Review of Chasing the Dragon (2017) by Movie K — 31 Oct 2017

After decades, this is the first time Andy Lau & Donnie Yen collaborate together. Not much of the typical fighting action movie but more on different topic of gangster uprising, brotherhood, friendship etc.

. Donnie Yen is a illegal immigrant from China to HK in the 1960s. Along with his brother and few good buddies, they manage to survive. They join gang fight for better salary than actual work. Andy Lau is the famous police Lee Rock.

Kent Cheng is his loyal trusty deputy. During a gang fight, Andy observe Donnie to be a good fighter. Riot police are activated. The gang beat up some police and dress in their uniform and escape. But the British Superintendent (Bryan Larkin) chase them.

Donnie beat him up with the baton and Andy stop him with a revolver. He didn't bring the gang to the main station but just temporary lock him in a small station. He get Felix Wong to talk to them and found out they are of the same dialect and village.

Andy want them release after eating but Felix say go by the book. Bryan came and beat Donnie up for revenge. Smart Andy get the press to use camera stop him in shame. From there on, Andy give them money and ask Donnie to help him next time if needed.

Andy is climbing up the ranks by marrying top dog police daughter and also mingle with British officers, which make his top nemesis Kent Tong even angry. Donnie have to fight to save his gambling buddy Philip Keung who owes money to a corrupt cop Ben Ng.

The latter admire Donnie guts and get him to work for him in Kowloon wall city, where even the cops can't enter and mess with it. Few years passed and Donnie is doing well. His wife and child take boat to come but drown when the marine cops inspect the boat.

The boatman beat her to shut the kid up. Andy is task to clear up the mess of drug business inside Kowloon. He go in alone to negotiate with the drug boss Chan Hui Min whom he already paid handsomely with gold bars.

Chan is going to hand over his useless son who created the mess to Andy but Chan is shot dead by him instead. The blame is on Andy and he has to fight his way out. Donnie and gang save him. Ben use the chance to beat Donnie and crippled him.

Andy makes him pay for the crime. The duo become sworn brothers. Donnie control the drug business in Kowloon and become so rich. Andy created the system to collect and pay and both sides of the law prosper.

Bryan want to increase the drug business and task Andy to expand it. He has to obey and let Ben out of jail to join in. Along with a foreign lady Xu Dongdong and Lawrence Chou. Donnie respect Andy but he cut the ear of Ben.

Their drug supplier from Thailand is dead and the new boss is not friendly. So Andy send Donnie to go there negotiate new deal. They were ambush by the middleman and a brother is dead. Lawrence and Xu arrived earlier to strike the deal.

Donnie go straight to the new boss negotiate. Offer $3900 per kilo, the boss reject because Lawrence offered $6000. Xu came with a box and it contain the head of Lawrence. Donnie also hold the boss wife and son hostage and so manage to make his plan work.

Now he is drug king in HK. Kent warned Andy to be wary of Donnie. Donnie brother also hook on drug, beg Ben for it. Bryan ridicule him to drink his urine and get drug but the brother splash on him. Bryan beat him up so bad he become vegetable.

Donnie want revenge but Andy tell him British cops still rule HK and he can't kill a cop. Not long after, ICAC is created and many corrupt cops are investigated. Andy is retiring but still worry for Donnie who plot revenge.

Xu is actually a young girl saved by Donnie whom he pay for education. Andy recruit her as mole to near Donnie. But her loyalty is to Donnie. Andy also know she is his mole instead. Donnie and gang ambush Bryan but the cops arrive and kill his few comrades including Xu.

The cops storm in his turf to fish him out. Andy who is still top chief opens the way to let his men in to save Donnie. He is close to killing Bryan and Andy stop him. But Donnie kills him anyway and Andy have to nab him.

Donnie imprison for decades until he is release early due to end stage liver cancer. Andy long retires to Canada.