Election (Hak se wui) (2005)

Featured Audience Ratings

• xGary X

  
  The time has come for a Triad organisation to elect a new chairman, but the losing contender rejects the outcome and threatens to break away and form a new gang. Johnnie To's Election has been described as "the Asian Godfather", but I personally felt it had more of a… More
  The time has come for a Triad organisation to elect a new chairman, but the losing contender rejects the outcome and threatens to break away and form a new gang. Johnnie To's Election has been described as "the Asian Godfather", but I personally felt it had more of a Goodfellas vibe about it, particularly the grimly realistic violence that is made all the more so by the fact that the weapon of choice of these gangsters is the machete. The crux of the story revolves around a race for a ceremonial sceptre that is the traditional symbol of power for the organisation, but this format made the film feel like a 90 minute relay race as one character hands the "baton" to the next after occupying the screen for an all too brief length of time; in all there are nine characters vying for your attention (not even including the "bad" guys) which means few have any real chance to make any impact. Just when you think the set up is complete and the story is about to begin, the credits start rolling. In this way the film reminded me of the original X-Men film as it suffers from the same problem of introducing too many characters too quickly leaving little time for plot or characterisation of any depth. Having said that, it looks fantastic without losing any of its inherent grittiness and it feels like an interesting set up for a story yet to be told. For that reason, I'm hotly anticipating Election Volume Two.

• Stella D

  
  a really interesting look inside the hong kong triads

• Khris N

  
  Totally and unbelievably excellent!!<br/><br/>This is really the only movie that could stand up to THE GODFATHER as a true gangster movie. Its outright brilliant. Perfectly executed. Vicious. And for all hardcore thrill fans and those that loved the Godfather, you will be… More
  Totally and unbelievably excellent!!<br/><br/>This is really the only movie that could stand up to THE GODFATHER as a true gangster movie. Its outright brilliant. Perfectly executed. Vicious. And for all hardcore thrill fans and those that loved the Godfather, you will be hooked!!<br/><br/>Election takes us into the world of the Triads. Every two years, a new chairman is voted to head the Wo Sing Triad. But this time, there are two contenders: the violent, energetic and dangerous Big D, (Tony Leung) who is admired for his tenacity and ability to earn money, but his short temper and inability for paitence leaves him undesired by the more level headed "Uncles" of the groups. His opposite is the calm, intelligent and equally dangerous Lok (Simon Yam), a patient, cunning gang leader who shows and equally earns respect from his peers. When Lok and Big D clash, the Wo Shing Triad is about to explode with infighting, unless Lok can negotiate a truce between the rival groups, and also handle the police and other competitors at the same time. <br/><br/>This is brilliantly shot - perfect. The direction = fabulous. Johnnie To should be helmed directing top drawer Hollywood or Indie films, but the censors and tight ass producers will probably restrict his talents and skills, so he's better off in Hong Kong. The music -perfect match. Just like the Godfather had its theme, the score for Election is unique and well composed, the strings played beautifully, giving a melancholic sound in a smooth beat, which is flawless and suits the movie like the proverbial glove. The cast - well, too bad they arent the superb cast from The GODFATHER. But they are second to none. Most people are familiar with Jackie and Jet and Bruce. The cast is really the top gun veterans in Hong Kong outside of the previous 3, Simon Yam and Louis Koo being my personal favourites, usually underrated and left in the background when being cast in other movies with the international stars. Tony Leung should be no stranger to international films, his most recent popular movie to the general public being Hero, with Jet Li. <br/><br/>The rest of the characters are well developed and played out so well, its like really feeling that these guys are he real deal, the same feeling you got when you "connected" with the Corleone Family.<br/><br/><br/>This is a must see for HK fans and Gangster movie lovers! Or anyone who respects top quality films.<br/><br/>And it can prove it too, being a selection at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, Toronto, New York, Melbourne, Stockholm and many other Film festivals, broke the box office in Hong Kong, which was surprising for an R18+ movie in HK.<br/><br/>Also, Winner of Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Screenplay in the Hong Kong Film Awards....<br/><br/>watch it yourself, it kicks ass! Literally.

