A BETTER TOMORROW
Hong Kong, 1986, 90 minutes, Colour.
Directed by John Woo.
A Better Tomorrow is one of the Hong Kong crime thrillers that made John Woo’s reputation in Hong Kong – with other films like The Killer. He then went to the United States in the early 90s, making a number of thrillers including Broken Arrow and, probably his best, Face Off. He also made Mission Impossible 2 and Paycheck.
The film’s content is familiar from many similar films. The focus is on an older brother who is involved in illegal business, who moves to Taipei, is betrayed and has to serve a jail sentence. The younger brother is a trainee policeman who then becomes involved in the struggle with rival business gangs. As with John Woo’s films and with the pacy editing, there are confrontations, gun battles, athletic fights. It is done with style and pace and is a good exemplar of this kind of Hong Kong action film.
1.The work of John Woo? Crime films? The use of Hong Kong and Taiwan backgrounds? Action sequences? Editing and pace?
2.The use of Hong Kong locations, the city itself, the streets, apartments? Authentic? The Taiwan sequences – and the touristic touches? The musical score?
3.The action sequences, the editing of the gun battles? The action and fight sequences? The Hong Kong style?
4.Ho, his age and experience, his criminal work? His relationship with his father, his father’s illness? His father knowing what he did? His friendship with Mark? Seeing them in action, the initial confrontation and shoot-out? The crime bosses? Shing and his being appointed to go with them to Taiwan?
5.The episode in Taiwan, in the countryside, the criminals hiding, the confrontation, the battle? Ho being wounded? His escaping? Sending Shing away, Shing’s protestations? Ho finally giving himself up? His prison sentence?
6.Mark, his character, joking, offhand? His English with the criminals and the money exchange in Hong Kong? His business deals? Shing and his associates bashing him? His friendship with Ho, wanting to go back into business?
7.Shing, his rise to importance? The confrontation with Ho? The battles, his double-dealing? Ho and the threats to his father? The assassin in the apartment? The fight, his father’s death?
8.Kit and the younger brother, idealising Ho? The trainee, wanting to be a policeman? His love for Jackie, her looking after his father? Kit and his graduation, his police work? Impulsive, his fighting skills?
9.The attack in the apartment, Jackie and her fears, trying to save the father? Kit and his reaction? His reaction against Ho? His having to come to terms with what had happened?
10.The final confrontation with Shing, Shing and his suave manner, his thugs? The fight at the garage? The two groups and their fighting, the role of the police, the escape in the taxi?
11.The resolution? Ho and the theme of the gangster being able to reform? The motivation for his brother? The friendship with Mark – and Mark’s collaboration?
12.The picture of the Hong Kong crime world, the gangs, money laundering, counterfeit money and exchange? A violence world?
13.The theme – what indicated a better tomorrow – and for which characters?
