In one of the pivotal scenes, about 100 extras, all of them dressed in black, mourn the death of one of their own in front of the Kowloon Funeral Parlour. They include Han, realistically played by former TVB actor Gallen Lo. Canada-born and Hong Kong-based actress Bernice Liu plays Martha, Han’s love interest.
The series also features a star-studded line-up including veteran actors Damian Lau, Paul Chun, Lo Hoi-pang, Eric Tsang, Derek Kok and Dominic Lam. Ever since HKTV (Hong Kong’s Internet TV station) came up with its own highly stylised and game-changing TV shows such as The Election, The Menu, Beyond The Rainbow and Night Shift, the viewing habits and the audiences’ taste in TV entertainment has changed drastically.
For a while, HKTV was seen as a “saviour” providing an alternative form of storytelling, via its original drama The Election, starring our own Angelica Lee. All of its series have been applauded by critics and fans alike for its alternative output compared to its peer TVB, who is often criticised for its mundane dramas.
But the government’s controversial decision over granting it free-to-air licence has put off its boss, Ricky Wong’s media ambition. He is now focused on expanding his online shopping platform.
Now, let’s not stray too far from the original topic.
Despite the different story and characters, the series nonetheless has captured the spirit and tone of the movie without having to conform to the original script. So far, the concept works and does a good job translating the new idea into the characters. What I like about Infernal Affairs is the way it is shot. Using mostly techniques often associated with feature-length filmmaking, every shot looks picturesque. Besides that glossy look, it utilises a lot of wide angle shots.
There are some great cinematography skills, which is not something you often see in a typical Hong Kong drama. It also uses a lot of natural lighting to enhance its storytelling and the on-location shoots add authenticity to the setting. And it’s a good thing to see that Hong Kong is finally branching out from its traditional form of storytelling and studios that look unrealistic and cheap.
The characters’ costumes are given a significant upgrade as well. Everyone including the lowest rank gang members are dressed up in dapper suits. Even if you’re not keen on the occasional violence, at least there’s some beautiful fashion to look at.
The plot is both clever and complex. It’s a long and intense build-up and you know something big is about to happen from the way the police officers are turning their backs on upholding integrity within the force, and the gangsters basically go scot-free after killing someone.
Infernal Affairs is a rewarding watch and the complexity is one that’s rarely seen in a crime thriller series. I won’t reveal how the plot unfolds because that’s for you to find out.