Quote:
Originally Posted by Hack&Lube
For all people who have seen the original, they've told me this movie was pretty pale in comparison.
I have to agree that the Hong Kong original (Infernal Affairs) is a much much superior film. If you've seen the original, this feels like a shoddy substandard rip-off with clumsier movement and ending.
I suppose there is a degree of loyalty to the original but I've been told by many people that the Departed is crap in comparison and they even fell asleep in it.
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From what I hear (I haven't seen the original, 'internal affairs' myself), they followed the original closely in terms of overall story. I guess it depends on your perspective whether you think its better or worse than the original:
"Only the most devout fans of Hong Kong cinema would be so enamored with the original to say there's no improving upon its excellence. Several characters were under-developed, the soundtrack made awkward use of pop music, and the script went out of its way to remind you of the protagonists' conflicting dualities. Still, can you blame people for being skeptical of another botched Hollywood remake? The Departed, however, is one of those rare exceptions of a film that generally improves on the source material, despite falling short of it in other ways."
- review from Rottentomatoes.com
"Personally, I kept wondering why no one had thought to film such a story a long time ago; just the same, Infernal Affairs, as competently made as it was, could've used a stronger injection of cinematic attiude (it would've been right up the alley of early John Woo). Without it, the movie was mostly notable for its plot and a strong performance by Leung in particular...Scorsese's involvement with an across-the-Pacific version had a lot of potential, and I'd say he lives up to it."
- another review from Rottentomatoes
Azim