Reviews (19)

A Ringo Lam action fest.
Look, Van Damme films will never be in a class that I consider good fare. His stuff is usually thin on plot, full of laughable dialogue, and fist-thick on martial arts. Does that mean that I don't watch his stuff? No it doesn't. I've watched his movies because there are times that I don't want to think, just escape, and he provides just that in "Maximum Risk". Out of his movies that I have seen, this one turned out to be one of his best, if not the best (but honestly, he doesn't give us a lot to choose from).

"Maximum Risk" is an extremely violent movie with a very high body count. I lost track of the dead early on. While the plot is as thin as always (Russian mafia, twin brother, beautiful girl), Ringo Lam pumps it up with some nifty car chases (if you like that sort of thing) and provides the viewer with one heck of a ride as we step over the bodies. This is non-stop action from the get-go, and the fight scenes (yes, there are many) are hard-hitting and brutal, yet believable (almost a first).

For those that like Van Damme, this movie should be high on your list. For the rest of us, well, it is violent and even mean-spirited, but I ended up enjoying the ride, and the credit must go to director Lam. Between 1 and 10, "Maximum Risk" gets a solid 6.

Van Damme's best movie
I am a fan of action movies, but I've found some of Van Damme's previous flicks (most notably, Knock Off), to be below average. After seeing this movie on TV, however, I was quite impressed and ended up buying it.

As with most action movies, this one features a hero (Van Damme) who has to kick some butt, aided by a beautiful girl (Natasha Henstridge). The movie starts off with a pretty good car chase, followed by lots of scenes with guns firing and martial arts sequences. The plot isn't extensive -- Van Damme's character's twin brother is killed and he now assumes his twin's identity, only to be hounded by the Russian mafia and corrupt FBI agents.

I've only seen the VHS version, so unfortunately I can't comment on the DVD sound and video quality. Nevertheless, this is a good standard action flick -- in my opinion, Van Damme's best movie (or at least it rivals Bloodsport), and I recommend it for any action movie fan.

One of JCVD's best movies!!!
This was a great flick that had action from start to finsh! If you like a lot of shootouts, car crashes, and SUPER HOT women like Natasha Henstridge then you will love this movie. The director Ringo Lam (from Replicant) does a great job with all the camera angles. The best angles were when JCVD does his shooting and the stunts were amazing. This is plain and simply a great movie.

Damme Good Action Movie!!!
THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF VAN DAMME'S TOP 3 MOVIES. There is plenty of action and excitement that will make you want to watch it over and over again. Natasha Henstridge is down right sexy and georgeous. She played a perfect role in this movie. The movie was well-acted and thought it deserved a 5 star. This movie is a must-own on DVD. The sound quality is great as well as the picture. *Van Damme kicks plenty of...

utterly Van Damme's best
Van Damme has Derailed and went In Hell for some of his career, but this one I would say is his best, well next to Universal Soldier and Bloodsport I'd say its right up there with them. basically about Van Damme getting killed and then Van Damme coming into his brothers life. fast action and a good finale make this worth while ... Read more

Description

Inside the most corrupt prison in Europe's Eastern Block, the warden pits prisoners against each other in fights to the death for profit. The brutality transforms the inmates into dreaded monsters. The contender is Kyle LeBlanc (Jean-Claude Van Damme, "Derailed"), who is sentenced to life for killing his wife's murderer. Facing the brutality, Kyle starts to become one of the monsters he dispises, but his savage rage may be what saves his life. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Very good movie
This movie is alot different than van damme's usual movies. This movie has a more serious plot. Him and his wife are living in russia becasue van damme has to work there. his wife is murdered and when van damme takes the killer to court, they let the killer off, due to lack of evidence. Van damme comes out of the room takes a pistal and kills him right outside the court doors. He is sent to a jail where the people where the guards dont give a crap about the people in the prison. There are many fight battles. The battles come about when either 2 men want to fight against each other, or the guards want to pick 2 fighters. The owner of the prison bets on the winner and thats how he makes money. This movie has good acting, action scenes and realism. This is a must see, for all movie fans.

Worth Buying 4 1/2 Stars
Well I guess I'll do a review too.

Reading the plot outline to IN HELL, it would be easy to assume that it's just another typical Jean-Claude Van Damme fancy kicks, buttock shots, big guns festival. But much to my surprise, it wound up being a deep, gritty, poignant, intense and mature picture instead. Who knew? After the abysmal DERAILED (his worst film along with STREETFIGHTER), the Muscles from Brussels returns to top form in what is his best movie since REPLICANT and probably his strongest performance ever. This bitter pill punched hard with its unrestrained display of human ugliness, gripping symbolism and brutal violence which itself was dipped in philosophy and a sadness stricken aura. The films "ace" though was that it played it mainly as an engaging character-driven piece about one mans loss of his soul and his tortuous journey in prison to regain it. Thankfully, J-C was up to the task. I felt his characters pain, gulped a few times and was rooting for the main man the whole way.

Visually, the movie also came out a big winner with its strong showing of exquisite photography, stylish/creative shots and an intoxicating morbid atmosphere. Think David Fincher (SEVEN) like. And the fight sequences, you may ask? Well, we're treated to a different flavor than the usual Van Damme here. Gone are the "show off" aerial kicks that wouldn't hold up in a real fight and present is a more grounded style of fighting that reinforced the films realism and emotional impact. Sadly, parts of the script weren't up to par. Without the minor plot holes, the various prison movie cliches, the obvious devices to communicate substance and the tacky "ghost" appearance, the flick would've reached a higher level of quality. But in the end, I was still genuinely moved, impressed and highly entertained by IN HELL. It transcended its faults and affected me on many levels. Way to go, Jean-Claude

Very good prison action/drama
I'm really sick of reading these negative 2 to 1 star reviews of this film by people who are pissed there are no high flying kicks. HELLO this is NOT a popcorn action film, it's more of a drama with REALISTIC depictions of prison fighting. It's like watching Keanu Reeves in "Something's Gotta Give," a romantic comedy, then being pissed he wasnt busting out guns or kicking people like in the Matrix. Give the movie a bad rating because it fails in some way, NOT because you think it should have more chop-socky fighting.

All that aside, I was very surprised by this film. After the unwatchable "Order" and tear-jerkingly horrendous "Derailed," I had lost hope for Van Damme, but "In Hell" is possibly one of his best films and one of the most effective prison dramas in the last few years. The cinematography and directing is great, thanks to Ringo Lam, a very underrated Hong Kong director, and the acting is very good as well. Van Damme has grown as an actor, and it shows in this film. Also look for a cameo by actor Paulo Tocha(Paco, the arrogant kickboxer from Bloodsport) as Victor.

