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"I'll check the shark fins"
Johnnie To’s Exiled was a thrill a minute ride with four gangster friends + 1 exiled ex-gangster friend who had to choose between triad loyalty to the boss or to each other. Throw in a wife and new baby making the stakes even higher.
Wo left the gang years ago after an assassination attempt on the boss. He came back to Macau with his wife and new baby where four old friends are waiting on him. Two are determined to protect him and the other two are assigned to kill him. After a gun fight in his apartment which led to moving furniture and dinner, friendship won out but that left them all in a precarious position with not just one gang, but two.
This is one of those films that I rated on the genre as well as the film itself. The gangster genre can be a lot of lather, rinse, and repeat with double crosses and triple crosses. I was pleased that the friends’ bond was stronger than their triad bond. Of course, that meant copious amounts of blood and flying lead and bodies. The cinematography, music, and lighting were all well above average. The acting was perfect for the characters. Anthony Wong reined in his scenery chewing abilities as did Francis Ng while still making their characters edgy, unique, and decidedly human. Roy Cheung with his gorgeous long hair and Lam Suet made for loyal backseat friends. Given their profession, all of the characters had made acquaintances with Death and found the gallows’ humor in their strange situations.
Wo’s wife played by Josie Ho had an important role to play as did Ellen Chan’s “Hooker.” Simon Yam came to life as the ruthless crime boss. Benz Hui’s retiring cop showed up occasionally to inject humor into scenes and explain why the police never swarmed the buildings being torn apart by gunfire and littered with dead bodies. A Red Bull product placement might have been the best commercial for it ever as that can definitely proved it had wings. The fight choreography was often highly stylized and at other times straight forward yet always highly effective.
I loved the look and feel of the film but it was the friendships that sold me. I had no illusions about how this film would end but still cheered when Ng closed the door. If you enjoy bloody buddy adventures and a different approach to a gangster flick this might be one to try. Probably an 8.0 but I enjoyed it to the end so I gave it an 8.5.
28 February 2026
Trigger warnings: Sexual content, brief nudity, graphic operating scene, lots of blood and violence.
Wo left the gang years ago after an assassination attempt on the boss. He came back to Macau with his wife and new baby where four old friends are waiting on him. Two are determined to protect him and the other two are assigned to kill him. After a gun fight in his apartment which led to moving furniture and dinner, friendship won out but that left them all in a precarious position with not just one gang, but two.
This is one of those films that I rated on the genre as well as the film itself. The gangster genre can be a lot of lather, rinse, and repeat with double crosses and triple crosses. I was pleased that the friends’ bond was stronger than their triad bond. Of course, that meant copious amounts of blood and flying lead and bodies. The cinematography, music, and lighting were all well above average. The acting was perfect for the characters. Anthony Wong reined in his scenery chewing abilities as did Francis Ng while still making their characters edgy, unique, and decidedly human. Roy Cheung with his gorgeous long hair and Lam Suet made for loyal backseat friends. Given their profession, all of the characters had made acquaintances with Death and found the gallows’ humor in their strange situations.
Wo’s wife played by Josie Ho had an important role to play as did Ellen Chan’s “Hooker.” Simon Yam came to life as the ruthless crime boss. Benz Hui’s retiring cop showed up occasionally to inject humor into scenes and explain why the police never swarmed the buildings being torn apart by gunfire and littered with dead bodies. A Red Bull product placement might have been the best commercial for it ever as that can definitely proved it had wings. The fight choreography was often highly stylized and at other times straight forward yet always highly effective.
I loved the look and feel of the film but it was the friendships that sold me. I had no illusions about how this film would end but still cheered when Ng closed the door. If you enjoy bloody buddy adventures and a different approach to a gangster flick this might be one to try. Probably an 8.0 but I enjoyed it to the end so I gave it an 8.5.
28 February 2026
Trigger warnings: Sexual content, brief nudity, graphic operating scene, lots of blood and violence.
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