Far from second best

Infernal Affairs 2 has taken Hong Kong's box office by storm. For its Wednesday premiere alone, ticket sales hit $3.91 million - the best day-one takings this year - with the film being shown on 68 screens across the city. That also blows away Infernal Affairs (which went on to become last year's biggest box-office hit), which took in $2.58 million on its first day.

IA2's one-day takings are the second-best for producers Media Asia after A Man Called Hero, which came out in 1999.Despite showing more blood than its predecessor, IA2 has won rave reviews from critics impressed by its strong characterisation.

The movie - starring Anthony Wong Chau-sang, Edison Chen Koon-hei, Shawn Yu Man-lok, Eric Tsang, and Carina Lau Ka-ling - proves that a good story can go a long way.