Gatao 2: Rise of the King

Don't let the "2" fool you, this stand-alone gangster saga is a must-see. Gatao (gang leader) Ren still believes in integrity and loyalty. His old friend Jian reappears, cocky and underhanded, setting off an all-out war paved with death and dismemberment. Director Yen Cheng-Kuo, a former child star, narrowly escaped the death penalty and instead served 10 years in prison for kidnapping. Perhaps that life experience helped spawn this gritty, mean spirited tale imagine if Kitano Takeshi's Outrage and Johnnie To's Election had a bastard child that puts Taiwan firmly back on the gangster-cinema map.