A Better Tomorrow (1986)
Directed by John Woo
[Not Rated] 1hr 35min
★★★★
A Better Tomorrow is a Hong Kong action crime drama about a gangster who tries to leave his days of counterfeiting money behind in order to be there for his younger bother, a rookie cop. However, when the cop discovers that his older brother is a criminal, he vows to personally arrest him in order to prove to the other police officers that he isn’t anything like him.
This is a great movie all around with its stylish action and dramatic performances. Although the action sequences don’t quite reach the insane level of some of John Woo’s later films, they’re still incredibly impressive and even feel more grounded at times. The use of practical effects are highly effective, as they make everything feel believable despite all the over-the-top elements. The story is also very compelling with its strong themes of brotherhood and friendship, which are further reinforced by the fantastic acting from Ti Lung and Chow Yun-fat. Overall, this simple story is told brilliantly through its authentic characters and spectacular action scenes that greatly enhance the emotional weight of the events as they unfold throughout the film.
I recommend A Better Tomorrow to anyone who enjoys action films with a strong emotional core. It’s very engaging and entertaining all the way through, so it’s a reliable movie to put on when wanting to watch something that offers an excellent overall experience.
A Better Tomorrow is currently available to stream for free on Pluto TV and PLEX. Click here to watch the Official Trailer.
– Review by Will Hopper