Five Tigers - Part 3: Infernal Affairs vs Gun Metal Grey
There has been so many Infernal Affairs vs The Departed's discussions, so please let me start an "Infernal Affairs vs Gun Metal Grey" discussion, haha. Both have very different plotline and also, one is a widescreen movie and the other is a TV series, so I'm not comparing which one's better or worse, because I love both equally, I'm just gonna compare the stories and characters. Also, they're both about "two sides of the same coin" and both are the reunion of "two Tigers" which gives weight to the respective film/series, I think they deserve to be discussed in one topic.
Both Tiger pairings, Michael/Felix and Andy/Tony are the legendary pairings and I love both pairings equally. Both pairings has this certain sparks, on-screen chemistry and sense of equality that I can't explain, but as soon as they appear on the screen together, it gives me the feeling of "whoa!" even if I'm not a huge fan.
I guess it's essential to reminisce Michael/Felix in Legend of Condor Heroes and Andy/Tony in Duke of Mount Deer briefly, since those were the masterpieces that has made their pairings became legends. Actually though, Michael and Felix wasn't so much of a pair in LOCH, Guo Jing (Felix) and Yang Kang (Michael Miu)'s parents settled for them to be sworn brothers even before their births. They were separated since births, so there wasn't any bond between the two. They were more of enemies rather than brothers since the beginning, but knowing his father wanted them to be sworn brothers kinda made Guo Jing grew attachment and had faith on Yang Kang, since GJ never had any sibling since birth. I don't think Yang Kang ever liked GJ even for a moment though, he did become good (in this LOCH83 version, but never in the novel) once or twice and regret all the sins he did but I think it was for Mu Nianci's sake, the woman he loves. However, on the scenes where Guo Jing and Yang Kang gets along so well and being nice to each other, even though I know Yang Kang wasn't sincere about it, I couldn't help but wish that they could be like this forever, which proves they have really good on-screen chemistry. I never care about whether or not Guo Jing and Yang Kang get along well in other LOCH adaptations.
While Andy and Tony in DOMD were childhood friends, best buddies and they have a certain bond. Wei Xiao Bao and Kang Xi met for the first time when they were 12 years old in the novel. No other DOMD adaptation can beat Andy/Tony's chemistry as best friends, I mean.. you see them interact with each other on screen and you can immediately believe they're childhood friends.
The only Xiao Bao/Kang Xi pair that has as good as Andy/Tony's chemistry as childhood friends, were the child talents from the Mainland adaptation, Royal Tramp 2008, the little WXB and little KX was the cutest pair of buddies, and they kept getting themselves into trouble like any other kids would... but of course, they were played by real 11 year old kids. What's amazing about Andy and Tony, they didn't need any child actors to play the younger version of themselves to make it believable that they're childhood friends. And in other adaptations, you can always feel a wall between WXB and KX after they grew up and became master and servant. Andy and Tony's performance never gives that feeling even if they have to act like master and servant in front of everyone else, and when they have arguments, be it the light ones or the serious ones, you can sense their friendship history in their facial expressions and speaking tones. While some adaptations (*cough*WongJing*cough*) had WXB and KX argues and speaks to each other like total strangers.
"Infernal Affairs" has their characters' relationship totally different. They had no connection whatsoever, but strangely enough, the fact that they are moles in two opposite sides indirectly, slowly connected them to each other. How they tried to smoke the other out is really exciting to see. We can see them going through the same psychological experience and pains. When Andy found out Tony is the undercover cop but Tony didn't know he's the mole, we thought everything's gonna end happily. Andy decided to turn to the good side, becoming a true cop, and Tony getting his identity as a cop back. They had a chance to be on the same side and I was hoping Tony never find the evidence that Andy is the mole. Of course, there will be no climax if Tony didn't find out the truth. Once Andy realized that Tony has find out, it automatically means they're foes, and so he immediately erased Tony's data in the computer. Andy and Tony's showdown scene at the rooftop was definitely one of the best climax scene in cinema history, imho. You can feel how desperately both wanting to win the battle and get their normal life back. Though I initially thought the story doesn't need a sequel, but I have to say Infernal Affairs III was a great closure for the two kindred spirit's story. It's really interesting to see Andy's mind created Tony inside him out of his sense of guilt and result in his double personality disorder. It shows the irony of how deep Andy and Tony's connection really is, though they're totally strangers to each other. There's definitely no question in how perfect their chemistry and tension in this movie. But, to be honest, there wasn't a single scene with the two that leaves me a deep impression or makes me want to repeat the scene again and again. Is it because everything was too perfect, I wonder?
