So, I'm going to start by saying that this movie is an homage to the 1986's movie A Better Tomorrow. The story goes around two brothers and a friend, in opposite sides of the law, and the ups and downs in their lives.

1986 is one of my all-time favourites, in 2010 there was a korean remake of this movie, very competent as well. This one hasn't got the finesse of Woo's shootouts - that why he is one of the most famous action director in asian/american cinema - and hasn't the "deepness" of the story in the korean version - usually the koreans try to build a solid story, and by doing so, they build characters, as well - but this is really a very good movie. The story is straight forward, the pacing is very nice, there's a lot of action scenes, here, more direct and simple...

So, eventhough there's no way this can match to the original, is, still, one hell of a joy ride.

It has actually been quite a while since I have seen the original two movies, both directed by John Woo, so I can't quite remember how they went, though at the end of this film it basically stated that it was based on the first one. However, this is a Chinese film, as opposed to a Hong Kong film, though I would pretty much state that the golden era of Hong Kong cinema is well and truly over. In fact, I'd go as far as suggesting that there probably isn't much difference between Hong Kong and Chinese cinema these days, if what I have watched is anything to go by, not that this film is actually all that bad.

In a way it is a tragedy, but John Woo, especially during his Hong Kong days, was well know for making tragedies, and the films that are based on his works tend to go in that direction, and this one is no expectation. The film focuses on three main characters, one who is a police officer, and two who are smugglers, and one of the smugglers is the brother of the police officer. The smugglers have made the decision that they would only smuggle things that don't hurt others, so drugs are out of the question, however there is pressure on them to change their tune due to the money that can be made. Because they refuse, they are set up and one of them ends up in prison.

The film is really about family ties, with a bit on action thrown in for good measure. In fact it explores the brotherly relationship between the two smugglers, as well as that between the smuggler and the police officer. Of course the police officer finds himself in a bit of a pickle when he discovers that his brother is a smuggler, since while he knew that he spent a lot of time at sea, he didn't realise that it was for criminal purposes. Obviously when he does find out, things do change with their relationship.

It also explores the idea that it can be pretty difficult to escape a life of crime once you are caught up in it, and even when you do go straight, the lure of the money that one made previously is always there (if you actually profited from your expeditions). Obviously, if you were good at what you did, then there is also that, because your previous partners in crime are going to want to lure you back into the trade. Oh, and needless to say, it can be pretty difficult to be involved in the criminal underworld, yet also stick to a code of ethics - as they say there is no honour among thieves.

It is interesting as it is a film that does give you a glimpse into a Chinese perspective, more so than a lot of the Hong Kong films did. It is set in a coastal city in Northern China, and the smuggling route is between Japan and China. In a way we see a lifestyle that it little different to that in Hong Kong, though you do get the feeling that it is more rural and laid back than what you would get in the inner-cities. As a film it wasn't bad, though it certainly didn't beat the John Woo masterpieces. However, the way the film did end did reflect those classic Hong Kong films of yesteryear.

They seriously just remade the plot and every scene, with bad actors and stupid fights scenes.. This is just like those cheap hollywood remakes.