Van Damme is Kyle, a man jailed in a Russian prison for killing the murderer of his wife. The wardens set up illegal fights inside the prison, and Van Damme struggles to survive inside while maintaining his humanity.

The fights are brutal and VERY realistic. They mirror real fights you would see in the streets or in UFC and other full contact events, which means elements of grappling and ground fighting are heavily utilized. This adds that much more to the realism of the film and shows Van Damme's versatility as a martial artist. In Derailed we saw some Ju-Jitsu and grappling from Van Damme, but he showcases these skills more heavily in this film.

Do not rent or buy this film if you are looking for mindless action and high flying split kicks like in other Van Damme movies, but DO rent or buy it if you want to see a gritty and well directed prison drama with some realistic and brutal fights.

Please Support This
Please support this movie. In Hell is a movie that attempts to fill it's dark, prison combating with more than meets the eye, and even though In Hell isn't an entirely successful picture it is infused with enough ingredients to warrant multiple viewings. I mean you've got to give Van Damme credit after all these yrs, and flops, he's still bustin it and genuinely trying to make a non inferior product, sure he's got to pay the bills but one gets the feeling that with this movie it's also still about creativity and entertainment.

BEST
i freaking love this movie its one of his best ive seen from this time. Replica was cool and this one was something i wasnt expecting . FOR all u SO CALL FANS SAY O THIS SUCKED CASUE NO FIGHTING. u GUYS ainT FANS NOTHING BUT PU$$Y$. EVERYONE this movie is great good plot cause most prison are like that. nice fighting. and acting aint that bad. MAKes HIM LOOK LIKE A WIMP its a damn movie
beside he dosnt know any really moves cause he a fake A ACTOR not like JET LI he the real thing anyways good movie must watch then if u want BUY. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Jean-Claude Van Damme (star of Timecop and Universal Soldier) plays two roles in this surprisingly good action thriller. Replicant also stars Michael Rooker (of Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer, The Replacement Killers) as Jake Riley, a cop who's been tracking a serial killer called "The Torch" (Van Damme). Frustrated, Riley decides to retire--and the National Security Department makes him an offer: they've cloned "The Torch" as part of a program to track down terrorists; they'll turn this replicant (Van Damme again, of course) over to Riley as a sort of test run for the program. The idea is that the replicant will slowly recall the original person's memories and lead the cops to the original. It's ridiculous, but no more ridiculous than the setup for the highly successful Face/Off, and it works just as well as the engine for an effective action flick. What makes Replicant more unusual is that the writers actually put some thought into the relationship between Riley and the replicant, which starts to mirror parent-child relationships in emotionally complex ways. Furthermore, while it's no surprise that Rooker gives a solid performance, it is surprising that Van Damme does just as good a job in both of his roles--he's perfectly creepy as the serial killer and genuinely affecting as the quickly developing replicant, projecting a mixture of innocence and turmoil. Replicant was directed by Hong Kong director Ringo Lam, the man behind Full Contact and City on Fire. He was clearly working on a limited budget, but the movie looks good, moves with lean efficiency, and has some riveting action sequences and good quality effects--the scenes where Van Damme (inevitably!) fights himself are completely convincing. A satisfying movie. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (35)

One of Van Damme's best
While Jean-Claude Van Damme may be a direct to video action star now, Replicant is a surprisingly good film that should have seen time in theaters instead of other Van Damme flops like Knock Off and Double Team. The storyline, which has Van Damme doing double duty as a serial killer called The Torch and a clone of the killer, is instantly ignored as we see how surprisingly creepy and effective Van Damme is as the killer, and how naive and innocent he is as the developing clone. Michael Rooker is great as well (he always is though) as the ex-cop on the killer's trail. The action scenes are very well put together, and as I said before, the acting from Van Damme is so unbelieveably good in his dual roles that you might forgive him for films like Street Fighter and The Quest (well, maybe not), but all in all, Replicant is one of Van Damme's best, and it is a shame it has gone direct to video.

Two Van Dammes,One Damme Good Movie...
I hate to say it but Van Damme's days as a box office superstar are over and probally we'll never see one of his flicks in theaters again.Replicant another film that went straight to video is a surprisingly good film.The film is directed by Ringo Ram,who also directed "Maximum Risk$Q brings alot of story and thought into the picture.Even though we've seen two Van Dammes before like in "Double Impact" this one has a more convincing story.Michael Rooker who plays Detective Jake Riley really does a great job acting.Van Dammes acting was also good and it's the first time he's really acted like a child,it's really funny.Even though liscensed critics down the movie,I however like it enough so that I own the DVD,it's a great film to watch if you like drama,action and a great sequence to a storyline.

THIS SHOULD'VE HIT THEATRES
IN AN ATTEMPT TO CATCH A SERIAL KILLER [VAN DAMME], THE POLICE CLONE THE SERIAL KILLER [THE CLONE IS ALSO PLAYED BY VAN DAMME]. HMM, THIS IS DEFINITELY A FIRST. NOT ONLY DOES VAN DAMME PLAY THE USUAL HERO, BUT HE ALSO PLAYS THE VILLAIN. VAN DAMME ACTUALLY MAKES A VERY INTRIGUING BAD GUY. THIS MOVIE IS DEFINITELY A HIGH STEP UP FROM MOVIES LIKE ''DESERT HEAT'' AND ''LEGIONNAIRE''. GOOD ACTION SEQUENCES AND A CLEVER PLOT. VAN DAMME SHOULD PLAY A VILLAIN MORE OFTEN. THIS SHOULD BE A TREAT FOR ACTION FANS AND VAN DAMME FANS ALIKE. ACTUALLY ONE OF VAN DAMME'S BEST MOVIES.

