I have re-watched "Infernal Affairs" this year, and while it isn't one of the greatest films of all time, it is certainly one of the best examples of Hong Kong cinema in the new millenium. My first encounter with the film was at a German Film Festival in 2003 when news about the hype surrounding it were beginning to pour into Germany. Four years later I must say it hasn't lost any of its impact, though the formula has been copied many times since (of course Infernal Affairs also borrowed heavily from other classics). I haven't seen Scorsese's remake so I won't make any comparisons. I'd just be surprised if it's as effective, seeing how he transferred the setting from Hong Kong to New York. The film expresses imo Hong Kong's fears of the future very well, and speaks to me profoundly of various aspects of Asian culture while still remaining an entertaining actiondrama. I rated it on-par with Park Chan-Wook's Oldboy (2003). Though it didn't grip me quite as much emotionally, the overall precision and consistency in tone might be a bit superior.

My rating after the re-watch was a surprisingly high 68 out of 100

Thanks for translating some of the lyrics hengcs! I'll try to keep them in mind next time I watch the movie