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Rating:
7
AKA: Color of the Loyalty
Year of release: 2005
Genre: triad drama
Directors: Wong Jing, Billy Chung
Producer: Wong Jing
Writer: Wong Jing
Stars: Eric Tsang, Shawn Yu, Suki Kwan, Lam Suet, Emma Wong, Roy Cheung
Rated IIB for violence and language
DVD Information
Company: Mei Ah
Format: widescreen
Languages: Cantonese, Mandarin
Subtitles: Chinese, English
Extras: trailers
Notes: Nothing to get excited about extras-wise, but the actual movie is presented well.
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Wong Jing biography
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Colour of the Loyalty
Colour of the Loyalty stars Shawn Yu as a low-level Triad named Fat who is assigned to protect a boss (Eric Tsang) from his own men (led by Triad movie mainstay Roy Cheung) who want to kill him, so they can take over the gang's fortunes. Fat does an excellent job in saving the boss during several attempts on his life, but as more enemies are killed off, it becomes clear that someone else is orchestrating the rebellion within the gang. As the movie draws to a close, loyalties are put to the test as a series of double-crosses threaten to tear the gang apart for good.
So I can figure what you're probably thinking -- Wong Jing had success with Colour of the Truth (which itself was "inspired" by Infernal Affairs) and so he decided to crank out a "sequel", which is just the same film all over again. Well, you're partially right. Colour of the Loyalty was most likely put out to capitalize on Colour of the Truth's success, but they're not directly related in any way, and actually -- despite what you Wong Jing-haters out there might think -- it's a good movie that doesn't depend on toilet humor, bare breasts or ultra-violence to provide entertainment.
Colour of the Loyalty depends heavily on Shawn Yu delivering a good performance, and he does do that here. With several films between them, Wong Jing seems to be grooming Yu to be the new Chow Yun-Fat -- a suave but still tough actor. I don't totally buy the comparision at this point, but Yu is turning into one of the stronger young actors currently working in Hong Kong films. Most of the other cast members do well, also. I don't really enjoy Eric Tsang in the comedic roles he is best known for, but he usually is solid with his dramatic work, and it's no exception here. Lam Suet also puts in a good performance as a cop who must walk the line between upholding the law and helping his old friend.
Despite the strength of the performances, Colour of the Loyalty still feels like a bit of a letdown. Don't get me wrong -- it's a very well-made movie. It just lacks that certain something that seperates a good crime movie from a great one. Maybe some more violent shootouts, or a little more unconventional structure -- something needed to be added to the mix to make this film stand out from the huge pack of crime pictures Hong Kong has cranked out over the years. All in all, though, Colour of the Loyalty is a movie that even Wong Jing-haters should be able to enjoy.
