1986 Movie
Dir. John Woo · Hong Kong · Cantonese, Chinese
Two brothers make amends in this emotionally laden Hong Kong actioner
When A Better Tomorrow was released, its producers expected a box office bomb. It was more melodramatic than most action films prior, and the cast was not well known then. Instead, this gangster flick became a surprise box office hit. The reasons it was expected to fail were also the very reasons it succeeded, as loyalty and brotherhood solidified and made the characters’ motivations compelling. And all these lofty ideas were paired with a striking soundtrack, and stunning images like Chow Yun-Fat lighting his cigarette off of burning cash. A Better Tomorrow proved to be the future of Hong Kong cinema, setting the stage for gun fu and more emotionally-driven action sequences.
A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.
A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
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