"Gun Metal Grey" deals with the changing relationship between two best buddies and partners. The story started with Felix Wong's character resembling Guo Jing (the virtue), but then he turns more and more to be Yang Kang (the evil). Felix and Michael's characters were the best of partners and they believed in each other very much. Even after Felix was wrongfully accused and prisoned for 15 years, they stayed friends and also after Felix found new evidence and he managed to bail out of jail, Felix returned to the police force and they stayed partners. Michael and Felix were on the same side for about 10 episodes until the case 15 years ago was solved and they found the real killer. It was suppose to be a happy ending, however Felix' character has a new mindset that justice does not equal law. He thinks the law cannot always bring justice so decided to take law into his own hand and punish the criminals in his own way. Things starting to go south when Felix start planting fake evidence to catch the killer and sometimes he even sides with the killer because he thinks the killer was initially the victim.
Felix Wong nailed the role perfectly, the change in his mind and character was really convincing. While Michael Miu's character has to watch his best friend falling into the dark side deeper and deeper and I have to say Michael did a great job in expressing his anger, frustration and sadness having to watch his best friend changing, and finally to the extent that he can't help him anymore. It was really heart breaking to watch the two best friends slowly turning into enemies as the story progresses. But sometimes even Felix' words are so convincing and makes you wonder if one should really protect the law and does things by the book. But Michael decided to stick to the law and order no matter how much the killer was hurt and was the victim of an unjust act. It's a 30 episodes series so it has its flaws, but not enough to make it disappointing. Michael and Felix' chemistry both as friends and enemies, overshadowed all the flaws. I love their scenes together, be it their best buddies scenes or their confrontations scenes. I have a favorite scene that I kept repeating. It was actually a calm scene when Felix expressed his feelings about the mentally disturbed serial killer and he think it's so nice for him that he can get away and get treatment in the hospital though he has killed so many people. And then Michael just starred at him, not saying a word. Felix asked why he's starring at him and Michael answered, nothing, he just want to see what's in his mind and Felix just gave a quick cynical smile "hmph." I'm not sure why I like that scene so much, but most probably because they were at the point where they were neither friends nor enemies, and their tension was in-between, in the middle, Michael was raising a suspicion and Felix was still on his way to the dark side, and yet I can still feel the tension raising between them. Felix and Michael really did a great acting job in this scene.
Andy and Tony were still in their 40s in "Infernal Affairs" so they both normally look good in the action scenes and gun scenes. But I really had to kowtow to Michael and Felix being in their 50s in this series, still look so cool in the scenes with guns... and their scene in the construction site will all the bamboos, just blew my mind. I really hope they didn't sprain their back or something after shooting the scene XD And also when Felix protected his wife and fought the bad guy, wow... Felix still look really good in a hand-to-hand combat scene, can't believe it! I just realized Infernal Affairs lacks action scenes and really focuses on the drama and the tension only huh?
In terms of romance plot, I really love Tony and Kelly Chen's romance in "Infernal Affairs"... Tony is just ultra sweeeet in his scenes with Kelly, that made me believe he really has fallen in love with her. Their additional scenes in Infernal Affairs III were even funnier, I totally love it. I have to say, Michael and Jessica's romance plot in Gun Metal Grey was equally funny and sweet.