• Justin Y

  
  Being a Johnnie To fan, I expect nothing but great films from him. Honestly, this is a disappointing film from Mr. To, but it is safe to say that even low Johnnie To films turn out much better than many other films out there.<p>The story is everything you'd expect from a… More
  Being a Johnnie To fan, I expect nothing but great films from him. Honestly, this is a disappointing film from Mr. To, but it is safe to say that even low Johnnie To films turn out much better than many other films out there.<p>The story is everything you'd expect from a Johnnie To film. Gangs, cops, robbers, etc. Doesn't sound too interesting right? Well, once again the great cinematography and characters give this film some depth and make it a worthwhile watch. The beginning of this film is somewhat of a disappointment. There is a ton of character introductions and the premise of the story is unfolded. While it isn't all that bad, it just feels like you're average cops and gangsters film. The great aspects of a Johnnie To film don't kick in until about the 40 minute mark. From this point on the Johnnie To feeling sinks in and the film becomes much more enjoyable. Nice character transitions and some nice suspense keeps the movie interesting. Let me also mention that the ending is another let down. It feels lacking at places.</p><p>The various characters in this film are played by the usual cast of characters. Simon Yam, Tony Leung Kai Fa, Nick Cheung, and Lam Suet should not be surprising to see. Maggie Shiu shows up again, but she is totally underused. Other than that, the acting is great.</p><p>Johnnie To can produce some nice shootouts and in a film involving gangsters you would expect to get some masterpieces. Unfortunately you don't. In fact, this film really lacks in action. That's not to say that this film is boring, but a little action couldn't hurt.</p><p>If you are a fan of Johnnie To, give this a watch. Just don't expect a masterpiece.

• Sarah G

  
  Election tells the story of how a Triad Society in Hong Kong chooses their new leader, or Chairman. Up for the job are Lok (Simon Yam), a seemingly mild-mannered, intelligent gangster and single parent to a young teen, and the explosive Big D (Tony Leung Ka Fai), who wants the job at… More
  Election tells the story of how a Triad Society in Hong Kong chooses their new leader, or Chairman. Up for the job are Lok (Simon Yam), a seemingly mild-mannered, intelligent gangster and single parent to a young teen, and the explosive Big D (Tony Leung Ka Fai), who wants the job at all costs. Bribery, bullying, and other means of extorting votes from the elder Triads have commenced in full as the story begins. It isn?t long before Lok is elected Chairman, but to fully assume power and be recognized as the new chieftain, he must first take control of a token baton passed on from one Society chief to the next for over 100 years. To this end, both Lok and Big D send out their underlings and allies in search of the baton, even as the police, led by the stout Superintendent Hui (former kung fu star David Chiang) clamps down. This is my first Johnnie To film and the first time I've seen actors such as Tony leung-Kai-Fai, Simon Yam and Louis Ko. By the end of the movie I felt that I needed to see more of To's films and more of Simon Yam, and Louis Ko. This is what I'll do soon! Well, Election is a resonable movie. I did like it and I didn't. Perhaps I was expecting more, as I heard such great things about Johnnie To, but did read some disappointing reviews of this. What the movies falls up on upon is the story is far too complicated. We have three different scenerios and many different charcaters, which you don't really know who they are or why. For example the film's secondry charcaters become more interesting than the primary characters. For instance we don't know what Jimmy does, what does he do exactly?Tony Leung Ka Fai, playing a serious character for once, delivers a colorful portrayal of the tactless Big D, but he seems to be overselling the role. Simon Yam is appropriately calm and scheming, with bursts of extreme violence that reminds you why this guy is a Triad in the first place. The film?s overabundance of characters, each with their own personal problems and agendas, seem to be an artificial attempt to inflate the film?s complexity, which doesn?t work because, simply put, there isn?t any complexity to be found here. There is an attempt to explore the nature of the Triad Societies, but it?s unfortunately not very interesting. It?s easy to ?get? that Triad elections are almost identical to political elections, but is that simple allusion really enough to sustain a whole film? On to more postove attributes. It does have all the makings of a classic ganaster film but just gets to caught up in it's own plot. The scnery is stunning. All the shots around Hong Kong make it more worth the while to watch the movie,despite the confusing plot. Election is brilliantly directed and contains, as I said before some brilliant acting. Now, I have to wait for Election 2 to be released on DVD and watch some more of Johnnie To. Overall, Election feels like a film geared up for the sequal. It's resonable and almost very good just is overly complicated stuff

• Dean M

  
  Absolutely powerful tale of Hong Kong's largest and oldest criminal triad between the vengeance and betrayal.

