Thanks to WHV, I have received this movie today, a week ahead of it official release.

I missed this movie in the threater, so, I have no idea what it look like in it original presentation. AND I didn't bother to look at the DVD side, waste of time.

The movie itself is simply phenomenal. I highly recommend this movie to anyone. A very touching and emotional film. I really don't know how "The Departed" got it award. Oh well, such is life.

The PQ is excellent, the details and sharpness is very impressive, especially considering how dark this film is. There is not much color in this movie, so, don't expect any wow factor in the color department, however, I do like the look of this film very much.

As for the Audio, no comment, I'm still waiting for a nice receiver to do the TrueHD. But from what I have hear, it is very good, althought, I thought the battle can use a bit more punch, but again, that might have to do with my system setup.

The player I use for this movie is XA2 w/ no firmware upgrade. The movie run smoothly, no prob at all. Also, the disc didn't fall off like those of "Planet Earth."

Ok., enough about my yabbing, I hope everyone give this movie a try. It is well worthes of your time. Simply one of the best from 2006. Thanks to Warner Home Video for delivering this movie ahead of it schedule and bought this movie to the HD world. Thank you. Good night, and good luck. :)

Awesome. Departed won because it's just a solid movie all around. The whole time you're watching you just think to yourself "god this is phenomenal".

Clint is Wizard in the chair too. So I'm really looking forward to this.
But I want to watch Flags of Our Fathers befor hand as the companion piece.

My copy arrives on Thurs. Haven't seen Letters or Flags yet. As to Departed, I guess if I hadn't seen the original I would have thought it was as amazing as other people, but the Hollywood ending ruined it for me.

Hi Shadowrage,

Hmmm... Maybe because I watched the original "Infernal Affair" then watch "The Departed" when it came out on HD-DVD. I'm a native Cantonese speaker, so, I'm able to milk the whole story of "IA" very well. However, when I watch "The Departed" the wholetime, I was like "WTF!!!" I swear I share the same feeling with Mark Wahberg throughout the whole movie. Pretty much cursed at every single scene. Honestly, I thought "The Departed" was probably the worst of 2006. Martin really screwed this one up. Anyway, I'm going back to "Goodfella" until something better come along on the west side. :) Until then, back to those darn addicting edgy flick from HK. As a side note, everyone should check out a new HK flick call "Protege" that is a movie that I can't stop saying "god, this is freaking phenomenal!!!" :)

As for Clint, I really liked his style. He is truely one of a kind director. His style is truly unique, very subtle but exciting. Love it. Now, I have to pick up "Flags of Our Fathers" to get the other side of the story. :)

Never saw IA the HK version. People always like originals more than remakes.
I knew it was a remake. But for some reason I think every HK movie is "The legend" or "Iron Monkey". But best movie of 06: Children of Men.

Just got the confirmation my Letters is coming on thursday. I don't want but I'm going to wait to watch it with Flags. I figure Flags first since I know Letters is astounding.

I don't understand what's being referred to as the "hollywood ending" of the Departed. It wasn't like it was happy at all, yet another person gets shot to death. If anything it was even more of a downer cause you-know-who didn't get away with it.

I don't understand what's being referred to as the "hollywood ending" of the Departed. It wasn't like it was happy at all, yet another person gets shot to death. If anything it was even more of a downer cause you-know-who didn't get away with it.

No one got away with anything in that film. I was completely surprised by the ending with the exception of the final scene. It was really well done.

Hi Shadowrage,

Yeah, I know what you mean, many western viewer only know about Jet Li, Jackie Chan, and bunch of Kung fu flick that were courtesy of Quentin. However, once you explore the HK cinema, you will be surprise at what they able to output with such a low budget. If you have a chance, I highly recommend these few recent titles from HK Cinema. After you see these flicks, I'm sure you will have many questions about "The Departed" :)

"Protege", "Election 1+2", "Exiled", "Confession of Pain"

If you like me, who crazy about "The Usual Suspect" "Syriana" "Good Night and Good Luck" you will love the above HK selection. It is action movie with lots of human depth with lots of questions that simply challenge your mind. :) Gosh, I wish those movies would come out on HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, I will buy in a heart beat. :)

"Protoge" sounds exactly like "A Scanner Darkly". But I'm guessing "Protege" has better pacing and more blood(always nice).