Overall, "Infernal Affairs" is a great movie with great music scores, great directing, great script and great cast. Besides Andy and Tony, Anthony Wong and Eric Tsang really gave big impact to the movie too. While "Gun Metal Grey" has excellent script and excellent cast (including the supporting cast), but so-so directing, so-so music scores (some are good), bad themesongs... and the opening sequence and ending sequence were the worst titlebacks I've ever seen, just... eww...
To sum it up, Andy was the dark-in-light and Tony was the light-in-dark in "Infernal Affairs" and both of them had to meet terrible ending. It was an unfair and tragic ending for Tony, and though it does seem like Andy deserves his terrible ending, he did mean to turn over a new leaf but I guess fate didn't allow him to go away with it, and he had to pay the price for Tony's death.
The title itself "Gun Metal Grey" explicitly says what the story is about. It's the "grey" areas of being a cop. I can't say Michael is the light and Felix is the dark, both were grey-s. However, Felix has gone way beyond "grey" and totally jumped over to the dark side, at the very end. So I think he deserves his ending. While, Michael maintained his "grey" side and decided to continue to be a cop who sticks to the law and order no matter how unjust the matter is solved, and he get his happy ending.
It might be a coincidence, but both Andy and Felix' endings in respective drama/movie were so similar. Andy tapped the morse code for HELL. While Felix was reading a charm that says "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." I think Felix' facial expression here was one of his best acting performance ever. But I love Andy's expression too!
It is interesting to know that when Michael was casted as Mad Sir in GMG and he let Jamie, his wife, read the script, Jamie told him that Felix should definitely play Stone Sir and Michael had the same opinion, so the couple contacted Felix and they persuaded him in returning to TVB just this once. Since "Gun Metal Grey" marks Michael/Felix 30th anniversary of their collaboration (since they started working together for the first time in 1990), Felix couldn't say no to his bestfriend's request.
As for "Infernal Affairs" I read that it was the producer/director, Andrew Lau's strong wish to cast both Andy and Tony for the movie. Tony is very picky about his job and choosing script, so I guess he liked the script.
You can watch Gun Metal Grey in English subs here: http://www.dramaftw.tv/drama/gun-metal-grey/
Both Tiger pairings, Michael/Felix and Andy/Tony are the legendary pairings and I love both pairings equally. Both pairings has this certain sparks, on-screen chemistry and sense of equality that I can't explain, but as soon as they appear on the screen together, it gives me the feeling of "whoa!" even if I'm not a huge fan.
I guess it's essential to reminisce Michael/Felix in Legend of Condor Heroes and Andy/Tony in Duke of Mount Deer briefly, since those were the masterpieces that has made their pairings became legends. Actually though, Michael and Felix wasn't so much of a pair in LOCH, Guo Jing (Felix) and Yang Kang (Michael Miu)'s parents settled for them to be sworn brothers even before their births. They were separated since births, so there wasn't any bond between the two. They were more of enemies rather than brothers since the beginning, but knowing his father wanted them to be sworn brothers kinda made Guo Jing grew attachment and had faith on Yang Kang, since GJ never had any sibling since birth. I don't think Yang Kang ever liked GJ even for a moment though, he did become good (in this LOCH83 version, but never in the novel) once or twice and regret all the sins he did but I think it was for Mu Nianci's sake, the woman he loves. However, on the scenes where Guo Jing and Yang Kang gets along so well and being nice to each other, even though I know Yang Kang wasn't sincere about it, I couldn't help but wish that they could be like this forever, which proves they have really good on-screen chemistry. I never care about whether or not Guo Jing and Yang Kang get along well in other LOCH adaptations.
While Andy and Tony in DOMD were childhood friends, best buddies and they have a certain bond. Wei Xiao Bao and Kang Xi met for the first time when they were 12 years old in the novel. No other DOMD adaptation can beat Andy/Tony's chemistry as best friends, I mean.. you see them interact with each other on screen and you can immediately believe they're childhood friends.
