Infernal Affairs - The Thai connection

Infernal Affairs is being screened in the States, and I've just gotten around to seeing it myself, thanks to the loan of all three movies in the series by a co-worker. After watching most of it, I've decided the only way to really appreciate the scope of this film, which is Godfather-esque, is to see all three installments in one sitting, if physically possible. In fact, it's probably been written before that this is Hong Kong's answer to the Godfather series.

Anyway, the Thai connection? It's sort of tenuous at first. Christopher Doyle, who worked with Pen-Ek Ratanaruang on Last Life in the Universe (as well as Wong Kar-Wai and many others) is credited as a "visual consultant"

Danny Pang, firmly rooted in the Thai film industry as the director or co-director with his twin brother Oxide of such films as The Eye, Bangkok Dangerous and Bangkok for Sale, was an editor on all three films. Another editor on Infernal Affairs was Ching Hei Pang. I am unsure whether he is related to the Pang brothers.

A firmer Thai connection with the series comes from the storyline, in which the leading gangster, Sam (the great Eric Tsang), makes a deal with "the Thais" to supply Hong Kong with cocaine. In Infernal Affairs II, Sam even visits Thailand and some location shooting took place in Bangkok, including the iconic Hualumphong railway station.

Meanwhile, the deal is set for a Hollywood remake of Infernal Affairs with, I think, Scorcese directing and Di Caprio and Matt Damon starring. Even with a master like Scorcese at the helm, I have serious doubts that it will be as taught and stylish as the original.