Infernal Affairs (2002) co-writer Felix Chong’s directorial debut offers a refreshing twist on the gangster genre. While a typical gang war depicts a battle to the top, this subversive comedy shows two respected gang figures in a fight to avoid becoming the boss. In a brilliant bit of casting, Yound and Dangerous stars Ekin Cheng and Jordan Chan play the two men – one an ex-convict who would rather study for an MBA than get into another gang brawl, and the other a seemingly loyal triad member who would rather concentrate on his burgeoning restaurant business. Just as the film shows us the need for the criminal world to adapt to the times, Chong implies that perhaps it’s also time for Hong Kong cinema to leave nostalgia behind and look to the future.

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