This starts with the look and feel of "A Better Tomorrow" and delivers the same heroic bloodshed. If you are familiar with these types of Hong Kong movies you know the characters will all die at the end or at most only one will survive. I'm surprised to learn about the alternate cuts/endings and now I have to find those versions also. Yes, Carl Scott was the token and under-used so every minute more of screen time for him would improve the final cut. The fights are fabulous in every respect particularly in Bruce Li's execution and power. The pacing of the story is perfect and the fights each seem unique. I rate it a well above average eight out of ten.