Movie review: Infernal Affairs III

Woa. It's like the producers read my blog, went back in time and filled in some blanks for me in Infernal Affairs III.

Whereas the prequel (IA2) covered the initiating events that led to the first movie, Infernal Affairs III develops the story in the time frame between and after the first movie. Where I asked for character background of the main moles, this was provided. The undercover cop is seen through flashbacks in his happier days before the first movie, we watch the undercover gangster spiral down.

Again, this installment is really a companion to the series rather than a standalone story. One would likely be lost without having seen the first two. In fact, it has its full impact only if seen in close succession. There is a significant distinction between IA3 and the first two chapters in that this is a completely different genre of movie. The first two are classic ganster movies, a battle between the good guys and the bad. The war takes a back seat in IA3, and only serves as a backdrop for the battle between good and bad within one person. In that way, it has twists like Memento or Fight Club. So for those looking for a multi-chapter story like the Godfather or Star Wars, they may be dissappointed by the shift. I enjoyed the change in perspective, to see the story told from a totally different angle; psychological rather than action-packed.

7/10 again

Just like Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions really make up one movie and must be judged together, I think the IA movies seen together are greater than the sum of the parts.

12/14 for the set