The only Xiao Bao/Kang Xi pair that has as good as Andy/Tony's chemistry as childhood friends, were the child talents from the Mainland adaptation, Royal Tramp 2008, the little WXB and little KX was the cutest pair of buddies, and they kept getting themselves into trouble like any other kids would... but of course, they were played by real 11 year old kids. What's amazing about Andy and Tony, they didn't need any child actors to play the younger version of themselves to make it believable that they're childhood friends. And in other adaptations, you can always feel a wall between WXB and KX after they grew up and became master and servant. Andy and Tony's performance never gives that feeling even if they have to act like master and servant in front of everyone else, and when they have arguments, be it the light ones or the serious ones, you can sense their friendship history in their facial expressions and speaking tones. While some adaptations (*cough*WongJing*cough*) had WXB and KX argues and speaks to each other like total strangers.
"Infernal Affairs" has their characters' relationship totally different. They had no connection whatsoever, but strangely enough, the fact that they are moles in two opposite sides indirectly, slowly connected them to each other. How they tried to smoke the other out is really exciting to see. We can see them going through the same psychological experience and pains. When Andy found out Tony is the undercover cop but Tony didn't know he's the mole, we thought everything's gonna end happily. Andy decided to turn to the good side, becoming a true cop, and Tony getting his identity as a cop back. They had a chance to be on the same side and I was hoping Tony never find the evidence that Andy is the mole. Of course, there will be no climax if Tony didn't find out the truth. Once Andy realized that Tony has find out, it automatically means they're foes, and so he immediately erased Tony's data in the computer. Andy and Tony's showdown scene at the rooftop was definitely one of the best climax scene in cinema history, imho. You can feel how desperately both wanting to win the battle and get their normal life back. Though I initially thought the story doesn't need a sequel, but I have to say Infernal Affairs III was a great closure for the two kindred spirit's story. It's really interesting to see Andy's mind created Tony inside him out of his sense of guilt and result in his double personality disorder. It shows the irony of how deep Andy and Tony's connection really is, though they're totally strangers to each other. There's definitely no question in how perfect their chemistry and tension in this movie. But, to be honest, there wasn't a single scene with the two that leaves me a deep impression or makes me want to repeat the scene again and again. Is it because everything was too perfect, I wonder?
"Gun Metal Grey" deals with the changing relationship between two best buddies and partners. The story started with Felix Wong's character resembling Guo Jing (the virtue), but then he turns more and more to be Yang Kang (the evil). Felix and Michael's characters were the best of partners and they believed in each other very much. Even after Felix was wrongfully accused and prisoned for 15 years, they stayed friends and also after Felix found new evidence and he managed to bail out of jail, Felix returned to the police force and they stayed partners. Michael and Felix were on the same side for about 10 episodes until the case 15 years ago was solved and they found the real killer. It was suppose to be a happy ending, however Felix' character has a new mindset that justice does not equal law. He thinks the law cannot always bring justice so decided to take law into his own hand and punish the criminals in his own way. Things starting to go south when Felix start planting fake evidence to catch the killer and sometimes he even sides with the killer because he thinks the killer was initially the victim.
