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Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

For some reason I always put off watching "Protégé", which turned out to be a mistake on my end. This movie was nothing short of spectacular, and it is among the top five of Hong Kong movies that I have seen.The story is about Nick (played by Daniel Wu) who is an undercover cop in the heart of the lucrative Hong Kong drug trade, working closely with Banker (played by Andy Lau). Nick becomes close to Banker and his family, and becomes Banker's protégé, set up to overtake the business as Banker plans to retire, as his health is failing and his age is catching up with him. At the same time, Nick sees the effects of drugs as his neighbor Jane (played by Jingchu Zhang) asks for help. She is alone with her daughter, having left her abusive husband (played by Louis Koo).Of course it is a story about drug dealing and the underworld, but it is also the story of loyalties, friendships, and corruption.I must admit that this is one of the more riveting and well-told stories that I have seen in a Hong Kong movie. It is a nice step away from the usual non-stop action or silly romantic comedies that Hong Kong cinema pumps out by the dozens. The story in "Protégé" is raw, harsh and direct. It is the type of movie that burrows deep and sticks with you.Of course Andy Lau put on a great performance in this movie, as he always delivers. But I will say this as well, Daniel Wu really did a phenomenal performance in this movie, and normally I don't care much for his cocky acting. It was really nice to see his talent have flourished beyond his usual generic acting. And despite having only a minor supporting role, then Louis Koo really did deliver as well in the role of the abusive drug addict husband.If you enjoy Hong Kong cinema, and haven't already made your acquaintance with "Protégé", then get to it, because it is a major milestone in Hong Kong cinema. Even if you are not particularly a fan of Hong Kong or Asian cinema, you can still enjoy this movie, because it is a great story told in the world of drugs."Protégé" is a worthy addition to any DVD collection, and a MUST to any collection of fans of Hong Kong or Asian cinema.

When i first saw just a label on this DVD, my first thought was, another karate film with some gang stuff. But i must tell you that i am not often so pleasantly surprised about one movie, like with this one. It is not only dark world of heroin users,dealers, cops etc. this movie is much more. It is a very deep story which keeps you in it for a whole movie and makes you feel despair,wonder,ill and even sometimes makes you laugh. It is not possible that this movie will not touch you deep in your heart, the scenes with addict mother and her small daughter, are simply heartbreaking.Specially recommending for people who had some personal drug experience.

I like Derek Lee and I really wanna like this movie. it starts out weird enough, with almost a high school propaganda portrayal of drug abuse, and then a hackneyed summary of drug abuse (you know, the one that goes "people abuse drugs to fill their voids"). Then the movie was followed by almost half an hour of great drama, detailing the main character Nick (played by Daniel Wu) and his interactions with the police, the drug network, and a single junkie mama (who looks more like a heroin model than a junkie mama). It introduces the great Andy Lau as a charismatic and very human drug lord. Then it suddenly switches back to the one-dimensional, almost laughable portrayal of junkies (followed by the worst makeup for a junkie I have ever seen and the worst motivation I've heard in a modern film for dope addiction), followed by a beautiful monologue by Andy Lau, explaining the modern Hong Kong drug chain...etc. This is when you realize that you're watching a schizophrenic movie. It is at heart some kinda simplistic anti-drug propaganda, determined to use any tool necessary to dissuade the innocent viewers of drug use, but at the same time, Derek Yee and the cast and crew seem to be far too intelligent and sophisticated to beat you over the head with the valuable life lesson. In the end we get a half-engaging, half laughably bad film. Derek Yee seems to have done his homework, and he seems to not only understand the world of drug both as a business and as a crime, but also to depict it beautifully and coherently for the average viewer. Unfortunately that understanding does not translate to the other half of the drug trade nor the movie, in which great actors do their best zombie/ drunk impressions in attempts to scare the viewers straight. It really is heartbreaking when something is only half good. It's a shame too, since real junkies live in much more pain and horror than the fake movie ones, and, for better or worse, anyone with any exposure to the streets (in any major city) these days can tell the difference between gritty realism and gritty caricature. Put it this way: if Zhang Jingchu's junkie reacts to withdraw the same way she reacts to a scary kungfu master in "Seven Swords", then it can't be that convincing. The good news is, you can always rent Half Nelson or The Wire, the latter pretty much is the movie The Protégé (and many many other movies and shows about drugs and crime) wants to me.

