Election 2 (2006)

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

In 'Election', Simon Yam's Lok was the Nick Clegg-like nice guy in the election race for the position of Wo Shing Society Chairman. By the films' conclusion, however, he makes a Clegg-like U-turn, showing his ruthless streak in order to gain power. With his term coming to an end, Lok once again starts to show his David Cameron side, seeking to go against Society tradition and serve a second term as Chairman, running against his five god-sons.Another Hong Kong DVD gone missing, 'Election 2' is Johnnie To's sequel to his multi-award winning, let's-show-a-lack-of-originality-in-film- reviewing-and-compare-it-to 'The Godfather' 'Election', with the same power struggle scenario rearing its ugly head once more. This time, it's the turn of Jimmy (Louis Koo) to play the nice guy forced to show a ruthless side, as he seeks to gain the Chairmanship in order to aid his business plans in mainland China. Up against his four brothers, he is the clear favourite, having both the best hair and tailored suits. But at this, Lok seeks to alter the Society tradition and serve a second term.The original was a sleek film, showing the race for the baton between two lead candidates, but 'Election 2' suffers a little from sequel syndrome, lacking the originality, obviously, of its predecessor and resorting to scenes that feature more shock and gore than true quality. But, that said, 'Election 2' is a worthy sequel with some good cinematography and atmosphere. Many of the cast from the original – those whose characters are still alive – are reunited, though many are more as cameos than lead roles. The focus here is much more on Jimmy, with even Johnnie To favourite Simon Lam pushed a little further down the bill in place of his successor. The suspense as to the outcome is, therefore, less apparent than in 'Election' and has a sense of inevitability about it.This won't win any votes as the best of Johnnie To's work, but certainly helps his position as one of Hong Kong's top directors.www.politic1983.blogspot.com

In the Chinese crime drama, "Triad Election," Louis Koo stars as Jimmy Lee, a Hong Kong "businessman" who's made a small fortune selling pornographic DVDs on the black market. Now Jimmy wants to come in from the cold and become "legit" in the eyes of the law, but he discovers that - irony of ironies - the only way that that can happen is if he gets himself elected "Chairman" of a crime syndicate of which he is already a member - a position of such power and prestige that even the long arm of the law will be unable to touch him. This sets up a bloody battle royale between Jimmy and the other gangsters vying for the title."Triad Election" has a few flashes of grit and style, but it's a fairly lackluster affair overall, undramatic, talky and with an undertone of sadism and nastiness that spoils much of the fun of the film. There's a certain poignancy to the final scenes, as Jimmy realizes that he can never leave the gangster lifestyle now that he is so deeply embedded in it, but it is a revelation that comes too late in the movie to register much of an impact. Thus, despite its various virtues - and a nicely melancholic score played mainly on strings - the movie is a pretty so-what affair in toto.

As I never saw the first chapter of 'Hak se wui yi wo wai kwai', I had no idea what to expect from this tale of Chinese crime gangs in Hong Kong. As I have, however seen a number of Hong Kong action/adventure epic (and ones even without Jackie Chan), it came as no surprise to me, what so ever. This film seems to channel a good block of Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Godfather (1972)' & several other films from that era (with a splash of 1940's film noir tossed in for good measure). The film is a bit slow in getting started, but when it does...WATCH OUT! The story is about a "family" (gang)looking for a new Chairman to take over from the old one who wants to step down & take life a bit easier. The most obvious choice is Jimmy, a (so called)businessman who only wants to run a business selling pirated DVD's in mainland China. Without revealing anything,things get nasty between other gang members, who seem to want another Chairman,instead of Jimmy. Although the film is distributed by a fairly well known U.S. distributor of Asian cinema (Tartan Films,inc.), I'm guessing that it probably won't play much outside of cinemas that cater to a (mostly)Asian audience (as will the eventual DVD release,which will be mostly made available in all of those little Mom & Pop Asian grocery stores that rent out Cantonese or Mandarin language videos---and without the English subtitles). This film is worth seeking out for crime drama fanatics (advance warning:there is some really nasty violence that occurs in this film, involving dog food, so be prepared)

If director Johnnie To wants to make Election 2 : Harmony Is A Virtue aka Hak se wui yi wo wai kwai in Cantonese a instant trial classic, he has achieved his goal.Compared to the prequel, Election 2 gives the audience more punch, more kicks, and more violence. The greed of human being was once again, displayed on the election of the Chairman for the Ho Sing Trial, a secret society with a long history. Two years have passed since Lok (Simon Yam in another unforgettable role of a trial leader) becomes the chairman, and the election for the new chairman (which is a tradition among the Ho Sing, where a new chairman will be elected once every two years.)arrives again. Lok wished to be the chairman again, and he looked at his fellow assistants on their loyalty and threat to him.Jimmy (Louis Koo), an undercover cop, is working on pirated VCD business with the trial, and his connection with the officials in China and success in business makes him favorable to be the next chairman; Kun (Lam Kar Tung) is doing fine, but he is ambitious to become the leader; Jet (Nick Cheung) remains loyal to Lok since day 1 when he joins Lok.Sensing there are threats around him (especially Jimmy and Kun), Lok decided to get rid of them, and will do anything to be the next chairman. Jimmy, who is not interested to be the chairman, has the full support of his seniors. He was forced to become the chairman, as he sensed that Lok will come after him. Thus, both began to play the game of bribing and killing.Johnnie To displayed the dirty tricks used in the trial and the business world to achieved everyone's objective. This not only display the dark side of the human nature, but also it gives us a view of the dark side of the Chinese government during the post 1997 HK handover, where bribery and connections are common practices among the officials. It also relates to one point, where money means power. With money, one can achieved its objective. Bribery, murder, power...all gained from tonnes of notes.In terms of violence, Singapore audience were given the opportunity to enjoy Election 2 in the most original unedited version. Compared to the prequel, Election 2 is filled with tonnes of violence, where some sequence will make the audience leaving the theatre with unforgettable scenes. Johnnie To is playing Quentin Tarantino this time round, where he scripts Louis Koo's Jimmy to kill Lok's assistant and make mince meat out of the victim. Freshly made mince meat becomes the feed for the dogs, where it is one of the tactic used to get Jimmy's way through.Once again, this is a movie where masculinity rules. Same as the prequel, this movie has only one supporting actress, with only less than 5 lines of dialogue. For guys who loves movie on the conflicts and tactics in the trials, Election 2 is made for you.