Van Damne vs Van Damne
Againg i saw this movie on T.V,and i loved it.Van Damne plays 2 characters.I character hes a killer that kills mom thats bad to their children.His other character is a clone so he could he get the bad one for this F.B.I agent.I loved this movie.I coudnt wait at the end becuase thats when Van Damne fights Van Damne.Good fight,they should make more of these.This movie is worth watching,trust me I am like a huge Van Damne fan and when I say his movie is good,then its good.

horrid..I was fearing for my life
Van Damme in my perspective has gone soft and turned into a horrible actor..he doesnt even come out with movies that hit theaters anymore...in this one..again he has a double..like in Double Impact which was better then this piece of junk...lots and lots of terrible acting deffently down this puppy...along for the flop with Van Damme is Michael Rooker(The 6th Day...sorta seems like this movie is a rip off of the 6th day because when I seen it I was like..hey..sorta has the same atmosphere as The 6th day with Arnold)...nothig but a dumb flop ... Read more

Reviews (19)

The Greatest Movie Ever Made...
This is the greatest movie of all-time. Its got it all: ultra-violence, unbelievable camera moves, incredible action scenes, a tight script, a talented director(Ringo Lam) and most importantly of all...Chow Yun-Fat, the most charismatic actor of the present era, who gives, in my opinion, his best performance to date.

On top of all of the above named, 'Full Contact' has the great villain in a film ever...Simon Yam is unbelievable as this homosexual gangster. Simon is classic.

If you say you like HK cinema and you don't dig this movie, you're a total reject. This is the finest film ever made. Go see it. Go buy it. Enjoy it.

Film Yes, DVD No
"Full Contact" ranks high on the list of classic Hong Kong "heroic bloodshed" action films. Grittier and more extreme than John Woo's films (more gore and maimings, and characters who are less noble), it's an entertaining ride, and a good showcase for the always-magnetic Chow Yun-Fat. Unfortunately, this DVD re-release has a serious problem -- the actual video print is a big improvement on the original Tai Seng release, but whole chunks of soundtrack seem to be missing from the Chinese audio track (strangely enough, they're present on the English audio track). If you don't mind watching your Hong Kong movies in English, this is a good buy, but if you're a purist, you're better off sticking with the original Tai Seng DVD for the complete Chinese audio track.

BRILLIANT..SUPERB
This is a Excellent FIlm. If you Like guns and violence Watch This. Violent and Betrayal. Chow Yun Fat is Brilliant. He is the Pacino/De Niro of Hong Kong Cinema.

Gritty!!! Violent!!! Brutal!!! Great!!!
Plot Outline: After Sam (Anthony Wong) gets in trouble with some triads over a gambling debt, his best friend Jeff (Chow Yun-Fat) has to bail him out. Sam gets word that his cousin Judge (Simon Yam) wants him and his friends to help them pull a job robbing a truck. Once on the job Jeff finds out it was all a trick set up by the triads to kill him. In a turn of betrayal, Sam is forced by his cousin to shoot Jeff. They leave Jeff to die in a burning building, only Jeff makes it out alive. Now he looks for revenge.

The Review: Full Contact is easily the sleaziest, grittiest and downright most vulgar HK action film I've ever seen. Now that I've said that, it's also just one outright cool film. Taking what could have been just an average tale of revenge, Ringo Lam injected the film with the style of the 80's and a healthy dose of brutal violence. The film represents all that was great of the all but dead Heroic Bloodshed genre. It's still around, but you don't see too many films like Full Contact anymore.

Don't misunderstand me, the violence in Full Contact, while plentiful, doesn't quite top the likes of A Better Tomorrow II, but the film is just a whole lot seedier. The violence in John Woo's films are usually comical to some point, but here the violence takes place somewhat in reality. The gunplay is actually fairly minimal really. There's only a couple of gunfights, and excluding the first person bullet effects, they aren't really all that spectacular. The violence in the film is just accentuated by the feel of the film. In one of the more brutal scenes in the film, Anthony Wong's character shoots a man in the head about seven times, covering the guy in blood. It's just an ugly image, and made uglier by the scenery and characters. It takes place in a dingy warehouse and watching his blood splatter all over his hands can almost make you feel uncomfortable.

When I first sat down to watch Full Contact I didn't know much about it and wasn't expecting much. I had read on a message board somewhere in the past that it was supposed to be a great non-Woo HK action film so I decided to give it a chance. Within the first five minutes of watching the film, it makes it's case strongly, and lets you know exactly what kind of film it's going to be. Simon Yam's gang robs what appears to be a jewelry store, in the process he stabs a innocent woman through the chest then proceeds to have her open the vault. We're introduced to the rest of his gang too. Mona, the promiscuous and Deano the muscular freak (played by Frankie Chin, best known as the guy who tries to strangle Ricky in Ricky-Oh). The introduction is so simple, but it's just so perfect. It's hard to put my hand on it, it's just the perfect way to start the film. A kick to the gut for the audience.

If one thing bothered me most about the film the first time I watched it, it was surprisingly enough Chow himself. Not that he gives a bad performance or anything like that, it's just his clothing style is just terrible. He wears a short sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Add to that a crew cut and a leather vest over the shirt, and you've got one goofy looking chow. The second time I sat through it I just took it in as part of the cheesyness of the film. The roaring electric guitar solos, the clothes... it's all so classic 80's.

The style, the violence, and the characters are what makes the film. Simon Yam is repulsive in his role as a flamboyantly gay sociopath who let's nothing stand in his way. Chow puts in a great effort, but it doesn't really take much from Chow to please. He could be playing a coma patient and would still ooze 'cool' from his pours. When I first watched the film I wasn't familiar with Anthony Wong, so I didn't actually ever notice him, but now that I've seen Beast Cops I was surprised to find out that it was he who played Sam. He's gained a whole lot of weight over the years, but I think he's actually more suited with the weight on. In this film, when his character becomes a tough guy it's kind of hard to take serious, but with some weight on him Wong comes off a bit more intimidating. As far as acting goes, those are the central characters. Everyone else puts in decent enough performances even though the girls just seem to be there for eye candy. Nice eye candy, but eye candy just the same.

To wrap things up, Full Contact stands out as one of the best Heroic Bloodshed films made not by John Woo. That actually sounds a little harsh, I don't compare the film to Woo's work, but it's just unavoidable. Anyway, I've debated with myself whether to give it a four or a five for a while now, and I've come to the conclusion that it's getting the Stubbing Award. Sure, it doesn't add a whole lot more to the genre, but it delivers what is one of the funnest rides the genre has ever produced. Full Contact is a classic, not to be missed by HK film fans, or gritty gangster film fans for that matter.

