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Yun-Fat Chow, Leslie Cheung, Lung Ti, Young Pao I, Emily Chu ... see more see more... , Lee Tse Ho , Kenneth Tsang Kong , John Woo , Waise Lee , Joo Jin-Mo , Song Seung-heon , Kang-woo Kim

John Woo established himself as one of Hong Kong's premiere action directors with this ultra-hip, ultra-violent action classic. The film centers around the complex relationship between two brothers: S... read more read more...ung Tse-kit (Leslie Cheung) is a recent graduate of the police academy while Tse-ho (Ti Lung) runs a massive counterfeiting ring along with his gangland associate, Mark Lee (Chow Yun-fat). Tension between the two brothers comes to a head when their father is murdered after a crime deal goes sour and Tse-ho lands in jail after being double-crossed. In perhaps the most influential scene in Hong Kong cinema in the 1980s, Mark avenges his friend by staging a dinner table assassination. As Mark tries to shoot his way out of the restaurant, pulling a series of hidden pistols from potted plants and alcoves, he gets horribly injured. With both founding members of the counterfeiting syndicate incapacitated, the operation falls into the hands of Shing (Waise Lee Chi-hung), Tse-ho's former underling who has little of his boss' élan or experience. When Tse-ho gets out of jail, he reunites with his now-crippled comrade, Mark, to take out Shing and to protect Tse-kit whose life is in danger for investigating their former subordinate. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Flixster Users

86% liked it

18,034 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

14 critics

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: John Woo, Hae-sung Song

Release Date: October 14, 2010

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DVD Release Date: November 8, 2011

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Flixster Reviews (901)

  • DragonEyeMorrison
    October 16, 2011
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Who could had imagine, way back in the 80's, that this would be the beginning of the revolution of the action genre as we know it these days. Sure, peckinpah was already doing slow mo shootouts before this, but Woo just took it to a whole different level.

    The film hasn't aged so... read more well, and the usual HK melodrama can get way too heavy in some parts. Woo would later top himself with both The Killer and Hard Boiled, but it can't be denied the importance this film had on the genre. Also, for making Chow Yun Fat one of the most recognizable icons of the genre. Boy do i miss the days of the heroic bloodshed.
  • allan913
    March 22, 2011
    allan913
    An unstoppably explosive and magnificent action classic.A masterpiece of bullet-riddled carnage and mayhem that truly rocks from start to finish. An exhilarating action-packed thriller that's intensely powerful and emotionally enduring. A breathtaking and unforgettable movie.
  • kpn666
    June 28, 2009
    kpn666
    Classic!

    One of John Woo and Tsui Hark's earliest hits, this was when gun fu was becoming what it is. Though it wasn't perfected yet, this was an operatic drama of brotherhood, family, blood and crime, one of premier gangster films. The story revolved around two borthers, Kit, ... read morea cop, and Ho, an underworld figure. The older brother, Ho, makes a promise to his father to leave behind his life so that he and Kitwould not cross paths. But when he and his best friend, Mark, are betrayed, he suddenly finds himself in prison, his father killed by an assassin, his life in ruins. When finally released, Kit rejects him and threatens to imprison him and his old gang, disbelieving any attempt to lead an honest life. On the other hand, Kit is also chasing after Shing, who betrayed Ho before, who is know a Kingpin. Reuniting with Mark who was also rejected by the gangs, they set out for revenge and to regain their dignity, and save Kit from being killed.

    Simple and straightforward, dont expect the mass of violence and bullets as we are accustomed to in Woo's work... this was the prelude to the masterpieces of The Killer and Hard Boiled - but more storytelling than gun fighting, which is due to Hark's genius in creatvity. The story revolved around the oppurtunity of a second chance, the search for a better life and the importance of family and brotherhood.

    This is one of Chow Yun's breathrough roles, a classic figure who's charm and style was a winner on the screen, playing a crippled but deadly gunman.

