During the lead up to the Hong Kong handover, a band of disgruntled former soldiers struggle for existence, dumped by the Hong Kong wing of the British army once they'd outlived their usefulness. When they see that 'Chopsticks', the young street-punk brother of one of the soldiers (played by Made in Hong Kong lead Sam Lee), is doing well as a gofer for gangsters, the troops forget about being solid citizens and plan a bank job.

In a scene paying homage to Tarantino paying homage to his Hong Kong heroes, the hold-up ends in a terrifying firefight, lucky escapes and enough loot to make life a whole lot easier... for now. Fruit Chan was intrigued by the idea of soldiers - men with a very specific set of planning, command and combat skills - finding their way into the underworld.

Visually this epic crime thriller is a knockout. The camera moves with impossible grace from a spectacular riverside fireworks display to a gangland beating in a bar toilet. It's Fruit Chan's second feature and first mature masterpiece.