Talking about ratings may not be the most appealing of review openers, but the Hong Kong ratings board just makes it so easy. Either they hand out restrictive ratings like Spring Festival red pockets, or they blithely choose to ignore stuff that in other markets would have raised red flags, and none too festive at that.Which one is the lesser or greater evil, that's up to each viewer to decide Protégé contains some very explicit drug use depictions and a pervasive mood of terror more fitting in a genuine horror flick. Frankly, there's more scary content here than in the typical Asian frightener. Thus, we're counting our blessings that the board didn't notice. Maybe they just missed this one? Well, whatever the case may be, you shouldn't.This is a powerful movie, coming from a powerful team of filmmakers headed by Derek Yee, Hong Kong's greatest directorial hope right now and the guy that gave us the excellent One Nite in Mong Kok and Drink Drank Drunk. Naturally, his latest brings back Daniel Wu for another round of effective temperance and reserved menace, although this time the guy is accompanied by the type of performances that tend to drown out the most potent of thespians.Seriously, sit down to behold Protégé and enjoy Oscar-caliber acting from some unexpected, surprising angles. As often happens, it's not the leads that shine more than everyone else, but rather their supporting cast. It helps to have the film bestowed with melodramatic but subtle visuals, heaps of startling moments of violence and a distinct aversion to holding back. All these combine to a product of impressive properties, even if it doesn't tell the most innovative of stories.And the story is where Protégé could have done somewhat better. It fields a slightly formulaic recounting of the antics of undercover cop Nick, who over the course of seven years managed to infiltrate the drug producing enterprise of appliance seller cum chemist Banker (Andy Lau). The criminal mastermind isn't just adept at shirking narcotics and customs agents, he's also a dedicated family man and suffering from diabetes-related kidney problems. Thus, the Banker's looking to leave his business in the right hands, trusting Nick with the job (hence the title).But Nick is a man of conflicts and everyday alertness to the suffering this world purveys left and right, and so begins to notice his pretty female neighbor (Zhang Jing Chu) and her delightfully cute little girl as they exist in poverty's uncool squalor. Aside from cooking up a few instant noodle packs to keep them from starving, Nick also realizes the neighbor is quite seriously on the needle and hooked on heroine, the same substance he's been in effect helping the crime syndicate put on the streets for years.His moral dilemma becomes acutely obvious when the neighbor's de facto husband (Louis Koo) shows up one day and proceeds to cause trouble. There begins Nick's resolution to truly bring his beloved mentor down, having decided that it's not merely doing business when you're making your money keeping people addicted and weak.There's a substantial component of valuation to Protégé as it delves into the reasoning behind drug dealing, using narcotics and the things these contrast with, such as loyalty, family ties and the path each individual either chooses or is forced onto.None of it is really too deep, but you won't mind, since the movie dishes out whatever ammunition it was given with great aplomb and style. As mentioned before, it's no ordinary crime also-ran. There's more here to do with various horror and mystery genres than with the average triad epic, but that's only the beginning. From quite early on one comes to respect Zhang Jing Chu's uber-believable performance, she's that good. From the wracking convulsions of trying to kick the habit, through the fake frailty of needy junkies to the heart-breaking desperation of a mother, she's got it all down pat brilliantly.And words can only begin to describe Louis Koo's input. The guy's just so good this writer almost went out of the theater to go get him a statue. He's so adept at suspending disbelief it takes a while to even recognize him for the slick pop star you thought he was. But that's all over with now that we've seen his full range. The man simply shines and it breaks us up that, like almost all Hong Kong motion pictures, the world at large will dismiss this occurrence as secondary to other sources.That's the thing with Hong Kong actors, we get so used to seeing them in Mahjong Girlfriend 12 and My Left Ear Loves Demons 5, and then they come out with this brutally touching sort of quality. Go figure.There's also memorable scenes with crime movie veteran Liu Kai Chi (SPL, Colour of the Loyalty, Infernal Affairs 2), whose semi-demented jocular conduct fits perfectly with the role of a cruel but sympathetic customs agent.On the downside, Protégé doesn't bring anything new to the collective literal psyche, it just tells an old story better than most. It does commit the sin of stereotyping, not only with respect to the tormented cop and lovable crook brackets, but also when showing a trip the two take to Thailand, where everyone's either a warlord or a demure, destitute supplicant.But such minor glitches are easily forgiven in an otherwise amazing release. Watch it and learn a thing or two. Class not dismissed.Rating: * * * *