    Watch this if you are a fan of Woo or Hark, or the series or Chow Yun. Or if you just like a good gangster film.
  • rubystevens
    March 25, 2009
    rubystevens
    so...it's dated, melodramatic, cheesy soundtrack, over the top action... somehow it all comes together to make a really entertaining film. just go with it. chow yun-fat steals every scene
  • Chiefilms
    March 1, 2008
    Chiefilms
    Cool Movie but the soundtrack is a hinder to the scenes, not because it was in Chinese, but the strings sound 1930's esque, plus a lot of filler scenes.
  • SarahG1988
    July 4, 2007
    SarahG1988
    This John Woo film tells the tale of Mark and Ho, friends and couriers for a Hong Kong crime syndicate with a large counterfeiting operation. Ho is double-crossed during a set-up and turns himself in to the police and Mark is shot during the firefight of a retribution hit. The pl... read moreot is complicated by the fact that Ho's younger brother, Kit, is a rookie cop whose reputation is tarnished by his gangster brother. When Ho gets out of prison, he wants to start a new life, free of crime. Unfortunately, he is haunted by his past, with the crime bosses leaning on him and Mark encouraging him to return to a life of crime as his partner. In typical Woo fashion, the various factions clash and our protagonists engage both the police and the gangsters in a bloody bullet-fest.

    John Woo's A Better Tomorrow(1986) was groundbreaking when first released because of the stylisitc depiction of the action scenes. Its success spurred a new genre in Hong Kong cinema known as Heroic Bloodshed. These films were usually gangster pics which is characterized by outrageous gun battles, heavy action, and high melodrama. It's also the film that started an array of copy-cat films, which were obviously not as sucessful.

    A Better Tomorrow focuses on the age old themes of honor and loyalty. The characters of Ho and Mark are honorable gangsters in an era of double crosses and mistrust. Ho and Mark are at odds with the changing value system and this puts them as people who are outmoded in their principles. Honor and loyalty in A Better Tomorrow(1986) is greatly emphasized as the marks of a good hearted person. Mark Gor is very honorable and loyal in his personalty compared to Shing who is the opposite. A Better Tomorrow (1986) was the gangster film that made John Woo one of the top directors in the Hong Kong film industry during the mid to late 80's. This one also made Yun-Fat Chow into a superstar and it revived the career of former Shaw Brothers star Lung Ti and boosted the career of pop singer/actor Leslie Cheung. The film I think was the first action film he did as well.

    I liked A Better Tomorrow A Lot. It's a lot better than The Killer,more stylistic, more meaning and you just generally feel for the characters more. The Direction is wonderful!. John Woo does a wonderful job here, with outstanding camera work, great angles, it's very stylish, and he kept the film at a very fast pace. Acting is also good and Chow Yun-Fat is just the coolest character you'll ever see. Not seeb muc of Ti Lung before so I'll definatly have to look out for more of his films.

    Now I'm going to watch more of John Woo!

    Recomended
  • aliyanto
    April 3, 2007
    aliyanto
    Setting a new genre in HK movies history!
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    March 3, 2007
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    Better story and emotion than part 2.
  • deano
    December 20, 2006
    deano
    This thriller of 1980's Hong Kong film is a raging torrent of blood, sweat and tears. More than just like The Godfather and The Wild Bunch.
  • garyX
    November 21, 2006
    garyX
    One of the original "heroic bloodshed" HK gangster movies, and it hasn't aged well. The first third is particularly schmaltzy and contrived, but the trademark Woo testoterone fuelled gun-battles are still effective.

View All A Better Tomorrow Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson
March 8, 2004
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Woo took the old-time story of two brothers, one a cop and another a counterfeiter, and raised the stakes on it. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
October 20, 2003
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner

More melodramatic and operatic than any of Woo's subsequent films.

Ryan Cracknell
June 14, 2003
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide

While it doesn't rely on style quite as much as [Woo's] later films, it has a complex plot, hundreds of flying bullets and buckets of flowing blood. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
July 25, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Action!

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Jake Euker
August 4, 2005
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
June 19, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Michael Dequina
January 8, 2005
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

No review available.

July 30, 2003
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Click to read the article Full Review

Christopher Null
June 12, 2003
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Click to read the article Full Review

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A Better Tomorrow Trivia

  • John Woo film where Chow Yun Fat goes from badass to cripple but still manages to save the day and help his buddy  Answer »
  • what was the first john woo movie to feature a sceen with 2 guns  Answer »
  • Who played the charater "Little Mark" who was shot in the head in the John Woo classic, "A Better Tomorrow"?  Answer »
  • In what movie would you hear: "I'm sick" well Ill take you home your be better by tomorrow"??  Answer »
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