Felix Wong nailed the role perfectly, the change in his mind and character was really convincing. While Michael Miu's character has to watch his best friend falling into the dark side deeper and deeper and I have to say Michael did a great job in expressing his anger, frustration and sadness having to watch his best friend changing, and finally to the extent that he can't help him anymore. It was really heart breaking to watch the two best friends slowly turning into enemies as the story progresses. But sometimes even Felix' words are so convincing and makes you wonder if one should really protect the law and does things by the book. But Michael decided to stick to the law and order no matter how much the killer was hurt and was the victim of an unjust act. It's a 30 episodes series so it has its flaws, but not enough to make it disappointing. Michael and Felix' chemistry both as friends and enemies, overshadowed all the flaws. I love their scenes together, be it their best buddies scenes or their confrontations scenes. I have a favorite scene that I kept repeating. It was actually a calm scene when Felix expressed his feelings about the mentally disturbed serial killer and he think it's so nice for him that he can get away and get treatment in the hospital though he has killed so many people. And then Michael just starred at him, not saying a word. Felix asked why he's starring at him and Michael answered, nothing, he just want to see what's in his mind and Felix just gave a quick cynical smile "hmph." I'm not sure why I like that scene so much, but most probably because they were at the point where they were neither friends nor enemies, and their tension was in-between, in the middle, Michael was raising a suspicion and Felix was still on his way to the dark side, and yet I can still feel the tension raising between them. Felix and Michael really did a great acting job in this scene.
Andy and Tony were still in their 40s in "Infernal Affairs" so they both normally look good in the action scenes and gun scenes. But I really had to kowtow to Michael and Felix being in their 50s in this series, still look so cool in the scenes with guns... and their scene in the construction site will all the bamboos, just blew my mind. I really hope they didn't sprain their back or something after shooting the scene XD And also when Felix protected his wife and fought the bad guy, wow... Felix still look really good in a hand-to-hand combat scene, can't believe it! I just realized Infernal Affairs lacks action scenes and really focuses on the drama and the tension only huh?
In terms of romance plot, I really love Tony and Kelly Chen's romance in "Infernal Affairs"... Tony is just ultra sweeeet in his scenes with Kelly, that made me believe he really has fallen in love with her. Their additional scenes in Infernal Affairs III were even funnier, I totally love it. I have to say, Michael and Jessica's romance plot in Gun Metal Grey was equally funny and sweet.
Overall, "Infernal Affairs" is a great movie with great music scores, great directing, great script and great cast. Besides Andy and Tony, Anthony Wong and Eric Tsang really gave big impact to the movie too. While "Gun Metal Grey" has excellent script and excellent cast (including the supporting cast), but so-so directing, so-so music scores (some are good), bad themesongs... and the opening sequence and ending sequence were the worst titlebacks I've ever seen, just... eww...
To sum it up, Andy was the dark-in-light and Tony was the light-in-dark in "Infernal Affairs" and both of them had to meet terrible ending. It was an unfair and tragic ending for Tony, and though it does seem like Andy deserves his terrible ending, he did mean to turn over a new leaf but I guess fate didn't allow him to go away with it, and he had to pay the price for Tony's death.
The title itself "Gun Metal Grey" explicitly says what the story is about. It's the "grey" areas of being a cop. I can't say Michael is the light and Felix is the dark, both were grey-s. However, Felix has gone way beyond "grey" and totally jumped over to the dark side, at the very end. So I think he deserves his ending. While, Michael maintained his "grey" side and decided to continue to be a cop who sticks to the law and order no matter how unjust the matter is solved, and he get his happy ending.
It might be a coincidence, but both Andy and Felix' endings in respective drama/movie were so similar. Andy tapped the morse code for HELL. While Felix was reading a charm that says "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." I think Felix' facial expression here was one of his best acting performance ever. But I love Andy's expression too!
It is interesting to know that when Michael was casted as Mad Sir in GMG and he let Jamie, his wife, read the script, Jamie told him that Felix should definitely play Stone Sir and Michael had the same opinion, so the couple contacted Felix and they persuaded him in returning to TVB just this once. Since "Gun Metal Grey" marks Michael/Felix 30th anniversary of their collaboration (since they started working together for the first time in 1990), Felix couldn't say no to his bestfriend's request.
As for "Infernal Affairs" I read that it was the producer/director, Andrew Lau's strong wish to cast both Andy and Tony for the movie. Tony is very picky about his job and choosing script, so I guess he liked the script.
You can watch Gun Metal Grey in English subs here: http://www.dramaftw.tv/drama/gun-metal-grey/