Comparisons - mostly favourable - to The Godfather are inevitable with Johnny To’s Election 2. Pre-credit archive photographs quickly explain Chinese migration to Hong Kong and the ‘need’ for Triad control, allowing the film to hit the ground running.
Leading up to a Triad election, crime boss Lok (the ever-excellent Simon Yam) plays each of his ‘grandsons’ against each other - the major spanner in the works being Jimmy Lee (Louis Koo) and his plans to “go legit”.
The exposition is perfectly balanced with bloody action and muscular set-pieces.