Return to a Better Tomorrow is a 1994 Hong Kong action film directed by Wong Jing. It is an in-name-only remake of the 1986 film A Better Tomorrow featuring different characters and a different story.
Plot
Triad member Tong Chun and his gang attack rival triad boss Black Ox in a movie theater, but Black Ox uses his girlfriend as a human shield and escapes. Outside he his shot three times by Big Lobster, who brags of his feat to Tong Chun but is shot in the back by Black Ox. Tong Chun fires the fatal shot at Black Ox and takes Big Lobster to the hospital, where the police demand his help with an ongoing case. At a meeting with the police the next day, he learns that the Hong Kong police are working with the FBI to frame him as drug dealer in an attempt to rid Hong Kong of undesirables before its upcoming handover to China. Lobster Tsui recovers in the hospital but returns home to find that his wife has locked his daughter Little Lobster in a cage with the dog and is sleeping with Bill, another triad member. During a fight, Bill accidentally kills Big Lobster's wife before being pushed out a window to his death by Big Lobster. The police charge Big Lobster with the murder of his wife, but Tong Chun enlists the aid of Barrister Wong, who capably defends Big Lobster at trial and obtains his release.
Black Ox's men attack their rivals in a restaurant, but Tong Chun and Big Lobster kill them off and manage to survive as well as save the injured Lui Wei. Back at his headquarters, Tong Chun is arrested over a significant amount of drugs that have been planted there. Lui Wei sends Holland Boy, who kills several officers while helping Tong Chun escape, angering Tong Chun, who feels this makes him look guilty. Lui Wei sends Tong Chun and Chiu to hide out in Mainland China, where Holland Boy kills Chiu and attempts to kill Tong Chun on Lui Wei's orders to cover up for Lui Wei's own drug smuggling activities. Tong Chun survives and escapes to Vietnam after sending Chili a message that Lui Wei has betrayed them. Chili attempts to kill Lui Wei herself, but is caught and disfigured by Holland Boy.
Two years later, Tong Chun has returned to Hong Kong without any ID and is working as a cook. His boss Fred Simon's son Duke Simon is kidnapped for a ransom by thugs working for a triad named Panther, so Tong Chun and Fred seek help from Big Lobster, who has become a powerful triad member in the meantime. Big Lobster's men quickly rescue Duke and apprehend one thug who cut his ear, but Big Lobster follows his sworn older brother's advice and lets the man live. Tong Chun advises Big Lobster that Lui Wei has been helping him advance in the criminal underworld in order to later use him as a scapegoat for his drug dealings the way he did to Tong Chun, so Big Lobster confronts Lui Wei about the case Lui Wei is building against Big Lobster with the FBI and says that he is splitting up with Lui Wei. Tong Chun finds Chili, who has become a heroin addict due to the pain she still feels from her time being tortured by Holland Boy. Big Lobster's place is raided by the police on a tip from Duke, who is secretly an undercover cop, but they do not find what they are looking for. Big Lobster's place is then raided by Holland Boy and his men, who kill Big Lobster as well as his daughter Little Lobster in front of Duke.
At the police station, Lui Wei tells the police that he wasn't there at the time of the murders, and Barrister Wong throws coffee on him instead of helping him. Lui Wei goes into the restroom to clean up, where Tong Chun shoots him. The police handcuff Tong Chung, and Lui Wei reveals that he was wearing a bulletproof vest, then leaves laughing. Duke arrives and has his weapon stolen by Tong Chung, who escapes by holding Duke at gunpoint. Tong Chung pursues Lui Wei and ultimately kills him with the help of Duke.
Cast
Lau Ching-wan as "Big Lobster" Tsui
Cheng Yee-kin as Tong Chun
Wong Man-tak as Duke Simon
Yau Suk-ching as Chili
Lam Kwok-bun as Lui Wei
Ngai Sing as Holland Boy
Jim Wong as Barrister Wong
Pui Chun as Fred Simon
Wong Pak-man as Detective But
Chan Chi-fai as Bill Tung
Leung Pui-chi as Ting Tong
Ching Tung as Chiu
Lo Meng as Black Ox
Fung Chung-yee as Little Lobster
Gary Mak as Uncle No. 5
Yip Choi-nam as Assassin
Release
The film ran in Hong Kong theaters from July 14 to July 27, 1994.