spoliers?

I think it's ok to be a bit confused by this film. The confusion stems from not knowing the intentions of any of the supporting characters of the film. They're backgrounds are explained in the titles, yet their actions throughout the film are never fully understood. The emphasis is solely on the two leads (who do a fine job).

But apart from that minor flaw, the film is nonetheless a dark piece of gritty noir. I think the Woo/Kitano/Scorsese comparasin is a bit too easy...any foreign action movie will be compared to Woo/Kitano. This film was action scenes reminicent of Woo, but it is lacking the solid characterization of his earlier HK films. As for Kitano, this film may have the sense of doom that looms all thoroughout his Yakuza dramas, yet it lacks his visual punch and the humanity he injects into all those pictures (instead relying on Woo pyrotechnics to replace characterization). As for Scorsese, this films would rely heavier on the actors than this film does.

I liken this film to the gritty immediacy of a Jim Thompson novel with a dose of Hong Kong Gunplay.

I understood it pretty well.

It wasn't the best movie ever... although seeing Tony Leung go apesh_t was the best :D