[nostatic]

IA2 might be a bit much for the family depending on how old the kids are. About the same as IA. It focuses more on how Sam rose to power and uses the same actors that played the "young" main characters.

Nicholson went back into the warehouse because it was a plot device to setup the final scene. They should have just directly ripped off IA instead. The tacked on stuff at the end of the Departed was just inane imho. IA left it somewhat ambiguous...as it should be.

There also is an alternative ending on the DVD. The Chinese govt didn't like the original ending because it made it seem like crime pays. So a second ending was made. This is all tied up in the handover and transition of power in Hong Kong. All very fascinating stuff. If you watch some of Wong Kar Wai's films from the mid 90's, it has a lot to do with the trepidation of the Hong Kong natives about the transfer. National identity, security, etc. It is really interesting to watch these films with a HK native who can explain why/what/where you're seeing and what is behind it. I don't think that any American native really has a reference point for understanding what is tied up in having your society handed over to another country.