Last film by late Benny Chan, the big-budgeted action polar Raging Fire is a perfect vehicle for his star, Donnie Yen (the saga Ip Man).
Between Heat and Police story
Cheung Sung-bong (Donnie Yen) is a great Chinese policeman as gifted for martial arts as he is incorruptible. Yau Kong-ngo (Nicolas Tse) his former disciple leaves prison and decides to avenge the police officers who did not support him. The confrontation between the two men will be explosive.
Artist and craftsman
Benny Chan often lorges to Heat in this raced polar, but often lacks finesse in the construction of his characters. Nevertheless, the film acquires its nobility letters every time it accelerates and offers us its fantastic action scenes.
Donnie Yen, besides being an actor and producer on the film, is also her Action Director (choreographer, plus a co-director on the action scenes), and this moves. Benny Chan, the great craftsman of the Chinese action films of the last 30 years, and Donnie Yen, give to the heart of joy: racing-prosecutions on foot, by motorbike, by car, shootings, body-to-body fighting... All with a sense of framework and dynamism dear to Hong Kong cinema and swollen thanks to a considerable budget (approximately $90 million). Because that's where the film draws its pin from the game, being the only one in this category of blockbuster action/polar (excluding franchise) that the Americans unfortunately abandoned.
« If someone gets killed, it'll be unforgettable. »
Here, it's serious, first degree, fun, impressive, black and tense like a U.S. operator of the 1980s-90s, but with the incredible cutting talent of Hong Kong productions. The climax elsewhere (the confrontation between Donnie Yen and Nicolas Tse), is a joy as the grammar of the action is sublimated to its bodies that fight until exhaustion in a frenzy choreography.
Make some new with an old man
Donnie finds here one of his best roles, proving that he is a very good actor, a great choreographer and, at 58, a martial artist still as impressive. It's a pity that such a grandiose show didn't have the right to a show.
To be discovered in Blu-Ray from 26 May 2022 at Metropolitan Video.
Found it very nice, with good action scenes that do the right thing. There are a few ridiculous passages, a little dumb, but in the end are typical of Hong Kong cinema. Benny Chan's images on the film shoot that are present in the ending credits are a beautiful tribute. His reputation wants him to be a kind, kind director, and it does seem to be the case.Thank you Benny Chan for your cinema which, as far as I'm concerned, has been passionate.
I've always loved Benny Chan's films... So I'm looking forward to finding out about it (which I have in 4K but I have to take the time to watch). We'll miss him! 🙁