• Donnie D

  
  When it comes to movies about organised crime, people immediately think about The Godfather and Scarface because they are just memorable. Election could have been at the level of those movies, but is held back by some issues. Election is about rival gang leaders that are locked in… More
  When it comes to movies about organised crime, people immediately think about The Godfather and Scarface because they are just memorable. Election could have been at the level of those movies, but is held back by some issues. Election is about rival gang leaders that are locked in a struggle to become the new chairman of Hong Kong's Triad society. I enjoy complexity in a movie, but my brain was really tested when in the first thirty minutes the movie just throws so much story at you that it was easy to loose to track. Thankfully I wasn't completely lost in it's story despite it throwing allot at you in the beginning. I may not know allot about the Triads works, but this movie did a great telling me about the Triads, it's social order, and has deep character development considering that movie has so many characters that it's easy to loose track of which gang members are together or rivals. For those of you expecting something like A Better Tomorrow will be disappointed, for those of you wanting a more creative approach won't be disappointed. It has a great atmosphere in this world of criminals and the camera work like in any Johnnie To is great. Johnnie To is an experts when it comes shooting scenes and it adds a sense of depth into this world. The actors are great always maintaining a great performance. Even though Election main problem may come from it's story it doesn't take away from the great work given to this movie. Election is not for everyone, the story does get complex really fast and it's easy to loose track of which characters are friends and which ones are enemies. For those who can look pass it flaws will find a great movie.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Election," the biennial elections for the chairman of the Triad Wo Sing Society in Hong Kong are quickly approaching with the two main candidates, Lok(Simon Yam) and Big D(Tony Leung Ka Fai), doing their best to influence the Uncles of the society,… More
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Election," the biennial elections for the chairman of the Triad Wo Sing Society in Hong Kong are quickly approaching with the two main candidates, Lok(Simon Yam) and Big D(Tony Leung Ka Fai), doing their best to influence the Uncles of the society, even with the police on everybody's backs. In the end, Lok wins but that does not stop Big D from trying to steal the election from him. To do that, he needs the Dragon Head Baton, which the previous chairman, Whistle(Wong Chung), has secreted away in Guangzhou province in China.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Election" is a stylish crime drama where the emphasis is not on violence(for gangsters, these guys have very little use for guns) but on the messy process of democracy. Instead of the election unifying the society, division turns out to be the actual result, with both sides willing to do anything to lay claim to the crown, using methods that are straight out of the good old days of Chicago machine politics.[/font]

• Sheldon C

  
  Dark, harrowing, classic.

• Fascade F

  
  Lesson learned while watching this epic. Never turn your back on a rival gangster..EVEN IF...a truce has been made. Bone crunching, and neck strangling ending is in store for those who watch this gangster flick. Amazingly...no guns or explosions were used....to enforce power. I seen a… More
  Lesson learned while watching this epic. Never turn your back on a rival gangster..EVEN IF...a truce has been made. Bone crunching, and neck strangling ending is in store for those who watch this gangster flick. Amazingly...no guns or explosions were used....to enforce power. I seen a rock, a knife, a stick...even paint thrown in a balloon...but...no gun or explosives...check it out. This is a true treat for those who have ever wanted to know what the Triad electorial process is all about.

• Lesley N

  
  I was thinking Hong Kong Triad election for new chairman, politics with guns, ho hum zzzzz, but then a) the characters of the two contenders started getting much more complex and interesting, and b) there was one beautifully timed fight scene as the two sides try to get their hands… More
  I was thinking Hong Kong Triad election for new chairman, politics with guns, ho hum zzzzz, but then a) the characters of the two contenders started getting much more complex and interesting, and b) there was one beautifully timed fight scene as the two sides try to get their hands on the ceremonial baton So instead of a average three stars, it snuck up to four and now I have to watch ELECTION 2.

