| A generic title like Triad Story should be very telling for anyone with a vague knowledge of the triad genre that was a mainstay during this period in Hong Kong cinema. Director Shum Wai injects some decent thoughts in the portrayal of the old time triads that tries to accept that time has run out for them but it lasts very shortly. Soon the gang conflicts escalate in the usual ways, sentimentality is high and another fault of the film is that it's way too talky when it should be trying to salvage itself with audience pleasing features. After several failed attempts at poetic and lyric imagery as lives are lost, Shum Wai instead wisely unleashes action director Siu Tak Foo. Decent brutality and fight action comes during the finale although there lacks a certain internal logic when we see who takes center stage. Billy Chow (in a rare good guy role) obviously is a fighter so that sets up his place in the finale but at this point, main characters are not even in the same room! Still, it's the best times of Triad Story. The rest is instantly forgettable.
Although poster arts feature Stephen Chow, it's merely a supporting, dramatic role he's given and frankly, he looks uncomfortable dealing with this kind of material (and to add on to that, Chow did not dub his own voice). His subsequent comedy co-star Ng Man Tat receives more screen time while O Chun Hung, Wu Ma, Shing Fui On, Shum Wai and Kwai Chung also appear.
Available is a Mainland vcd release under the title The Last Brother, featuring English subtitles and the Cantonese dub. |
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