A Better Tomorrow II

Starring:Dean Shek, Lung Ti, Leslie Cheung, Yun-Fat Chow, Emily Chu, Fui-On Shing, Kenneth Tsang, Regina Kent, Sing Chau Wai, Marco Wo, Ken Boyle, Ming Yan Lung, Sammy Lee (IV), Chindy Lau, San Kwan, Paul Francis (VIII), Dean Harrington, Siu-Ming Lau, Charles Dumas, Mike Abbott
Director: John Woo
Studio: Anchor Bay
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

"I won't give you nothing, man; I give you shit," sneers charismatic superstar Chow Yun Fat, speaking English (with a De Niro accent) in his role as a New York restaurateur who won't knuckle under to the (Italian) mob. Chow plays the twin brother of the character he played in the original Tomorrow, the ultraviolent, ultraromantic ultrapopular Hong Kong gangster melodrama. And the blatancy of that device is a fair indication of the sequel's shortcomings--and of its screwy charm: this is a film that knows no shame. The bond between the natural siblings played by Ti Lung (as a reformed mobster) and Leslie Cheung (as a hot shot cop) still resonate tellingly. As a good-guy ex-thug driven batty by the slaying of his only daughter, real-life Cinema City studio chief Dean Shek gets to play a garishly extended "mad scene," foaming at the mouth, chewing on soup bones. A later episode in which a dying man crawls to a phone booth to call his wife (and newborn daughter) in the hospital must also be some kind of lurid first in the soap sweepstakes. The final 15 minutes could be the bloodiest single shoot-out sequence ever committed to celluloid. The story line hasn't been shaped to any particular purpose here, but the images have a golden Godfather-like glow, and this faintly anachronistic, all-stops-out wish-fulfillment approach to moviemaking still has a lot of power. --David Chute

Customer Reviews:

The sequel to A Better Tomorrow.......2007-06-07

The movie starts out showing Ti Lung in jail. He is given an offer to go undercover to bring down a counterfeit money operation. He says no, but immediately changes his mind when he finds out his brother (Leslie Cheung) is working on the case. The crime boss that Leslie Cheung is after is played by Dean Shek who gives a great dramatic performance. Dean Shek is best known for playing very goofy characters in Drunken Master, Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog. When Shek is framed for murder, he must hideout with a friend in New York. Leslie Cheung and Ti Lung also head to New York when they find out Mark (Ti Lung's friend from the last movie) has a twin brother. If you have seen A Better Tomorrow, then you know that Mark (Chow Yun Fat) couldn't come back for this movie, so they just say he has a twin brother. This would be fine if it was the only part of the story that seemed to be hastily glued together, but there are too many things that fall into place unnaturally. Some scenes must have been cut out and the movie is just a mess. There are a few good action scenes and the end is very exciting, but sadly this is not one of John Woo's better efforts.

3/5

Picture and sound quality on the Anchor Bay DVD are good. Subtitles are well written and there is also a really bad English dub.

DVD purchase.......2007-01-29

I ordered A Better Tomorrow II on DVD and received it so fast that I just couldn't believe it. I bought it as a gift and it was extremely well received. The quality was so good that it has been played over and over again. Thank you for your prompt and contientious response to my order.

great gunfights and great movie.......2004-03-06

This movies is cool. I like the scence when chow yun fat is about to shoot a man in the head if he does not eat the rice.The last 40 or 30 minutes is when it start to get good. If you love voilence as much as I do buy this movie. The one I brought is not in english but it has subtitles. There is to parts where chow yun fat speakes in english in this movie. I like when he take the shotgun and start blow the men all away. then he takes the pistols slides down the stairs shooting a man. There are two good action scence but they last for 3o minutes. The last 15 minutes will have you supised it is the best part of the movie.That about all.

John Woo's best volume 2!!!.......2003-12-30

This is another one of John Woo's finest films!!! This is the second volume of the Better Tommorrow series and it's action packed!!! Will make a great companion to volume 1!!! Anchor Bay's DVD of this clasic Hong Kong film is awesome!!! 16:9 widescreen,2 trailers,multiple language tracks,great subtitles and production notes round out this grea DVD!!! A+

A MUST OWN.......2003-12-18

The Hong Kong Godfather. Without a doubt this movie proves that John Woo is the best action director of all time, the vision, style, and the sher genious that he (Woo) uses in the direction of this movie is what sets it apart from and american action movie ever made. The action in this movie plays out like a ballet, a dance with bullets and blood. So put down those typical american action movies and pick up the movie that they want to be. You will not be dissaponted by this movie, one of if not the best hong kong action movie.