I read that magnolia is releasing Exiled in 2007. So it may get a BD release.

Confession of Pain sounds like a criminal version of Grey's Anatomy(I'm guessing with graphic violence). So I'll definently check that out.

But Syriana was just so tedious. And to be honest I thought all the films insight into oil and the CIA was common knowledge. What about Munich? That was pretty awesome.

Is there any benefit to watching "Flags of our Fathers" before this one?

I"m a non-Cantonese-speaking Westerner who sides strongly with QCamera. I've seen all three of the HK "Infernal Affairs" films and, along with my wife, watched The Departed while ALSO going WTF -- but, as in, "What's the Fuss?"

I thought the story of "The Departed" was simplified, even juvenile, compared to the HK originals; and the US performances only scratched the surface of the characters, whereas the original performances were simply brilliant. If you liked "The Departed," I highly recommend the "Infernal Affairs" films for their quite different and, IMO, superior presentation of the material.

Bottom line, so many people admired "The Departed" that I'm sure it's a good film; but knowing the originals simply ruined whatever I might have gotten out of the experience (and I'm a Scorsese fan, too, so it was a double disappointment).

Oh well, this is a "Letters From Iwo Jima" thread, so I can stay on topic by mentioning that I also received mine today from WHV, a week in advance. Looking forward to watching it in the next couple of days.

Hi Shadowrage,

Yeah, I know what you mean, many western viewer only know about Jet Li, Jackie Chan, and bunch of Kung fu flick that were courtesy of Quentin. However, once you explore the HK cinema, you will be surprise at what they able to output with such a low budget. If you have a chance, I highly recommend these few recent titles from HK Cinema. After you see these flicks, I'm sure you will have many questions about "The Departed" :)

"Protege", "Election 1+2", "Exiled", "Confession of Pain"

If you like me, who crazy about "The Usual Suspect" "Syriana" "Good Night and Good Luck" you will love the above HK selection. It is action movie with lots of human depth with lots of questions that simply challenge your mind. :) Gosh, I wish those movies would come out on HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, I will buy in a heart beat. :)

I've seen Exiled. wow what a movie, its great. I'm getting protege and confession of pain, those interested me! :D

Letters from Iwo Jima is amazing! cannot wait to watch it in HD!!!!!!!!! :D

I"m a non-Cantonese-speaking Westerner who sides strongly with QCamera. I've seen all three of the HK "Infernal Affairs" films and, along with my wife, watched The Departed while ALSO going WTF -- but, as in, "What's the Fuss?"

I thought the story of "The Departed" was simplified, even juvenile, compared to the HK originals; and the US performances only scratched the surface of the characters, whereas the original performances were simply brilliant. If you liked "The Departed," I highly recommend the "Infernal Affairs" films for their quite different and, IMO, superior presentation of the material.

Bottom line, so many people admired "The Departed" that I'm sure it's a good film; but knowing the originals simply ruined whatever I might have gotten out of the experience (and I'm a Scorsese fan, too, so it was a double disappointment).

Oh well, this is a "Letters From Iwo Jima" thread, so I can stay on topic by mentioning that I also received mine today from WHV, a week in advance. Looking forward to watching it in the next couple of days.

Yeah, I'm a huge scorscese fan, mean streets is one of my favorite films. I had never seen infernal affairs. I think the departed is an amazing film. When it first came out, I could not stop watching it. I've seen it at least 4 times already. I had to stop myself from watching it, less I become sick of it.

I'll have to check the original out though.

The movie itself is simply phenomenal. I highly recommend this movie to anyone. A very touching and emotional film. I really don't know how "The Departed" got it award. Oh well, such is life.


I have this on preorder, but did not see it in the theaters. Looking forward to it. The Departed was a very good movie, but I think part of why it won was because of politics. Clint has won a lot of awards for his movies and directing, lately. A lot of the voters thought Martin Scorsese was way over due.

I don't understand what's being referred to as the "hollywood ending" of the Departed. It wasn't like it was happy at all, yet another person gets shot to death. If anything it was even more of a downer cause you-know-who didn't get away with it.

In the original, the bad guy gets away with it. Hollywood ending I'm referring to as, bad guy doesn't get away with it.