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A Better Tomorrow
英雄本色
1986 95 min Hong Kong R 16+
★7.7
Action, Crime, Drama
Director: John Woo
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.
Worldwide:
$4.46M
Starring
Lung Ti
Actor
Leslie Cheung
Actor
Chow Yun-Fat
Actor
Awards
6 wins & 14 nominations total
Key opinion
A Better Tomorrow is widely regarded as the foundational masterpiece of the 'heroic bloodshed' genre, successfully synthesizing hyper-kinetic action with themes of brotherhood and redemption. While some viewers criticize its melodramatic plot and uneven pacing, it remains a culturally significant work that launched Chow Yun-fat to stardom and established John Woo's signature visual style.
| Acting | Chow Yun-fat’s magnetic performance as Mark is universally praised for anchoring the film and launching his career as a major action icon. | |
| Direction | John Woo effectively pioneers the 'heroic bloodshed' aesthetic, blending balletic, slow-motion action sequences with deeply emotional dramatic stakes. | |
| Originality | The film functions as a seminal influence on global action cinema, introducing iconic motifs like dual-wielding pistols and 'bullet-time' slow motion. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: some find the story of brothers on opposite sides of the law to be a touching and intelligent drama, while others dismiss it as overly reliant on clichés and sentimentality. | |
| Score | The musical score is a point of contention; some reviewers find it integral and effective, while others describe it as bombastic or misplaced. | |
| Pacing | The pacing receives varied feedback, as some viewers enjoy the balance of drama and action, while others find the action sequences too sparse or the climax unnecessarily overlong. |