Average customer rating:

The sequel to A Better Tomorrow
DVD purchase
great gunfights and great movie
John Woo's best volume 2!!!
A MUST OWN

A Better Tomorrow II
Starring: Dean Shek , Lung Ti , Leslie Cheung , Yun-Fat Chow , and Emily Chu
Director: John Woo
Manufacturer: Tai Seng
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

A Better Tomorrow
The Killer
Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection
Once a Thief
Full Contact

ASIN: 6305020841
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

The sequel to A Better Tomorrow.......2007-06-07

DVD purchase.......2007-01-29

great gunfights and great movie.......2004-03-06

John Woo's best volume 2!!!.......2003-12-30

A MUST OWN.......2003-12-18

Average customer rating:

More Bang For the Buck
Better Tomorrow - Chow Yun-Fat's Best Work
Often imated, never matched
insane action

A Better Tomorrow/A Better Tomorrow II
Starring: John Woo , and Chow Yun Fat
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Killer
Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection
Once a Thief
City on Fire
Full Contact

ASIN: B0001BKBDO
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Amazon.com

A Better Tomorrow is the John Woo gangster classic that started it all, a romantic, violent, swirlingly stylish melodrama about dueling brothers--with a mesmerizing lead performance by Hong Kong's favorite actor, Chow Yun-Fat. In repose, Chow's sleepy magnetism recalls the glory days of Robert Mitchum, Steve McQueen, and Takakura Ken; when he's stepping high, Chow has a unique, ebullient star presence, a man who embraces life so unselfconsciously that he becomes vulnerable to all kinds of suffering and heartache (he endures masochistic megadoses of violence here). The sequence in which Chow's Mark avenges his betrayed best friend---by blasting his way into, and then out of, a Chinese restaurant, twin .45s blazing---is a swashbuckling standout. Woo's film technique may have been more polished in later efforts, but Tomorrow has a direct emotional power that is still unique. Kung fu star of the 1970s, Ti Lung is also terrific here as the 40ish established mobster, relied upon by all, who allows conflicting loyalties toward Mark and toward his younger brother, now a cop, to undermine the stability of his position.

"I won't give you nothing, man; I give you shit," sneers charismatic superstar Chow Yun Fat, speaking English (with a De Niro accent) in his role as a New York restaurateur who won't knuckle under to the (Italian) mob in A Better Tomorrow II. Chow plays the twin brother of the character he played in the original, and the blatancy of that device is a fair indication of the sequel's shortcomings--and of its screwy charm: this is a film that knows no shame. The bond between the natural siblings played by Ti Lung (as a reformed mobster) and Leslie Cheung (as a hot shot cop) still resonate tellingly. As a good-guy ex-thug driven batty by the slaying of his only daughter, real-life Cinema City studio chief Dean Shek gets to play a garishly extended "mad scene," foaming at the mouth, chewing on soup bones. A later episode in which a dying man crawls to a phone booth to call his wife (and newborn daughter) in the hospital must also be some kind of lurid first in the soap sweepstakes. The final 15 minutes could be the bloodiest single shoot-out sequence ever committed to celluloid. The story line hasn't been shaped to any particular purpose here, but the images have a golden Godfather-like glow, and this faintly anachronistic, all-stops-out wish-fulfillment approach to moviemaking still has a lot of power. --David Chute

Customer Reviews:

More Bang For the Buck.......2005-10-01

The price is right for this terrific set. I rate these two film's equally because they flow together flawlessly as a satisfying epic. The beauty of these film's are that they do not sacrifice characterization for the sake of pyrotechnics. The connecting thread of the films is the complex relationship between two brothers, one an upright Hong Kong police detective(Leslie Cheung) and the other a criminal with principles(Ti Lung). The one thing they share is a distaste for the more unsavory elements of the Hong Kong crime syndicate but part as to the method in which to bring them down. The selling point of these film's is the presence of Chow Yun Fat who is essentially a supporting player in these films. That said, whenever he appears on screen the wattage of his charisma lights up the screen as good as any actor on the world stage. Both film's feature dynamite climactic showdowns as staged by John Woo that surpass anything concocted by Western filmmakers(send a thank you note, Quentin). I would have rated these films five stars but I felt that some of the more melodramatic elements in the scripts bogged down the precedings.

Better Tomorrow - Chow Yun-Fat's Best Work.......2004-12-10

I have to say, Better Tomorrow I&II are Chow Yun-Fat's best work. His acting is extraordinary in these two movies. He really portraited his role with great amount of passions. I strongl recommend these two movies!

Often imated, never matched.......2004-11-20

These two movies together stand as a milestone achievement of not only Hong Kong cinema but movies in general. John Woo is a god and Chow Yun Fat is justly celebrated for these performances. People who don't like subtitles need to get past their hang-up and view these two landmarks of action moviemaking. All the signature moves now common in action films in the past decade (yes i mean you Keanu Reeves) were copyrighted in these two movies by director John Woo, who has to be the most imitated director since Hitchcock.

insane action.......2004-03-14

these two movies are awesome,
especially when watched with subtitles. some of the best action ever- especially the climax to ABT2. breathtaking.
Woo is a genius. I have 1 on DVD but have yet to watch 2, i cant wait.

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