Election 2

2006

Director: Johnnie To

Stars: Simon Yam, Louis Koo, Wong Tin-Lam, Gordon Lam, Nick Cheung, Lam Suet, Andy On, Mark Cheng

Available for purchase at www.sensasian.com

Johnnie To's follow-up to last year's critical darling continues where the first film left off. The current chairman of the Wo Shing gang, Lok (Simon Yam), does not want to give up his seat, but the elders of the gang do not want to break tradition, and so persuade a rising young "star", Jimmy (Louis Koo). As you might expect, the election process results in many double-crosses, which leads to a violent confrontation between the two factions of the gang.

Election 2, like the first film, is a fairly slow-paced affair, so those expecting a flashy Young and Dangerous-esque affair might be disappointed. But the solid acting and the lovingly crafted cinematography make the process worthwhile. And for those who do enjoy a bit of the spilled claret, there are some brutal scenes which should satisfy your craving for bloodshed. This isn't one of the greats in the pantheon of HK gangster films, but it at least has a glimmer of those classics, which is a lot more than many recent releases could hope to say.

RATING: 7.5