Hak se wui yi wo wai kwai 2006

Tom Keogh, Seattle Times: Like the late John Frankenheimer, director To marries his drama with action and superb composition to achieve compelling results at times. Read more

Robert K. Elder, Chicago Tribune: [Director To's] talent for documentary-style realism and navigating complex political systems sets him apart, though his nationalism puts him squarely in the mainstream. Read more

Joshua Katzman, Chicago Reader: As in the first movie, To deftly references the Godfather trilogy, examining the moral equivocation and shifting alliances among various syndicate members. Read more

Noel Murray, AV Club: Like the best crime stories, this one isn't about how the bad guys live, it's about how we live. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: The film's violence erupts in rare, staccato bursts, all the more horrifying for coming out of nowhere. Read more

Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: Like any good sequel, this film takes what is familiar with the original's concept -- in this case, an internecine struggle for supremacy -- and deepens it. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: With Mob fever spiked by the return of The Sopranos, now's the perfect time to enjoy the intense Godfather variations of director Johnnie To. Read more

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: This remains a well-crafted genre movie, and one that promises further developments in its final scene. Read more

Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly: Reveals [director] To as a master of lean, close-quarters action. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: The parallels to all three Godfather films are there, if you care to look, but the Election films have other pleasures. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Plenty of films owe a debt to The Godfather, but it's rare to see inspiration used as successfully as it is here. Read more

V.A. Musetto, New York Post: Ready for The Godfather with a distinctly Hong Kong flavor? Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: Triad Election is something like a surprise candy, with a hard, sweet veneer and a shockingly bitter center. Read more

Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle: The movie is familiar on several levels but also has its own engaging style. Read more

Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times: If Machiavelli's The Prince and Sun Tzu's The Art of War translate to other centuries and cultures, so might Election and Triad Election. Read more

Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out: The moviea(TM)s most powerful component is political. Read more

David Fear, Time Out: The director rejuvenates the genre by connecting the dots between a criminal subculture and a much bigger sociological picture. He's finally given HK cinema its very own Godfather. Read more

Russell Edwards, Variety: Johnnie To's Election 2 is distinguished by intelligence, wit and violence but is lightly wounded by some ill-fitting moments. Read more

Michelle Orange, Village Voice: Each angle -- and To's take on the plight of the modern gangster -- is inspired. Read more

Stephen Hunter, Washington Post: Dense, demanding concentration, lacking any romantic (but plenty of sordid) violence, extremely involving and rewarding of careful attention. Read more