A Hero Never Dies

One of To's more melodramatic efforts. For every excellent set piece - for example, a 'break-the-wine-glass' game of one-upmanship - someone has to say the obvious: "Which wine is better?", which says something about the perceived size of said characters', um, egos, and undercuts the scene's power. Other scenes wallow almost embarrassingly in their shit. However, Lau Ching-wan's performance, especially physically in the latter half of the film, is an undiscovered joy.

Stylish callback to the classic HK-shooters by Woo and Lam, with an as always excellent Lau Ching Wan and a ocne again very boring Leon Lai.

Johnnie To, currently Hong Kong's finest director.