Review of A Better Tomorrow II (1987) by Robin W — 08 Apr 2008

As an overall film, this probably isn't superior to the original "Better Tomorrow", but the elements that do work are so magical that its flaws are easily forgiven. This sequel commits the ultimate sin of contrivance to bring Chow Yun-Fat back by giving his deceased character from the original a twin brother, but after a terrific introductory sequence where his character forces a mafia don to eat his restaurant's prized rice, it becomes obvious that the film wouldn't have worked without him.

The melodramatic elements of the story are handled brilliantly by John Woo, building up to one of the most spectacular climaxes in film history, which firmly established that he had become the greatest action director of his generation.