Infernal Affairs vs The Departed (Possible Flame Thread)

Kurosaki Issen · Shift Worker Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 47

I've just watched Infernal Affairs again and I have to say it is much better than the Departed. The suspense and tension in the Hong Kong series is literally yanked out by squish(y)ing all three movies into one Hollywood high budget summer blockbuster. Then they change the ending. Oh, and now a sequel is in the works to bring back all the characters that died. Let that sink in.

I might purchase the dvd eventually just to complete the Infernal Affairs set. After all that, it is really the best Hollywood movie at the time, which says a lot about Hollywood movies that make it to theatres. Better than the Hong Kong version? No way. Best thing out of the Departed was Mark Wahlberg. Worst was Jack Nicholson's exaggerated acting, some may disagree, but that was a distraction and not enjoyable.

What do you think?
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Parsifal · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:00 pm Post subject:

Thats kind of what I touched upon in this thread over in the "Classics" section of our forums.

As an effort overall "The Departed" was a good work. It was well in regards to the general filming of it and the re-translation of it wasn't done badly. I acknowledge it was but, its just that I already saw "Infernal Affairs" and saw all the things that got cut/changed for the sake of condensing the story and making it more "friendly".

You're right, Mark Wahlberg was awesome, but his character had no business even existing. And losing the the mob boss character as he was and instead getting some kill happy clown was a rather big loss for the film.

That (and all the other things I elaborated on in the other thread being said) I do support Joel's view on the two different interpretations of the story. The best thing to do is just separate and distance the two so you can just enjoy them independently. I would have enjoyed it more if I had come into it not having seen "Infernal Affairs" or at least having put it out of my mind as "the original". That being said, I do believe that the IA series is a better effort.
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trebuchet · Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:59 am Post subject:

I agree that Infernal had a tension that was missing from Departed. Having said that, however, one cannot gloss over the fact that Departed had the indelible fingerprint of Martin Scorsese. His visual style is what put Departed over Infernal for me.
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Parsifal · Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:35 am Post subject:

Like I said, "The Departed" has its merits. Like Ny and I mentioned, it does come down to personal preference. Did you watch one before the other? Do you prefer a visual style?

Either way, we're better for having both which ensures a much wider distribution for the story:)
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trebuchet · Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:50 am Post subject:

I beg to differ on "personal preference." I think a movie can stand on its own merit, if it's good enough. I saw Magnificent Seven before I saw Seven Samurai and I liked Samurai WAY more than Magnificent. In this instance I saw Departed before Infernal but I still found Departed to be superior.
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Conan! What is best in life?

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Parsifal · Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:54 am Post subject:

So you saw one movie before the other....and you like the one you saw first..... How does that disprove what I said about liking the first one you saw?;p

The Seven/Seven example did:)
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trebuchet · Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:56 am Post subject:

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Conan! What is best in life?

To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women!"

Parsifal · Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:57 am Post subject:

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trebuchet · Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:59 am Post subject:

No, no, no. Explain yourself. You don't get to use the wink on that one.
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Conan! What is best in life?

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James · Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:30 pm Post subject: arturo...

This is Arturo... Cool

BLIND....
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trebuchet · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 4:52 am Post subject:

The judges find your answer acceptable. Your balls will not be tazered.
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Conan! What is best in life?

To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women!"

Zeke · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:35 am Post subject:

Mike · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:49 pm Post subject:

I'm with Joel. Yeah, Departed is a direct remake/rip... but it's got it's own style. I love IF and I loved The Departed. I don't give a shit if Mark E. Mark's character had any buisness there... the whole...

"I'm tired from fucking your wife"
-How's your mother?
"Tired from fucking my father."

thing... but his character deep within my heart.

Both were badass.

Jack Nicholson went through like his entire career... I saw the fucker froM as Good as it Gets... Joker... etc etc. It just rocked.
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Steve · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:40 pm Post subject:

I liked both. I like IF overall but what did it for me in TD was Leo. I think he played his roll better than the original guy did.
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