One of Chow's Best!
I've had a quality bootleg VHS copy of this film for years, but picked up this DVD on the cheap to compare it to the original Golden Princess release. In some ways its better (more squibs, better subtitles, more dialogue and scenes) and in some ways it's worse (characters names have been changed, much of the rocking HK soundtrack missing). Inexplicably Jeff's name has been changed to Godfrey. Godfrey! What kind of name is that for a tough guy? Virgin's name has been changed to Yin and the big muscular villian is now Madman. I believe originally it was Deano or something like that but don't quote me on it as I haven't watched the original version in a while. The great guitar work is missing from both the Bangkok car chase and the final nightclub shootout, but most of the other music remains intact, notably as Chow recuperates and trains in Bangkok and when Mona is dancing at the nightclub. This DVD has english and chinese language dialog and widescreen and full screen picture. Buy it man, it kicks a$$! ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Twin Stars
I haven't as yet seen this DVD (I fully plan to as Jackie Chan dubbed on this release I am told). The 3 stars are for the movie itself. It is not the best Jackie Chan Hong Kong movie, the Police Story series and Project A 1 & 2 are much better but is definitely worth a look. I have seen an old dubbed version (OK) and the Asian DVD release (better). Before approaching any "old" Jackie Chan film (ie. ones done in Hong Kong before America!) viewers should be aware they are lower budgeted so don't have the capacity for special effects as in US movies. Also, what a Chinese considers funny might not necessarily be what a westerner thinks is funny! Keeping this in mind, I really liked this film. The story is "old" (ie. twins separated at birth and coming together later in life with the expected mix-ups) but with Jackie (twice!) it is a lot of fun. The last action scene in the car factory shows Jackie's amazing acrobatic and martial arts skills to perfection. If you are Hong Kong movie buff, there are a lot of cameo appearances by HK actors and directors. Jackie did not direct this film, so ignore any criticism of bad direction by him! Most of the films Jackie directed himself are superb action pieces, though the acting is not very good in some. Jackie is more interested in action than dialogue, though "Accidental Spy", his latest Asian release, is extremely good in all aspects, both action and action, with a good storyline. Anyway, give Twin Dragons a look - it will be worth it.

Lots of fun - but not one of the best
Just a quick note: I don't think some of the reviewers have paid attention. There are criticisms to Jackie Chan as director. Well, two notes: 1) He did not directed this movie 2) Most of the best Jackie Chan movies have been directed by him. He has been recognized as an excellent director.

Anyway, this movie was done for the construction of some association for directors from Hong Kong, and that explains why the multiple directors. Jackie Chan has said he is not satisfied with the final result of the movie.

But don't be scared. This is an excellent comedy, using the old joke about mixed identities. It is not heavy on the action side, but includes some nice fight scenes, including a final shutdown at a facility for testing cars.

If you are looking for one Chan movie, there are better ones to select for starters (Supercop, Operation Condor, Rumble in the Bronx). But if you are a die hard fan, you will want to take a look at "Twin Dragons".

a good funny movie but not an action one.
I am a cantonese person and I rent this US version dvd. Is some ways it disapointted me because it doesn't provide cantonese audio and they substitute English audio instead. Anyway, this movie is so funny is so ways. I especially like the bathroom scene. It can't help laugh loudly. The action parts are quite boring but I think American people would like to watch them.
I would like to give it a 4 stars if it provides chinese audio.

Stick with an Original
Why American production make HK movies look so cheap? First of all, they cut off so much scene, second of all ruin it by making look acting so dumb by English Dubb. For ANY of HK movies, ALWAYS stick with ORIGINAL LICENSED HK RELEASE. Be careful with cheap imports, boots though.

"I think I got the fighter!!!!"
...If your interested in a REAL Jackie Chan movie, with REAL stunts, REAL comedy, REAL action, and REAL Jackie, look no further than TWIN DRAGONS.
It may not be entiely convincing that the twins are really together inframe (the split screen effects are as corny as they get) and the story may not be entirely original...but TWIN DRAGONS is nevertheless, one of the best Jackie Chan movies ever...

Jackie plays Boomer, womanizing, karate choppin' mechanic living in Hong Kong, and the brother he never kenw he had, reknown condutor John Ma. Ma arrives in Hong Kong to give a concert and things go completely cattewumpus. Ma knows kung fu about as well as Boomer knows how to conduct a concert
Boomer:P>Before long, bad guys have kidnapped Boomer's smart-...buddy Tyson (Teddy Robin, who also produced)...with all that to worry about, there's even girl trouble, when Ma's lady Tammy (Nina Li Chi) winds up in the sack with Boomer, believing him to be Ma, and lovely lounge singer Barbara (lovely Maggie Cheung) falls for Ma believing him to be Boomer.

The summary of TWIN DRAGONS plot simply does not do it justice. From the moment Boomer gets in a fight with an entire night club full of mobsters, the movie has already hit take off velocity. Fans of the sexy Maggie Cheung...will find she doesn't have much to do, but looks fabulous not doing it. This is only one of the movie's she's done with Jackie. off the the top of my head, I can name many others, but let it suffice to say that for action, comedy, and Maggie Cheung, Jackie Chan's TWIN DRAGONS can't lose. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although many Hong Kong action fans have criticized Quentin Tarantino for stealing the premise of Reservoir Dogs from Ringo Lam's 1987 hit City on Fire, those accusations do a disservice not only to Tarantino--who vastly improved upon every scene he "borrowed"--but also to Lam and his charismatic star, Chow Yun-fat, whose talents were evident long before they were lured to Hollywood. City on Fire may seem overly familiar now, with its standard undercover-cop-befriending-the-bad-guys scenario, but it remains a first-rate example of Hong Kong urban-action drama, and as a star vehicle for Chow it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The shootouts and chase scenes are as good as anything Hollywood offered in the late '80s, and the chaotic environs of Hong Kong provide an exotic backdrop that further enhances the routine plot line.

Chow plays the undercover cop, still agonizing over his betrayal of a criminal friend during a previous case; when he's asked to infiltrate a gang of violent thieves, his rapport with one of the gangsters threatens the integrity of his assignment. While his superiors battle among themselves (one protects Chow, the other pursues him), director Lam keeps it all ticking along with surefire pacing and an amusing subplot involving Chow's dissatisfied fiancée. The film is fascinating to watch for its obvious precedents to Reservoir Dogs (including a climactic "Mexican standoff" between the untrusting criminals), but it's best appreciated as a showcase for Chow, who's instantly captivating from the moment he appears onscreen. (Note: Disney's DVD release of City on Fire greatly improves upon the poorly translated subtitles of all previous DVD releases.) --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A fantastic early team-up between Chow Yun Fat and Danny Lee
This 1987 Ringo Lam classic reverses the roles of Chow Yun Fat and Danny Lee as later seen in the Killer. The film is dated somewhat, but still shows Hong Kong cinema at the height of its energy and Lam intensifies the action with strong, inventive directing. Chow Yun Fat is as always brilliant in the film, while Lee dutifully portrays the antagonist. As a note, Tarantino used this film as the basis for his first film "Resevoir Dogs".

