NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (November 2022): Criterion have transferred Andrew Lau + Alan Mak's Infernal Affairs Trilogy to three dual-layered Blu-rays. It is cited as being "New 4K digital restorations". Leonard had reviewed the Blu-rays of this set from Megastar back in 2007, HERE, HERE and HERE but we did not have the ability to obtain screen captures at that time. I don't own that set to add them here. We had also compared DVDs of the trilogy HERE, HERE and HERE and have compared some of those screen captures below.

The resulting Criterion 1080P does not look stellar. I don't blame the 4K restoration transfers but certain films just don't translate well to digital and, for whatever reason, these films still look softish - devoid of crisp or glossy visuals. It's surprising as the films are only 20-years old. The HD presentations do, easily, advance over the poor image quality DVDs and also, generally, show significantly more information in the frame. There is some green hue and teal leaning. While there are instances of depth - they are few and far between. Reading Leonard's comments of the Megastar BDs - this seems more a function of the films than the transfers. Generally (again) skin tones shift to cooler compared to the DVDs that often lacked consistency. I strongly suspect that the Megastar Blu-ray image quality would not be an improvement and I doubt any future digital renderings - possibly aside from 4K UHD - will show dramatic superiority. It looked very passable on my system if not overly dynamic. While shot on 35mm (Arriflex 35) there is no heavy grain, although there is minor texture in the, flashback, black and white sequences. There is no digitization (edge enhancements) and it does not look like DNR is the culprit for the waxy, soft appearance. Perhaps one day will will compare to other transfers and provide more definitive observations. 

NOTE: We have added 120 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use robust DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround tracks (24-bit) in the original Cantonese with some Mandarin and English. The Infernal Affairs Trilogy has many aggressive moments with plenty of gunfire, car crashes and various forms of violence. The 5.1 does export some pleasing separation quite intense with strong bass response in the lossless transfers. Aurally these films are quite a ride. The scores for all three films are by Kwong Wing Chan (as Chan Kwong Wing.) As Leonard stated "Quite naturally, there are thematic and stylistic similarities for all three parts of the trilogy – one being that it functions as a part of the audio mix as much as provides mood. Compared to his work for the original film, this new audio mix is more in your face, more vigorous. The music itself is a fascinating amalgam of Western, Latin and Oriental influences. There are even Godfathery intonations from time to time." The first film also has Road To Inferno composed by Andy Lau, Kwok-Leung Chan and Marco Wan - performed by Hacken Lee. The theme song in Infernal Affairs II, Eternal Realm was composed by Wong Ka-keung, lyrics provided by Wong and Yip Sai-wing, and performed by the band Beyond. The third film has "Infernal Affairs" composed and arranged by Ronald Ng - performed by Andy Lau and Tony Chiu-Wai Leung (as Tony Leung) plus Chen Hong Ming's The Forgotten Time performed by Tsai Chin. The sound is also impressively clear with crisp and audible dialogue. Criterion offer optional English subtitles for all three films, and commentary subtitles for the first two, on their Region 'A' / 'B' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray offers commentary tracks for the first two films, recorded in Hong Kong, featuring directors Andrew Lau Wai-keung and Alan Mak and screenwriter Felix Chong Man-keung. They are in the Cantonese language and there are options for English subtitles. The discussion leads to specifics of the story and production. Included is a new 40-minute conversation, recorded by Criterion in Hong Kong in July 2022, where directors Andrew Lau Wai-keung and Alan Mak reflect on the twenty-year legacy of their groundbreaking Infernal Affairs trilogy. There is much more in terms of supplements - a 20-minute, alternate ending for Infernal Affairs; for the film's theatrical release in mainland China, the Infernal Affairs team shot this alternate ending in order to comply with the regulations of the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, which bar films "propagating obscenity, gambling or violence, or abetting to commit crimes." In 2007, filmmaker Yves Montmayeur interviewed screenwriter Felix Chong Man-keung, director Alan Mak, and Hong Kong International Film Festival director Peter Tsi about the cultural context in which Infernal Affairs was made. There is a 'Making of' for the first film made around the time of Infernal Affairs' production, with members of the cast and crew, including directors Andrew Lau Wai-keung and Alan Mak and actors Andy Lau Tak-wah and Tony Leung Chiu-wai, as they discuss the film's characters and narrative. Confidential File, for the first film, runs 9-minutes and shows behind-the-scenes footage of on-location shoots for Infernal Affairs, as well as glimpses of the sets between takes and the recording of the film's theme song by actors Andy Lau Tak-wah and Tony Leung Chiu-wai. There are four, raw footage, outtakes and one blooper reel plus trailers for all three films (including a 'SuperCut' trailer.) There is also a 'Making of' for the second film shot from around the time of the Infernal Affairs II production, with members of the cast and crew, including actors Eric Tsang Chi-wai, Anthony Wong Chau-sang, and Edison Chen Koon-hei, discuss the film's characters and narrative. There is also another Confidential File featurette for the second film that shows behind-the-scenes footage of on-location shoots for Infernal Affairs II, as well as glimpses of the sets between takes and the setups for various action sequences. Included are more interviews; in 2004, filmmaker Frederic Ambroisine traveled to Hong Kong to conduct to chat with the filmmaking team and cast members of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, including Andrew Lau Wai-keung, Alan Mak, Felix Chong Man-keung, Kelly Chen Wai-lam, Anthony Wong Chau-sang, and Chapman To Man-chak. There is another "Making of" for the third film also made from around the time of the production of Infernal Affairs III, with members of the cast and crew, including actors Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Leon Lai, and Chen Daoming, discuss the film's characters and narrative. Lastly is a liner notes booklet with an essay by film critic Justin Chang.     

Andrew Lau + Alan Mak's Infernal Affairs Trilogy has Triad bosses, gangsters, police academy moles + undercover cops with the stress, conflict and identity crises of their doppelgänger-like identities. The films carry a strong theme and subtext of the psychological struggle of Hong Kong residents shifting from British colonization to the reunification with Mainland China. The titles are a play on words from the 'Internal Affairs' term of the West but the Chinese translation is "the non-stop way", a reference to Avici, the lowest level of hell in Buddhism. A technique of parallel storytelling, flashing between the past and the present is utilized - notably so in the sequels. Conventions of hypnosis, hallucination, and double crossing are present. So, this trilogy is quite a step beyond the standard gangster genre and effectively filled with style-infused tension and strong character development. The trilogy has a loyal fanbase. The Criterion Blu-ray package is fully stacked and offers 4K-restored 1080P transfers of a highly memorable film series. Presently this is 50% OFF at Amazon.

Gary Tooze