first off and i must say that i make the mistake of watch the election film out of sequence . i say unfortunately and because after see election 2 first and election seem a bit of a disappointment . both film be gangster epic that be similar in form . and while election be an enjoyable piece of cinema . it just not nearly as good a it sequel . in the first election installment and we be show the two competitor for chairman while big d and lok . after a few scene of discussion amongst the uncle a to who should have the chairman title and they ( almost unanimously ) decide that lok ( simon yam ) will helm the triad . suffice to say this doesn not go over very well with competitor big d ( tony leung ka fai ) and in a bid to influence the takeover and big d kidnap two of the uncle in order to sway the election board to his side . this have disastrous result and head the triad into an all out war . lok be determine to become chairman but would not become official until he can recover the dragon head baton and a material representation of the chairman power . the current chairman and whistle ( chung wang ) have hide the baton somewhere in mainland china and the race be on to see who can recover it first . much of the film be devote to the recovery of the baton . a both aspire leader search for it they must dodge cop and opposite side and which lead into one of the stand out scene in election and which involve an underling name jet ( nick cheung ) and a machete and and lot of bad guy . nick cheung presence be attention grab to say the least . i wonder if this influenced director johhnie to in any way while make the second election and a he do deliver more of jet character in the sequel . while nick cheung give a scene steal performance and i must not fail to give due to the rest of the film actor . election have a great ensemble cast with well think out performance that be both subtle and impact . simon yam be his usually glorious self and the film also benefit from heavyweight hk actor like louis koo and tony leung ka fai and and the under appreciated suet lam . there really aren not any weak link in the acting and one could easily believe that theyre watch real gangster . although the performance be great and one of the most impressive thing about election be johnnie to eye for the camera . there be some truly striking shot in the film and it go without say that to definitely know how to frame his shot and a the viewer be treat to a series of innovative and quite brilliant camera placings and angle . all of which make election and above all and a great look film . my issue with the film arise mostly out of the shear amount of character involve in election . it get a bit hard to follow because the film be so full of character that aren not integral to the plot . while the sequel opt to focus more on the two candidate and the first election offer the election process a a whole with ton of uncle and underling and and police officer crowd the storyline . maybe the film would have work good if it would have be a bit longer with more time dedicate to the inner working of the triad and or if director johnnie to would have funnel down the necessary element and expound on them more . bottom line all in all and this be a wonderfully brutal film with a great cast and excellent direction and and leisurely pace that pack a punch . it just a little more complicated than it need to be .