I finally saw Scorsese’s’ The Departed (TD) after waiting for months for it to come to DVD. I had seen the HK original Infernal Affairs (IA) last year and loved it. So I was one of the fans eagerly awaiting for its Hollywood release. Sure, I have a nagging suspicion whenever an Asian remake is involved. Usually they end up watering down the movie, and embellishing it up with fancy fireworks. But some movie like ‘The Ring’ based on ‘Ringu’ was okay – but not so with ‘The Grudge’ and other fine Japanese horrors suffering in the hands of Hollywood horrors.
I thot my fear was misplace with an esteemed Martin Scorsese at the helm – or so I thot. *Deep Breath*. Where do I begin – I have a few questions for screenwriter William Monahan who wrote TD. WHY?! why did you take a razor sharp thriller and make it into a Gillette shaver with 5 blades, 2 lubricating tips and a long handle. Sure its comfy, shaves great and its damn smooth – but tell me, which one sends shivers down your spine when held on your neck – a rusty razor or a Gillette fusion?
I remember while watching IA, I was on the edge of my seats all the time. Andy Lau and Tony Leung held you captivated, you just do nothing except watch wide eyed and enjoying every moment of it, waiting to see what happens next. It was visual assault. But TD, but with all the fancy back stories and forced emotional connections looked and sounded hollow. IA with its simple story was far more emotional and more believable.
Maybe I was expecting too much, as all reviews praised it to the sky. Or maybe I watched IA first. For those who watch TD first and IA later will surely say “TD is more rich”. Why does it need richness? Martin took a B-Grade potboiler and tried to inject it with substance, when it doesn’t need any. IMHO Martin was a misfit for this movie – what was needed was a mindless action director in the lines of a Micheal Mann or a Joel Schumacher. The movie should have had a fast pace like Crank, not letting you think about the huge holes of logic, just bang bang bang…
3/5
Just finished watching TD AMEN! TD was laughable and too long. I never felt a connection with the characters as i did with Infernal Affairs. Alot of other bloggers love TD…. saying their are too many holes in the movie….”we never see how Tony Leung’s character infiltrates the mob, he just does… Leonardo’s character does a better job of explaining it…” WTF… it was left out for a purpose… So it can be explained in the prequel. I felt that TD tried to incorporate elements of Infernal Affairs 2… and now i hear they are working on a TD2… sad. I like how during the oscars the actors and director never gave credit to Infernal Affairs…