A Better Tomorrow 2018

A Better Tomorrow 2018, is a Chinese action film directed by Ding Sheng and starring Wang Kai, Ma Tianyu, Wang Talu, Yu Ailei, Lam Suet and Wu Yue. In this remake of John Woo's 1986 classic, director Ding Sheng delivers a similar story but with a different setting. Filming took place in a seaside location in the Northern Chinese city of Qingdao as well as in Japan.

The film was invited to be the closing film at the CinemAsia Film Festival in Netherlands on March 11, 2018. Also, the film had screenings at Osaka Asian Film Festival in Japan, Newcastle International Film Festival in United Kingdom, and Far East Film Festival in Italy. A Better Tomorrow 2018 premiered in China on January 18, 2018.

Synopsis
Zhou Kai (Wang Kai) heads a smuggling ring that ships goods from a coastal Chinese city to Japan. He has a younger brother, idealistic rookie cop Zhou Chao (Ma Tianyu), who knows nothing about his shady dealings. When Kai's refusal to turn to narcotics creates a rift in the team, the insidious Rubberband sets Kai up on a deal that ends with his arrest. Three years later, Kai is released from prison and tries to live a quiet, humble life with his former partner-in-crime, Mark (Wang Talu). However, the unforgiving eyes of his brother and society at large stop him at every step. When Kai's former criminal associates force Kai to return to the game, Kai, Mark and Chao are put on a collision path that will end in violence.

Cast
• Wang Kai as Zhou Kai, a member of a smuggling ring who got framed by his own partners and sent to prison. After doing his time, he seeks to live a straight life, but dangers from his past keep haunting him.

• Ma Tianyu as Zhou Chao, a police officer who has great respect for his older brother Chou Kai, though he never knew of his life in crime.

• Wang Talu as Ma Ke, a member of a smuggling group and Kai's trusty right-hand man. A simple-minded, passionate and loyal sworn brother.

• Yu Ailei as Cang, the son of Boss Ha.

• Lam Suet as Ha, the boss of a smuggling group.

• Wu Yue as Pi Jin, a member of a smuggling group.

• Li Mincheng as Guo Dui, drug-squad chief.

• Li Meng as Mei Lin, Zhou Kai's girl friend.

• Zhang Yishang as Lu Lu, Zhou Chao's girl friend.

• Yûta Nakano as Okamura, the Japanese Yakuza boss.

• Shi Liang as Zhou Kai and Zhou Chou's father.

• Jiang Peiyao as Yang Yang, Ma Ke's girl friend.

• Han Han as the car driver.

• Ning Hao as the drinker in Old Ma Bar.

• Eric Tsang as the prisoner D8145.

• Guo Xiaoran as the boat captain.

• Song Ge as Song, the police chief.

• Brian Huang as Ma Ke's Taiwanese friend.

• Ding Sheng as the taxi driver.

Music
The film score was written and composed by Lao Zi and Dou Peng, and performed by China National Symphony Orchestra and International Master Philharmonic Orchestra.

Release
The film premiered in China on January 18, 2018. The following are the release dates for each region.

The following are the released date for each festival.

Home media
A Better Tomorrow 2018 with Chinese subtitle was released on Digital HD on March 2, 2018, and A Better Tomorrow 2018 with English subtitle was released on Blu-ray and DVD on March 29, 2018.

Box office
A Better Tomorrow 2018 grossed US$10,067,151 worldwide, including CN¥63,067,000 (US$9,969,143) in China. It made US$7.9 million during its opening weekend in China.

Critical response
A Better Tomorrow 2018 received mixed reviews.

In her positive review of the film, Idarklight of Cfensi wrote, "From some of the boldest music choices to drastic switches in tone of cinematography to one of the most interesting shootout scenes in a while, A Better Tomorrow 2018 felt like a firework so bursting with life that  it left me too busy savoring every minute details of brilliance to think about its flaws. You can just feel how much love and thought director Ding Sheng and the cast put into every scene.  Even all the jokes avoid lazy one-liners but instead are all carefully set-up earlier to land perfectly." Pablo A. Tariman of Star Cinema praised the film and wrote, "The film delivers as a crime-action flick. The actors give their characters an earthy feel and they remain unscathed all throughout the bloodshed saga."

Conversely, LP Hugo of Asia Film Strike gave the film a negative review, writing, "A solid crime drama on its own terms, A Better Tomorrow 2018 can however not sustain comparison with the original. But despite a wavering tone, some heavy-handed references, it still manages to introduce interesting variations, and benefits from Wang Kai's charisma." Sean Gilman of MUBI Notebook Column wrote, "There's nothing especially unusual about a bland, over-edited and undercooked crime movie. And without the A Better Tomorrow connection Ding Sheng's film would barely be noticed among the sea of mediocrity that is mainstream Mainland cinema."

Accolades
A Better Tomorrow 2018 received two nominations at the 4th Annual International Jackie Chan Action Movie Week, one for Best Movie Stunt and one for Best New Actor In Action for Wang Talu.