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Yun-Fat Chow, Emily Chu, Waise Lee, Kent Tseng, Dean Shek ... see more see more... , Lung Ti , Leslie Cheung , Kenneth Tsang Kong , Man Tat Ng

Following the bloody climax of the previous film, A Better Tomorrow -- again directed by John Woo -- opens with Sung Chi-hi (spelled Tse-ho in the first film though still played by Ti Lung) getting re... read more read more...leased from jail on the condition that he rat out his gangland associate and a shipyard owner, Lung (Dean Shek). Chi-ti's younger brother, a young cop named Chi-kit (Leslie Cheung), is working undercover on the case and has already gotten into the gangster's good graces by dating his daughter, Peggy (Regina Kent). Fearing that he might put his brother's life in danger, Chi-hi cooperates with the cops. Meanwhile, Lung comes to believe that he is responsible for the death of a competitor and flees to New York. There he promptly goes crazy while under the care of Ken (Chow Yun-fat), the twin brother of the sunglass and trench coat-sporting Mark who died in the previous film. During a gun battle with the Mafia who tried to blackmail the exiled crime boss, Lung miraculously regains his sanity. Together he and Ken return to Hong Kong to settle a few scores. This film's onscreen mayhem was almost matched offscreen. Director John Woo and producer Tsui Hark had radically different views of how the film ought to progress. As a result, Hark reportedly recut the film without Woo's consent, ending a long-time professional relationship between the two filmmakers. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Flixster Users

78% liked it

9,822 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

6 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: John Woo

Release Date: January 1, 1988

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DVD Release Date: May 26, 1998

Stats: 408 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (408)

  • adammahler1
    April 21, 2011
    adammahler1
    "Are you OK?" is asked several times to people with white shirt soaked in their own blood. It's a big mess with sloppy jump cuts, rough dolly shots and the theme of brotherhood thrown in wherever it might fit. The ludicrous elements -- including a grief-stricken lunatic running ... read morearound speaking in tongues amidst flying bullets and Chow Yun Fat happily putting on the coat his twin brother died in, with its bloody-bullet holes -- make it seem like brilliant HK high school students are trying to do a John Woo half-spoof, where every good guy goes joyfully to Hong Kong Valhalla. The final gunfight is equally ridiculous but it saves the whole movie with a few moments of great choreography and spurts of red flying in and out of the frame.
  • allan913
    March 22, 2011
    allan913
    One of the greatest action classics of the 1980's. An unforgettable and adrenaline-pumping action-thriller. IT has one of the most outrageous, chaotic and massively brutal final showdowns ever put on film with a massive and insane body count. A masterpiece plain and simple. An am... read moreazing and absorbing action extravaganza. An action ride that tops the gun-fights and explosions of the first as well as it's dramatic aspect and character development.
  • kpn666
    January 19, 2010
    kpn666
    After watching it again recently, I have reevaluated my earlier statement... this is sequel better than the original. In my opinion. This one is bloodier, more brutal and where the first left with a sense of innocence and hope in life, the second strips it away, as the old schoo... read morel ex-gangsters watch as the honest world they tried to build is destroyed around them.

    Kit and Ho, brothers on opposite sides of the law, team up again undercover to stop a world wide counterfeiting ring being established in Hong Kong. When a lead connects to Ho's old mentor and partner, Lung, they stumble upon a masterplan of treachery and betrayl, which ends in the death of Lung's daughter, and Lung fleeing to New York, only to be hunted while his friends are killed, and enters into shock and is admitted into a mental institution. His only hope is Ken, the twin brother of the legendary Mark, who died protecting Ho and Kit. Ken is forced to protect Lung from the Mob as they send hitmen after him, and when lung eventually regains his sanity, they head back to Hong Kong to settle the score.

    Obviously no punches are pulled in this sequel, innocents are killed, lives destroyed, this is not a movie about redemption or finding peace like the first one was. Part 2 is all about betrayl and revenge, and knowing that you could never turn a blind eye to your past, especially in the Underworld.

    Its bloody, packs quite a punch and even throws in some good humor. Chow Yun Fat is obviously the star, creating a funnier, wilder and more charasmatic figure in Ken, the show stealer. The restraunt scene with the rice and mobster is a classic moment. XD


    Even though the movie drags a bit in time, the shock and deaths will carry on the suspense and thrills... and in the end, who knows?

    ENJOY!
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    May 21, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Very much a copy/paste sequel that becomes memorable for having one of the most insane over-the-top-holy-shit shoot-outs ever filmed. Complete with grenades and even a katana oO!!!
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    March 3, 2007
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    Overly melodramatic, but contains better action than part 1. The climactic shootout is one of the best action sequences ever filmed.
  • garyX
    November 20, 2006
    garyX
    Woo ditches the cheese that tainted the original and concentrates on the most intense action you are likely to see. Probably the highest body count too!
  • deano
    October 15, 2006
    deano
    This sequel HK film is getting better and bigger non-stop gangster action and I like the final showdown of three heroes arrive at the big party uninvited.
  • husky10000years
    May 6, 2008
    husky10000years
    This sequel to the 1986 predecessor is fantastic. Like the first film, it's got a hard storyline to follow, however, it has some fine acting that makes you care for the characters and it has some awesome action scenes. If you liked the first sequel, then you'll enjoy this one eve... read moren more.
  • jonnycrumley
    March 20, 2010
    jonnycrumley
    Good action movie. A Better Tomorrow II is better written than its predecessor, with a lot better premise and plot. Off course there's plenty of insane action along the way including a blood bath finale, that will blow your socks off. Watching this made me long for the days when ... read moreChow Yun Fat would once again have a pistol in each hand, and blow a house or even a hospital full of bad guys away. He is sorely missed in this genre.
  • threefolddado
    May 21, 2007
    threefolddado
    Weak on story, but some spectacular actions sequences.

View All A Better Tomorrow II Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson
March 18, 2004
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Less cohesive than the first, but also more charged. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
March 2, 2003
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner

Woo at his best; may be better than the original.

Ryan Cracknell
July 24, 2001
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide

A showcase for John Woo's tremendous skill both as a storyteller and as a composer of violent masterpieces. Full Review

June 5, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 25, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Philip Martin
January 24, 2003
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Marc Savlov
January 1, 2000
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

June 24, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

Kevin N. Laforest
September 10, 2002
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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