CITY ON FIRE Review
Best known as the film that inspired Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs", Ringo Lam's Hong Kong cop thriller starring Chow as an undercover that goes in deep with the mob is an excellent tale of trust and honor amongst theives. Those who loved his work with John Woo in films like "A Better Tommorrow" and "The Killer" will find much to like about Mr. Fat in this cops & robbers action flick.

worth a look
While this movie may not be in the same league as some of the classic Chow Yun Fat thrillers (The Killer, Hard-Boiled, Full Contact, for example), this is still a decent action film. The interplay between the characters is, unfortunately, cliched and sometimes ludicrous (the scene in the cemetery, for example), but the assured direction, complex storyline, and gritty realism more than make up for it; the jewelry heist and the nihilistic, bullet-riddled ending are particularly well-staged. The DVD I have is the (badly) dubbed version, which sounds like it was done by a third-rate comedian locked in a closet. The print of the film, however, is clear and sharp (I had seen this on videotape several years ago, and remember it as being somewhat grainy), though it did seem sometimes as if there was a little jumpiness from shot to shot in some scenes.

Charismatic Chow sets this City On Fire!
This is one of Chow Yun Fat's best performances. You really feel for his character as he is torn between his job as a undercover cop and his sympathies with a gang of thieves, and his friendship with one of them, while trying to salvage his relationship with his not too understanding girlfriend.

Routine, but enjoyable
This is a routine undercover cop story. I got the Tai Seng version which is subtitled. So, I cannot comment on the dubbing of this tape. The story takes place at a time where guns are hard to obtain. The bad guys get guns from Chow Yun Fat's character. It's a somewhat predictable story, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. ... Read more

Description

Make contact with this action-packed thriller!When Chow Yun-Fat tries to get his friend out of a gambling debt, he joins forces in a weapons heist. The job goes bad and he's betrayed by the leader, so he plots the ultimate revenge.But can he follow through with his plan? ... Read more

Reviews (19)

The Greatest Movie Ever Made...
This is the greatest movie of all-time. Its got it all: ultra-violence, unbelievable camera moves, incredible action scenes, a tight script, a talented director(Ringo Lam) and most importantly of all...Chow Yun-Fat, the most charismatic actor of the present era, who gives, in my opinion, his best performance to date.

On top of all of the above named, 'Full Contact' has the great villain in a film ever...Simon Yam is unbelievable as this homosexual gangster. Simon is classic.

If you say you like HK cinema and you don't dig this movie, you're a total reject. This is the finest film ever made. Go see it. Go buy it. Enjoy it.

Film Yes, DVD No
"Full Contact" ranks high on the list of classic Hong Kong "heroic bloodshed" action films. Grittier and more extreme than John Woo's films (more gore and maimings, and characters who are less noble), it's an entertaining ride, and a good showcase for the always-magnetic Chow Yun-Fat. Unfortunately, this DVD re-release has a serious problem -- the actual video print is a big improvement on the original Tai Seng release, but whole chunks of soundtrack seem to be missing from the Chinese audio track (strangely enough, they're present on the English audio track). If you don't mind watching your Hong Kong movies in English, this is a good buy, but if you're a purist, you're better off sticking with the original Tai Seng DVD for the complete Chinese audio track.

BRILLIANT..SUPERB
This is a Excellent FIlm. If you Like guns and violence Watch This. Violent and Betrayal. Chow Yun Fat is Brilliant. He is the Pacino/De Niro of Hong Kong Cinema.

Gritty!!! Violent!!! Brutal!!! Great!!!
Plot Outline: After Sam (Anthony Wong) gets in trouble with some triads over a gambling debt, his best friend Jeff (Chow Yun-Fat) has to bail him out. Sam gets word that his cousin Judge (Simon Yam) wants him and his friends to help them pull a job robbing a truck. Once on the job Jeff finds out it was all a trick set up by the triads to kill him. In a turn of betrayal, Sam is forced by his cousin to shoot Jeff. They leave Jeff to die in a burning building, only Jeff makes it out alive. Now he looks for revenge.

The Review: Full Contact is easily the sleaziest, grittiest and downright most vulgar HK action film I've ever seen. Now that I've said that, it's also just one outright cool film. Taking what could have been just an average tale of revenge, Ringo Lam injected the film with the style of the 80's and a healthy dose of brutal violence. The film represents all that was great of the all but dead Heroic Bloodshed genre. It's still around, but you don't see too many films like Full Contact anymore.

Don't misunderstand me, the violence in Full Contact, while plentiful, doesn't quite top the likes of A Better Tomorrow II, but the film is just a whole lot seedier. The violence in John Woo's films are usually comical to some point, but here the violence takes place somewhat in reality. The gunplay is actually fairly minimal really. There's only a couple of gunfights, and excluding the first person bullet effects, they aren't really all that spectacular. The violence in the film is just accentuated by the feel of the film. In one of the more brutal scenes in the film, Anthony Wong's character shoots a man in the head about seven times, covering the guy in blood. It's just an ugly image, and made uglier by the scenery and characters. It takes place in a dingy warehouse and watching his blood splatter all over his hands can almost make you feel uncomfortable.

When I first sat down to watch Full Contact I didn't know much about it and wasn't expecting much. I had read on a message board somewhere in the past that it was supposed to be a great non-Woo HK action film so I decided to give it a chance. Within the first five minutes of watching the film, it makes it's case strongly, and lets you know exactly what kind of film it's going to be. Simon Yam's gang robs what appears to be a jewelry store, in the process he stabs a innocent woman through the chest then proceeds to have her open the vault. We're introduced to the rest of his gang too. Mona, the promiscuous and Deano the muscular freak (played by Frankie Chin, best known as the guy who tries to strangle Ricky in Ricky-Oh). The introduction is so simple, but it's just so perfect. It's hard to put my hand on it, it's just the perfect way to start the film. A kick to the gut for the audience.

If one thing bothered me most about the film the first time I watched it, it was surprisingly enough Chow himself. Not that he gives a bad performance or anything like that, it's just his clothing style is just terrible. He wears a short sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Add to that a crew cut and a leather vest over the shirt, and you've got one goofy looking chow. The second time I sat through it I just took it in as part of the cheesyness of the film. The roaring electric guitar solos, the clothes... it's all so classic 80's.

