While Western blockbusters usually prove a hit with Chinese movie goers, Chinese films are taking on the foreign productions in box-office appeal. Already a huge hit in Asia, Hong Kong's Infernal Affairs III is released in the UK this weekend. The tense thriller features Hong Kong superstars Andy Lau and Tony Leung.

The film follows the parallel lives of two men. Ming, played by Lau, is a corrupt cop who secretly reports to ruthless Triad crime boss Sam, Eric Tsang. And Yan, played by Tony Leung, is an undercover police officer who poses as a Triad member in Sam's gang. For Yan, the years of living in the criminal underworld have taken their toll. He wants out. The only person who knows Yan's true identity is his mentor Superintendent Wong, played by Anthony Wong. Wong is also the unsuspecting superior of Ming. When Wong's officers come face-to-face with Sam's gang, both leaders realize there are moles in their ranks.

Actor Tony Leung said: "My role is more suitable for me, it's more like me, very sad, very depressed, very quiet, very suppressed, it's more like me so I took that role. I did that kind of role before with John Woo in Hard Boiled and I really wanted to make a new approach to this kind of character, I wanted to make it different to the stereotype under cover cops."

Unlike many contemporary Hong Kong films, Infernal Affairs III steers clear of over-the-top action in favor of a more stylized and subdued story that builds on emotional and psychological tension.

Brad Pitt has apparently bought the rights to the movie and Martin Scorsese is rumored to be the director of the US version.

(CCTV.com March 1, 2004)