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A Better Tomorrow (extended audio) - John Woo-LY
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Welcome to John Woo-LY 2026, where for the month of July we're celebrating the legendary director of Hong Kong action cinema, John Woo. Every week we'll be revisiting one of his defining films and asking the important questions: do they still hold up, and where do they rank in one of cinema's greatest filmographies?
We're kicking things off with A Better Tomorrow (1986), the film that launched John Woo into stardom and popularised the Heroic Bloodshed subgenre. If you've ever wondered where slow-motion gunfights, dual pistols, and tragic bromances came from, this is a very good place to start.
Starring the holy trinity of Hong Kong cinema - Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung, and Chow Yun-fat as the legendary Mark Gor - and developed by the dynamic duo of Tsui Hark and John Woo (before the falling out), A Better Tomorrow has everything: melodrama, two-gun action, unforgettable one-liners, and enough brotherly angst to power an entire decade of action movies.
The story follows Ho, a triad gangster who, after serving three years in prison, tries to leave his criminal past behind and reconcile with his younger brother Kit, who is a police officer. But when old loyalties come calling, Ho is forced to choose between the brother he fought beside and the brother he wants back.
In this review, we discuss the cast, the state of 1980s Hong Kong cinema, Chow Yun-fat's controversial casting, the morality of Heroic Bloodshed, the emotional core of the story, and why A Better Tomorrow remains one of the most influential action films ever made.
Is this John Woo's greatest film?
If you enjoy movie reviews, film analysis, Hong Kong cinema, and Asian pop culture, check out our weekly podcast, Two Asian Blokes, where we chat about films, TV, and vaguely Asian stuff.
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⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Introduction – Welcome to John Woo-LY 2026
01:40 Is A Better Tomorrow John Woo's Best Film?
03:10 The Cast & 1980s Hong Kong Cinema
06:48 Why Chow Yun-fat Was a Controversial Choice
08:12 A Better Tomorrow Plot Overview
10:45 The Morality of Heroic Bloodshed
12:50 Family, Loyalty & Brotherhood
16:30 The Emotional Conflict & Heartbreak
18:34 Why the Action Still Holds Up Today
20:30 The Iconic Final Gunfight
23:06 A very personal movie
💬 What do you think of A Better Tomorrow? Is it John Woo's finest film, or do you prefer The Killer, Hard Boiled, Bullet in the Head, or another classic?
Let us know in the comments, or contact us at twoasianblokes@gmail.com
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