The style, the violence, and the characters are what makes the film. Simon Yam is repulsive in his role as a flamboyantly gay sociopath who let's nothing stand in his way. Chow puts in a great effort, but it doesn't really take much from Chow to please. He could be playing a coma patient and would still ooze 'cool' from his pours. When I first watched the film I wasn't familiar with Anthony Wong, so I didn't actually ever notice him, but now that I've seen Beast Cops I was surprised to find out that it was he who played Sam. He's gained a whole lot of weight over the years, but I think he's actually more suited with the weight on. In this film, when his character becomes a tough guy it's kind of hard to take serious, but with some weight on him Wong comes off a bit more intimidating. As far as acting goes, those are the central characters. Everyone else puts in decent enough performances even though the girls just seem to be there for eye candy. Nice eye candy, but eye candy just the same.

To wrap things up, Full Contact stands out as one of the best Heroic Bloodshed films made not by John Woo. That actually sounds a little harsh, I don't compare the film to Woo's work, but it's just unavoidable. Anyway, I've debated with myself whether to give it a four or a five for a while now, and I've come to the conclusion that it's getting the Stubbing Award. Sure, it doesn't add a whole lot more to the genre, but it delivers what is one of the funnest rides the genre has ever produced. Full Contact is a classic, not to be missed by HK film fans, or gritty gangster film fans for that matter.

One of Chow's Best!
I've had a quality bootleg VHS copy of this film for years, but picked up this DVD on the cheap to compare it to the original Golden Princess release. In some ways its better (more squibs, better subtitles, more dialogue and scenes) and in some ways it's worse (characters names have been changed, much of the rocking HK soundtrack missing). Inexplicably Jeff's name has been changed to Godfrey. Godfrey! What kind of name is that for a tough guy? Virgin's name has been changed to Yin and the big muscular villian is now Madman. I believe originally it was Deano or something like that but don't quote me on it as I haven't watched the original version in a while. The great guitar work is missing from both the Bangkok car chase and the final nightclub shootout, but most of the other music remains intact, notably as Chow recuperates and trains in Bangkok and when Mona is dancing at the nightclub. This DVD has english and chinese language dialog and widescreen and full screen picture. Buy it man, it kicks a$$! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

5 Stars exceptional HK Movie
I highly recommend this breathtaking thriller to anybody who enjoy Hong Kong or Asian cinema. I am a eclectic movie fanatics, however, I am not a big fan of Hong Kong movies as their quality has been going down slope since the late 90s, though I am myself a Chinese. A recent thriller-Inferno Affairs received international acclaim and box office alike, while I do not enjoy as much as the hype, forsaken the hk's flair for action, in exchange for the pretentious, self-delusive and pseudo-intelligent melodrama. To me, 'full alert', this low-budget thriller is far better than the over-stylish and dramatic Inferno Affairs, which masterful portrayed a meticulous and non-one-dimensional heist right from the pivotal middle part to the end in tandem with unfolding the background of the story and characters, with a graceful flair in rhythms and storystelling. The story itself is breathtaking and twisty yet believable, with the psychological suspense between the protagonists in the movie. The performance of the two protagonists are mesmerizing, both on the v. top of their game. Personally thinking there is no any Hollywood flicks could top this intelligent, electrifying psycho-thriller, in fact, it could say to be levelled 'heat', intellectually, the comparables may be 'spy game' and 'usual suspect', while they both find actions wanting. I know its not a v. wide known movie, if u ar fortunate enuf to hv bumped into this, u hv to see it.

Full Throttle Action from a top of his game, Lam.
Ringo Lam 's Full Alert is the kind of edge of your seat, modestly budgeted but utterly action-packed film, U.S. film-makers seem unable to make.

Lam's, City on Fire was the primary source of inspiration for Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. While Lam doesn't quite deliver either the slickness or filmmaking chutzpah of John Woo, he remains one of the most consistent quality Hong Kong action filmmakers. He's best with films that mix action and noir. His best Hong Kong films are dark, sometimes brutally so with action scenes that are messy and chaotic and not choreographed like dance numbers. Lam's attempt to follow in Woo's footsteps by directing two Jean Claude Van Damme films wasn't successful. Maximum Risk in particular was garbage that only briefly hinted at Lam's talents.

With Full Alert, Lam delivers one of the best Hong Kong films ever made. Full Alert uses several Hong Kong action film cliches (black and white rain soaked flashbacks- males on opposite sides of the law bonding), but gives us full dimensional characters, a good script, superb pacing, one of the best car chases you'll ever see and some genuine suspense which is rare in H.K. actioners.

Lau Ching Wan plays a nearly burnt out dedicated cop named Pao (and reminded me a great deal of Benicio Del Toro) who makes it his personal mission to stop ex-demolition expert, now bad guy named Mak Kwan (Francis Ng) from pulling off a planned big heist.
After inspector Pao arrests Mak for the murder of an architect, he gets Mak to confess to manslaughter but he won't talk about what heist he is masterminding. Mak is working with
some criminals from Taiwan. Pao is sure there is a plan to break Mak out of prison and he puts what seems like the entire Hong Kong police force on Full Alert. Will Mak break out? What kind of double/triple cross will take place? What heist is planned? Will the gang succeed with their heist plans? Will Mak make one last big score and disappear with his girlfriend?

The film is full of surprising derivations on the cat and mouse formula. There are some rather low-key moments in the film, which contrast nicely to the expected over-the-top stuff, which never get too ridiculous (well until the end, anyway). Lam doesn't stage his action scenes like choreographed dancing routines and doesn't rely on too many flashy fast edits. The film is involving and creates some real moments of genuine tension and suspense. The film never feels like its cheating or over-selling any of its key action scenes.

While it's plots synopsis may make it seem like dozens of other films, I assure you the film contains several sequences which contain surprising moments within them making even some of the most familiar parts of the film worth seeing. It's also a film that you'll remember for more than a few days.

Lau who has given some pretty poor performances in some films is excellent throughout the film. Ng's performance is perhaps a little too laid back and he isn't playing the kind of over-colorful villain one often encounters in H.K. films. Lam I'm sure wanted this... since he's certainly capable of giving us an over-the top villain (Danny Lee in City on Fire for instance). This makes the film work better because you don't know what to expect from Mak... we aren't sure what he is capable of, how far he is willing to go or what to expect. A more colorful and broader played villain would be expected to deliver one outrageous thing after another. Here we can be genuinely surprised by what he does and doesn't do.

