Writer: Ng Suzhen

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Watch this if you liked: “Young And Dangerous” franchise and “Triad”

The report card is out on how this remake of the "Young And Dangerous" fares against the original and while the result is not a big, red 'fail' stamped on the card, it's still a long way from scoring an 'A'.

The roles of the legendary Chan Ho-Nam and Chicken, previously helmed by Ekin Cheng and Jordan Chan, was portrayed with such aplomb and conviction that the very thought of anyone else stepping into their shoes is near blasphemy. But producer Manfred Wong and director Daniel Chan apparently had other ideas.

In the revamped version, little is revealed about how the four best friends, Ho-Nam (Him Law), Chicken (Oscar Leung), Tin-Yee (Dominic Ho) and Pou-Pan (Jazz Lam) first got themselves involved with the triads. The movie jumps straight to the midst of their 'jobs' prior to joining Brother Bee (Paul Wong). Apparently the four are doing quite well as members of the Hung Hing organisation but later find themselves in trouble when they attack Med King (Deep Ng) for gang-raping Tin-Yee's underage cousin to death.

When Med King dies from the attack, the four seek help from Brother Bee as Med King is under the protection of Ugly Kwan (Sammy Sum), who is out for their blood for killing his subordinate.

The four leads are at the end of the short stick with big shoes to fill. Him Law may be closer in looks to the comic book version which the film was adapted from, but it's more difficult to emphasise with him as Ho-Nam. Somehow, his acting fails to evoke emotions of brotherhood that is the centre of movies such as this. Oscar Leung though, comes the closest to turning a classic character into his own with a Chicken who does not refrain from expressing himself.

Paul Wong does well as the fair and wise triad leader Brother Bee who is constantly at odds with Ugly Kwan despite his main background as a musician. Doubling as a composer for the film, his tracks add to the triad atmosphere with heavy rock influences.

The characters of the film may be something that is constantly judged by the audience thanks to their successful predecessors, the film itself has done well by taking a direction that pays homage to the original comics. While some may view it as a moral outrage for the suggestion, it would have done the film justice to allow more freedom to expand its violent and sexual scenes.

Unfortunately, with the censorship board at work in Malaysia, we are not really sure if those particular scenes were censored or if the crew at work decided to hold back somewhat.

At times, the movie feels a little left out from time by providing modern twists to the new instalment, which includes current Hong Kong issues. The triads seem to be a redundant fad judging by the scene which the four leads try to recruit student members to the triad and it makes you wonder if remaking a gangster flick is really the best move right now.

But for fans of the good old classic Hong Kong triad movies, "Young And Dangerous: Reloaded" may just be good enough to quell your thirst.

Cinema Online, 09 January 2013