A Better Tomorrow II (1987): Unreal End Shootout, Bizarre Scenes

A Better Tomorrow II is best-known for its epic, stylish, bonkers end shootout. Ranked by many as one of the best ever shot, it lives up to the hype as among the very best, very bloodiest, very chic Hong Kong action heyday endings ever crafted.But the rest of the film is a chaotic mess.A movie literally fought over by its director (John Woo) and producer (Tsui Hark), it's a mixed vision that feels bipolar.The film is the story of an epic undercover cop operation with some of John Woo's trademark "gun-fu" action one minute, a drama about a raving lunatic the next.But with its hyperbolic moments, like the infamous "apologize to the rice" scene, is this movie still a lot of fun?Join me for this discussion of even more of John Woo's "Heroic Bloodshed," the identical twin main character rescue, and the scenes Max Payne is probably exactly based on.Directed by John Woo.Starring:Dean ShekTi LungLeslie CheungChow Yun-fatConnect with us on Bluesky:@not-ni-theaters.bsky.socialAnd to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com