The quality of most H.K. films on Tai Seng are a big step down from U.S. studio DVDs but a good print with only a few scratches and visible grain was used here. The colors lack the crispness and brightness DVD transfers often have and the black levels are not as high as they should be which means you lose a lot of detail in darker scenes. Sound wise the film is acceptable but little if any imaginative mixing was utilized.

Subtitles are for the most part easy to read. A few times the subs are over light backgrounds and difficult to read and a few times they flash much too quickly on and off screen. However, as in so many VHS H.K. films they aren't cropped outside of the frame making them incomplete or impossible to read. The film's dialogue is important but it isn't a talky film.

BOTTOM LINE:

One of the best car chases you'll ever see occurs a little past the half-way point of this fine action/caper/gangster film from veteran Hong Kong director Ringo Lam who loves delivering car chases. The action is not only excellent and quite exciting but there is also a much higher level of suspense than usual for a Hong Kong film. The script and characterizations are among the best of any Hong Kong film. It's got parts of both Heat and A Better Tomorrow in it, but doesn't copycat those films. This is among Lam's finest and ranks up there with the best Hong Kong films of the late 80's and early 90's. Don't miss this one.

Christopher Jarmick, is the author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder a critically acclaimed, steamy suspense thriller

Lau Ching-Wan vs. Francis Ng
The discovery of a dead body leads cop Lau Ching-Wan to believe Francis Ng is going to attempt a major theft. Director Ringo Lam is on solid, familiar ground here with this police procedural/character analysis. Lau is his usual excellent self while Ng is more reserved (though he still is simmering beneath the surface). Lam somehow manages to show the similarities between the cop and the thief without violating the integrity of the cop or making a hero of a crook. Recommended.

Ringo Lam at his best!
This is the best film I have seen from Ringo Lam to date. It takes its inpiration from Michael Mann's "Heat" but takes a more serious approach to the issues raised briefly in that film. The main point here is that once a person kills another, s/he can never regain innocence. It doesn't matter whether or not the killing was justified. In any case, it's murder. The only difference between the cop and the robber in this film is that they are on different sides of the law -- neither is "better" than the other.

The film is different from most action movies you will see, in that it is very realistic. Nothing about it is stylized or glamorized. There isn't much action, and the action sequences are subdued (although te car chase is quite extraordinary). The focus is on the characters' psychological states. The most unique thing is that unlike all other movies that I have ever seen, this film focuses on the consequences of taking another person's life that the person who commits the act suffers.

MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Definately Worthwhile!!
It's more of the same from the first movie, but it is worthy. This one does have some comic relief though. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A fantastic early team-up between Chow Yun Fat and Danny Lee
This 1987 Ringo Lam classic reverses the roles of Chow Yun Fat and Danny Lee as later seen in the Killer. The film is dated somewhat, but still shows Hong Kong cinema at the height of its energy and Lam intensifies the action with strong, inventive directing. Chow Yun Fat is as always brilliant in the film, while Lee dutifully portrays the antagonist. As a note, Tarantino used this film as the basis for his first film "Resevoir Dogs".

CITY ON FIRE Review
Best known as the film that inspired Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs", Ringo Lam's Hong Kong cop thriller starring Chow as an undercover that goes in deep with the mob is an excellent tale of trust and honor amongst theives. Those who loved his work with John Woo in films like "A Better Tommorrow" and "The Killer" will find much to like about Mr. Fat in this cops & robbers action flick.

worth a look
While this movie may not be in the same league as some of the classic Chow Yun Fat thrillers (The Killer, Hard-Boiled, Full Contact, for example), this is still a decent action film. The interplay between the characters is, unfortunately, cliched and sometimes ludicrous (the scene in the cemetery, for example), but the assured direction, complex storyline, and gritty realism more than make up for it; the jewelry heist and the nihilistic, bullet-riddled ending are particularly well-staged. The DVD I have is the (badly) dubbed version, which sounds like it was done by a third-rate comedian locked in a closet. The print of the film, however, is clear and sharp (I had seen this on videotape several years ago, and remember it as being somewhat grainy), though it did seem sometimes as if there was a little jumpiness from shot to shot in some scenes.

Charismatic Chow sets this City On Fire!
This is one of Chow Yun Fat's best performances. You really feel for his character as he is torn between his job as a undercover cop and his sympathies with a gang of thieves, and his friendship with one of them, while trying to salvage his relationship with his not too understanding girlfriend.

Routine, but enjoyable
This is a routine undercover cop story. I got the Tai Seng version which is subtitled. So, I cannot comment on the dubbing of this tape. The story takes place at a time where guns are hard to obtain. The bad guys get guns from Chow Yun Fat's character. It's a somewhat predictable story, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Unusual
Ringo Lams "The Suspect" revolves around a recently released hit man whose only desire is to go straight, but the day after he gets out of prison, he is seemingly set up by a former partner for the attempted assasination of a local politician. Aided by a sympathetic reporter, he tries to both clear himself of his perceived role in the assasination attempt and sort out why his former partner set him up in the first place. Speaking from a westerners point of view, one of the attractions of Ringo Lams films is that his characters don't have the giddy silliness and don't become involved in petulent adolecent confrontations that are so specifically common in most other Hong Kong productions and all action films in general. This may or may not be a good thing depending on what you want from Hong Kong Cinema; this film doesn't have the constantly over the top action sequences that typify the genre and is more of a drama than an action film. My overall opinion is that it could have been a little more dynamic without loosing it's dramatic appeal, but it still beats the ...antics and dialogs of a lot of John Woos works. Like the characters in a lot of other Ringo Lam films, the characters in this film are both realistic and gritty, without the hollow pretentions one usually sees in an action film. However, conditioned as we are to expect a high level of action in most Hong Kong gun flicks, this is definately a rent it before you buy it kind of film.

OOPS....Ringo did it again
What shall I say? I nearly watched all the movies of Ringo Lam. OK, Maximum Risk wasn't that good, but overall none of his movies (eg. WILD SEARCH, FULL CONTACT, PRISON ON FIRE)ever disappointed me. I even liked it better than THE VICTIM.

This is a movie about friendship, honor and betrayal. The most frequent ingredients for a heroic bloodshed movie.

