''Running Out of Time 2'' (, literal title:''Hidden War 2'') is a 2001 Hong Kong

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definiti ...

caper film co-directed by

Johnnie To Johnnie To Kei-fung (born 22 April 1955) is a Hong Kong filmmaker. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas. Intensely prolific, To has made films in a variety of genres, though in the West he is best known for his H ...

and Law Wing-cheung. It is a

sequel A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music, or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...

to To's 1999 film '' Running Out of Time'', with Lau Ching-wan returning as Inspector Ho Sheung-sang, who this time has to go after an elusive thief played by

Ekin Cheng Ekin Cheng Yee Kin (born 4 October 1967) is a Hong Kong actor and singer. Early in his career, he used the name Dior as a first name (because that was what it sounded like when his younger sister tried to call him Second Brother ()). He has als ...

Synopsis

The film brings back Inspector Ho Sheung-sang ( Lau Ching-wan), this time to contend with another clever thief (

, whose character is nameless). The story begins when the mysterious thief targets Teresa ( Kelly Lin), a wealthy businesswoman who becomes the center of an elaborate extortion scheme. Unlike the terminally ill mastermind from the first film, this new adversary is motivated purely by the thrill of the challenge and financial gain. The nameless thief demonstrates his cunning by orchestrating a series of seemingly impossible heists and puzzles that baffle the Hong Kong police force. Inspector Ho Sheung-sang finds himself once again matched against an intellectual equal who delights in creating intricate cat-and-mouse games. The thief's methods are theatrical and precise, designed not only to achieve his criminal objectives but to engage Ho in a battle of wits that tests both men's limits. As the stakes escalate, the thief's schemes become increasingly elaborate, incorporating elements of misdirection, technology, and psychological manipulation. The film explores themes of obsession and professional pride as Ho becomes personally invested in capturing this elusive criminal. Meanwhile, Teresa finds herself caught between the two men's dangerous game, her safety hanging in the balance as the thief uses her as both target and bait. The narrative builds tension through a series of cleverly orchestrated set pieces that showcase the thief's ingenuity and Ho's determination to match his opponent's every move. As the final confrontation approaches, both the thief and Ho must confront the personal costs of their obsessive pursuit of victory, leading to a climax that tests not only their intellectual abilities but their fundamental understanding of justice and morality.

Cast

* Lau Ching-wan - Inspector Ho Sheung Sang *

- The thief * Kelly Lin - Teresa * Hui Shiu-hung - Superintendent/Assistant Commander Wong Kai-fat *

Lam Suet Lam Suet (; born 1964), or Lin Xue, is a Hong Kong film actor. Life and career Lam was born in Tianjin, and came to Hong Kong as a youth in 1979 to receive inheritance money left by his grandfather. Soon after, all the money had been squander ...

- Ken * Ruby Wong - Madam

Awards

Golden Horse Film Festival * Won: Best Action Choreography (Bruce Mang) * Won: Best Film Editing ( Law Wing-cheung and Yau Chi-wai) * Nominated: Best Visual Effects (Stephen Ma) * Nominated: Best Sound Effects * Nominated: Best Cinematography ( Cheng Siu-Keung) Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards * Won: Film of Merit Award

External links

* 2001 films 2001 directorial debut films 2000s Cantonese-language films Hong Kong crime drama films 2001 crime drama films Hong Kong heist films China Star Entertainment Group films Milkyway Image films Films directed by Johnnie To Films directed by Law Wing-cheung Films with screenplays by Yau Nai-hoi 2000s Hong Kong films Films scored by Raymond Wong {{2000s-HongKong-film-stub