• Henrik S

  
  An intense and brutal Asian version of the Godfather. While the characters might not be as deep as its Western inspiration, the story and pace is frantic and exciting. One thing I did not like about the film, that is lacks any of the Shakespearean tragic of guilt in a live of crime… More
  An intense and brutal Asian version of the Godfather. While the characters might not be as deep as its Western inspiration, the story and pace is frantic and exciting. One thing I did not like about the film, that is lacks any of the Shakespearean tragic of guilt in a live of crime like the Godfather sports so much of, instead, the life of crime is depicted as something heroic and thrilling, no wonder Hollywood Bad Boy Tarantino liked it so much, but then again, he is just a kid. If it had not been for the glorification of crime, I would have enjoyed this film much more. Still, it does have all the ingredients of a great crime saga - intrigue, betrayal, a good ending, strong (albeit superficial) characters, the right degree of violence to make all danger more immediate. The soundtrack is also very nice. A solid crime saga that makes up in vigor all that it lacks in depth.

• Brett W

  
  Election is a solid Hong Kong gangster film that sets a wealth of narrative pieces in motion which should have resulted in a more satisfying experience than what it did. Unfortunately too much of it feels like wallowing ankle deep in a vast ocean, being introduced to interesting… More
  Election is a solid Hong Kong gangster film that sets a wealth of narrative pieces in motion which should have resulted in a more satisfying experience than what it did. Unfortunately too much of it feels like wallowing ankle deep in a vast ocean, being introduced to interesting characters only to see them quickly dissolve into the background. Group motivations and allegiances are often unclear, and so basic dramatic structures fall short of the mark. In the end it feels like you were just watching an average week in the life of a Chinese triad, instead of a brutal, internal power struggle. Although, even with the who's and why's falling short of their intended mark, Election demonstrates a high level of competence by all involved that helps mask the story's failings.

• Kevin "

  
  Election is about a Triad society deciding on who to elect as the new chairman. The two candidates are Lok; one who respects the ways and traditions of the elders and Big D; a over the top do what it takes with no consequences or cost. Lok is elected, but with Triad tradition, to take… More
  Election is about a Triad society deciding on who to elect as the new chairman. The two candidates are Lok; one who respects the ways and traditions of the elders and Big D; a over the top do what it takes with no consequences or cost. Lok is elected, but with Triad tradition, to take power the resigning chairman hands over a baton to the newly elected chairman. Big D sends his men to retrieve the baton to force his way into power, while Lok sends his to secure his elected position. Anything more will ruin the story. With another Johnnie To film watched, I've come to realize. When it comes to compelling stories and characters you can care about, he is one of the best. This film proved he doesn't have to rely on gun play to make a good movie. I will admit Exiled does both though. Only small complaint is the back stories of characters aren't explained. Hopefully it is for a reason and the sequel will prove why.

• Dimitris S

  
  A seminal picture of the new gangster genre.The criminal underground in To's illumination has no limits and no fears as to which is the outcome of any behavior.Sizzling with a dark,nightmarish attitude,superb editing process and a fascinating mood during the action scenes.The Ka… More
  A seminal picture of the new gangster genre.The criminal underground in To's illumination has no limits and no fears as to which is the outcome of any behavior.Sizzling with a dark,nightmarish attitude,superb editing process and a fascinating mood during the action scenes.The Ka Fai and Yam bout is like a chess game.

• Wu C

  
  Some really good scenes and some slower paced ones. Worth a viewing.

• MJS M

  
  The first two thirds of this contemporary Hong Kong film were really engaging. The cinematography was really working and the set up was great. It felt like one of the most original crime films I?d seen in a long time. However, the film?s final act really let me down, I had expected… More
  The first two thirds of this contemporary Hong Kong film were really engaging. The cinematography was really working and the set up was great. It felt like one of the most original crime films I?d seen in a long time. However, the film?s final act really let me down, I had expected the film to really open up and move on to bigger and more interesting places. Instead it got more personal and ended fairly abruptly. Still that first hour really cooked.

• Christopher B

  
  One of the best gangster films of all time. A great film with a chilling ending.

Read all 18 featured audience ratings