More about this: I actually watched both versions 2 weeks apart coincidentally. I had gotten a bunch of recommendations from a friend who loved Asian-style movies, watched them for 2 weeks, and after those Robb had a bunch of movies later in the queue that had come out in 2006 which we never saw. (We totally snipe each other's Netflix choices- a tradition that began when I went without checking queue and after 6 months realizing that none of the 30 movies I added ever got sent. When confronted with this, Robb chose to compliment me on my fine cuisine. I thought something was up, and re-ordered the queue). So, I had watched Infernal Affairs among about 4 other HK/Japanese movies, followed by 6 movies or so from 2006 that Robb added because we wanted to see them. No correlation.

It took me about 40 minutes through 'Departed' to recognize that I was watching the same movie that I had seen 2 weeks before with subtitles. That was because the American version gave a little more backstory to the characters, which made it actually better. The HK version just kinda put those characters there, the American version gave them history and motive. Plus for US version. I can only guess that those that did not like Jack Nicholson were complaining that he was not like HK version. He actually was- the US version just let you know that he had known protagonist's father (or uncle, I don't remember) previously. They did not dwell on this point.

Unrelated: when IA arrived, I had a couple friends over who did not mind subtitles. After 20 minutes of watching, we all looked at each other and realized we had had a little too much to drink to follow subtitled plot. I put in Jeff's recommendation of Ong Bak instead, which went over very well. Still had subtitles, but the ass-kicking was sublime. No ass-kicking in Infernal Affairs.

I reviewed this on Groucho, but I'll say it here: I loved both versions. I found weaknesses in both versions. Not a single weakness I thought had to do with actors. I think I said that the Japanese/Chinese/Koreans do homoeroticism better, and the Americans do violence better. I completely disliked that the American version had a completely plot-unimportant love triangle in there; the Chinese version had the male characters each having their own woman, and it was more interesting to see how their drama played out in their personal lives. There was no shared woman.

The American version was a little more edgy in the gansta style, and I actually liked that. It was not gratuitous, just what was more hinted at in the original version, played out tastefully here.

JN was awesome, and a great, if American looking, version of the Big Boss in the original version. Not a thing ruined that movie, except the dumbass love triangle, which Hollywood seems to think we need in order to watch a movie.

Nothing ruined The Departed.

The Departed remains unruined. Except maybe by the fact that it's the 17th Scorcese movie in a row that uses Gimme Shelter in the soundtrack.

I am seeing more and more sentiment that this is the case. This is crazy. Do any of you think that Jack Nicholson somehow fucked up the movie "The Departed"?

P.S., apparently The Departed was not released in 2007, so it shouldn't be on any "Best of 2007" lists. DUHHH!