Election 2 by Johnnie To Kei Fung (2006)
8 August 2006It has been a while since I have seen a sequel that so perfectly builds on the story of the first one, and even tops it. I thought the first of these films was fantastic, and this film betrays nothing from that film, from the strength of it’s story, it’s cinematography, it’s acting and it’s editing. These 2 films are really the best of the best of Hong Kong, and the best Hong Kong films I have seen in a long time. Really a return to form for To back to his superb crime dramas of the 90’s, though this film is darker, much darker. There is no glory in being a triad only brutality and betrayal.
REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS…
This film is literally Election 2, the next Election after Lok’s (Simon Yam Tat Wah) election as triad leader at the end of the last film, and 2 years later when his term of office in the Wo Sing triad is up. Lok calls a meeting with all those that helped him in the last film included Kun (Gordan Lam Ka Tung) who wants to run for Boss, and Jimmy (Louis Koo Tin Lok) who as the gangs biggest money maker, most want him to run, but he is not inclined, he only wants to be a businessman, and Jet (Nick Cheugn Ka Fai) who is still hiding and loyal to Lok, though he has gotten nothing for his loyalty. Lok is happy about this, because the only real opposition to him changing tradition and taking the seat for another 2 years is the support that the Uncles (led by Wong Tin Lam) have for Jimmy.
Things change for Jimmy though. He is making big business deals in China for land, and getting out of the pirate DVD and VCD business to try and go legitimate, not even wanting to be a triad member, but he is arrested by Chinese Inspector Xi (You Yong) and told he is not allowed to do business in China anymore unless he becomes the Wo Sing boss. Jimmy has big dreams, to become legitimate and have children who are doctors and lawyers, so he decides to go for the post, and go directly against Lok.
Lok is as bloodthirsty as ever (exactly why Xi does not want him in power) and declares war on Jimmy, first kidnapping his head financier, and killing the head Uncle who supports Jimmy. So Jimmy does whatever is necessary, betraying a friend who has been set up, hiring a brutal killer (Mark Cheng Ho Nam) and kidnapping Lok’s closest men, and torturing them, and killing them one by and one, grinding them up and feeding them to dogs, until they agree to betray there boss and kill him, leaving only Jimmy in the running.
Jimmy takes his power and talks to Inspector Li, who hands over his baton of power and tells him how it is going to be, Jimmy is now going to eradicate the election system and make Wo Sing pass down to his son, keeping it in the family, because Xi can work with Jimmy, but Jimmy doesn’t want to, he wants out, but through his acts he has moved more and more in and will never escape. He is trapped.
•••••
This film has scenes of intense brutality, but it is not your typical hong kong triad film with many big battles, it is much more a game of chess between two master players, with each attempting to be more brutal than the other to win the upper hand. This is such a dark film, and so much darker than Election, which only got super dark at it’s ending when you realize just how down and dirty and evil Lok actually was, when you had sympathized with him the entire film, but I find that adds to this film, because it revels in it’s darkness, and takes it to it’s logical conclusion.
Wow, with these films Johnnie To’s crime dramas are back with a vengeance, now if only he would work with Lau Ching Wan again, who has sorely lacked the amazing roles he had when the 2 collaborated again and again.
The DVD is All Region, and well worth the price. Run, don’t walk and buy these films!
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