Cast Member: Wong Wa-Wo

‘Exiled’ is a riveting portrayal of a group of friends sticking by one another as their once chosen profession threatens to kill them all.

For the most part this is a perfectly enjoyable though undistinguished drama, but things step up a gear near the end.

A stylish and moody piece from one of the masters of style and mood, ‘PTU’ is a dark journey into the equally dark heart of Hong Kong where the cops are almost as corrupt as the criminals.

It successfully manages to combine numerous genres to create a truly enlightening piece of cinema that shows just how unique Asian filmmaking can be.

This is as much about relationships than anything else and by the end of the film it develops into an unusual variant on the buddy genre.

Within this wonderfully crafted and thoroughly satisfying film is enough reasons to have full assurance in the future of Hong Kong cinema.

It may be To’s intention to slightly alienate the audience with characters stuck in limbo, without any explanations, but, if this is the case, he cannot be too surprised to learn that this is an uninvolving film.

The unrealistic and slightly uncomfortable relationship that is the film’s centre never lets the film be anything more than a watchable film from a director who more should be expected from.