Hong Kong has a long and storied history with action films, directors, and actors. This small island off the coast of southern China is responsible for introducing the world to Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan in the ‘70s, John Woo and Chow Yun-Fat in the ‘80s, and Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh in the ‘90s, just to name a few. In a film world overwhelmed by superheroes, dinosaur fighters, and angry drivers of speeding cars, it’s no wonder the real gems (especially the foreign ones) are so often lost in the shuffle. But folks, I’m here to tell you that if you’re the kind of movie fan who loves well-choreographed action films featuring an overabundance of insane stunt work, Raging Fire is just what Jackie Chan’s nervous wreck of a doctor ordered.
I’m no expert on Hong Kong action cinema, but I don’t think I (or you, for that matter) need to be to enjoy a movie as wild and fun as Raging Fire. For decades, Hong Kong filmmakers and stunt workers have been the trend-setters for what’s possible in this ever-evolving genre, and while director Benny Chan may not exactly break the action/cop mold, he certainly fills it to overflowing – and then adds some more just for good measure.
Long-time Hong Kong standout Donnie Yen stars as Cheung Sung-bong, a superstar police detective known for cracking tough cases with a mixture of smarts and uncompromising old school (possibly questionable) tactics. When a mysterious band of killers interrupts a sting operation and kills nearly everyone involved, cops included, it’s up to Cheung to figure out who they are and what they want. A number of excellently-crafted fight scenes, car chases, and dangerous stunts later, a surprise twist reveals more than Cheung had anticipated.
From a purely storytelling standpoint, Raging Fire doesn’t offer much in the way of innovation – but then again, it doesn’t really need to. It isn’t a bad story, mind you, it’s just that, as is often the case with action films, the plot becomes a somewhat secondary feature of the movie. However, where director Chan (who sadly died of nasopharyngeal cancer before the film was released) proves especially adept is in his utilization of the familiar tropes and well-worn clichés found in the vast surplus of half-forgotten ‘80s cop movies. Yes, it may seem like you’ve seen the entirety of the first act before, but for those of a certain age, recognizing these sentimental elements is half the fun.
But, predictably, where Raging Fire lacks in plotting, it more than makes up for in purely fantastic action. Donnie Yen is an absolute treasure who deserves to be a much bigger star than he is, and carries the film with plenty of style and panache. With shades of the tension-filled De Niro/Pacino dynamic from 1995’s Heat, Yen and co-star Nicholas Tse deliver a psychological battle on top of their physical one, elevating the urgency of the film’s exciting violence, while simultaneously setting the dramatic tone for its climatic resolution. American fans, don’t sleep on what Hong Kong has to offer.
James is a writer, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.