Here there are two friends who were in the assassin business 12 years ago. One get caught, the other escapes. When he finally gets out of the prison he is forced by his friend to kill a nominee for the president in the Philipines. When he refuses, he gets accused by his friend.

Now the Police, the Triad and a third party are looking for the suspect....

Doesn"t sound very appealing but is really worth watching. In addition the DVD of the 1998 film has a good picture and a good sound. Even the subtitles are readable all the time!

Don't expect silly non-stop action- or you will be disappointed. This is a high class thriller with a plot!

Very good movie -- solid story with decent action
The dubbed version of Ringo Lam's "The Suspect" (1998) is actually done very well. I was very impressed with the dubbing, which is one of the best dubs I've heard. Even if you are not crazy about dubbing I think you will like this. (Note: There is also a subbed version available.)

The picture quality was pretty good. It is above average when compared with other Hong Kong movies that I've seen. By my own estimates, the widescreen ratio is approximately 1.78:1. The sound quality also seemed above average.

As for the movie itself, I liked it quite a bit. If I were to give it a letter grade, it would get a 'B'. It had a good story and good characters. The themes are similar to something John Woo has done, such as "The Killer." If you like that kind of movie, this is along the same lines. It is not a clone or anything, however, and is different. The story is not one-dimensional although it may appear to be at first. The characters are nicely done and developed.

This movie looks like it had a pretty big budget for Hong Kong. There's some impressive explosions. The action did not impress me, though, although I thought it was okay. The gunfighting is not nearly as good as what John Woo did -- 10 years ago. It's not bad or anything, however.

While I don't think this movie is as good as Woo's work, it is still worth watching. If you like Hong Kong movies I think you will probably enjoy it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This solid 1987 big-house melodrama costars Tony Leung Kar-fei (The Lover) as a bespectacled innocent, perhaps mentally impaired, who is unjustly imprisoned. Behind bars he is befriended by a life-loving reprobate (Chow Yun-fat) who displays his cool by rolling a lit cigarette over his knuckles, in a risky variation on the George Raft silver dollar trick. Director Ringo Lam jacks up the visceral tension effectively, even though Leung's character is too naive to be true. Chow is in top form, however, enduring even more brutal beatings than in A Better Tomorrow. All prison exposé films are essentially the same, but this one has a few unusual wrinkles: there are no intimations of that American slammer staple, homosexuality, though close fraternal attachments are suggested in a lyrical Christmas party dance sequence. --David Chute ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Shawshank Last Castle Redemption
When I first read about this movie, I was expecting a fire in a prison and Chow and his buddy trying to get out. What I got instead was a beautiful drama about friendship in the midst of prison. It was almost a combination of "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Last Castle." The acting was wonderful. And for a prison drama, it was very tender. The characters were great and you could feel yourself bonding with them. If you don't mind a good foreign film you have to read, Prison on Fire is a good movie for you.

one of the films that made Chow great...
Audiences used to Western style cinema might poo-poo at the melodramatic sentiments of this film. It is melodramatic and at times unrealistic (I mean how many times can a guy get beaten but not die? ) but it is also without a doubt different. This is not an American prison film by any means which is reason enough to watch it. Also despite the gritty violence that Ringo Lam is known for, this is not a Midnight Express type film. Sure, there is the bad guard but there are also good guards.

Chow plays a kind hearted prisoner who knows the system. He takes the naive Tony Leung Ka Fai and helps him get through his prison term. Despite the closeness of the men's friendship in prison, there is no subtext (just as there isn't meant to be one in John Woo's HK films)

Chow is at his best here and shows why he is such a respected actor in the East. His expressions and mannerisms are excellent and help make Prison on Fire such a good film. Some of the expressions Chow used in this film and his other HK classics are used sporadically and unevenly in The Corruptor (Chow's 2nd American film.)

Prison on Fire and City on Fire (School on Fire is the last in the trilogy) are known as Ringo Lam's masterpieces and it's easy to tell why. Prison is a fast paced film with loads of heart. The fighting among prisoners and among guards is quite something to watch. It's a prison film with chinese ideals of chivlary, honor and friendship among men. One could even make a case for it being a film with John Wooism themes with out the ballet. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

really touches your heart
generally an above average movie, except for the most touching scene in the movie where the grandfather punishes the little girl by hidding her behind bundles of dried twigs(tree branches used for firewood) and locking her in the barn all for just crying. watch it and you will realise the subtleties of human emotions.

Subtle performances, appealing characters
Chow Yun Fat plays Hong Kong Police Sergeant Lau Chun Pong, nicknamed "Mew Mew". Mew Mew is a man on the ragged edge. He is, we learn a widower whose wife and child were killed by a robber, he is a man in a downward spiral. He seems numb to life that swirls around him--when he is first introduced, he's sitting in a car, chain smoking cigarettes and drinking from his flask, watching the drama of street life before him as he awaits the arrival of an informant. His expression is disinterested and weary--he pursues the arms dealers who are his prey with a curious detachment. He is going through the motions of being a policeman, yet one senses, that it is only his work that is keeping him going at all. He still commands the loyalty, respect and affection of his colleagues, including his supervisor. He's a good cop and a good man who has lost his way due to overwhelming grief.

Cherie Chung plays the sister of the murdered arms dealer--whose death sets the plot in motion. Chung's Cher Lee is a woman of quiet strength and dignity. Life has not been kind to her. Her husband betrayed her, leading a secret second life with a woman from the Chinese interior, fathering a son. During their marriage he berated her for being clumsy and stupid. Rather than continuing to suffer the humiliation, Cher has divorced him and lives quietly with her father, working along side him in the village fields, harvesting bamboo.

Her sister's death brings Mew Mew--pursuing the arms case--into her life in a dramatic fashion. Their relationship is at first contentious as he suspects her and her father of complicity in the dead sister's arms dealing. The relationship begins to transform as Mew Mew aids Cher in tracking down the father of her sister's illegitimate 4 year old daughter--who turns out to be the kingpin of the arms smuggling operation that the police are investigating.

Their bond is forged as the arms case heats up--thrown into each others company, facing adversity and danger, these two wounded souls begin to blossom. A tentative, tender relationship grows and is tested time and again through Mew Mew's suspension from the force (a result of threatening the powerful, rich arms kingpin); a domestic drama within Cher's family concerning her young niece and her father: the complication of Cher's ex-husband reentering the picture determined to
win his wife back; and an assassination attempt on Mew Mew's life by one of the kingpin's henchman--the murderer of Cher's sister.

To be sure, these are restrained performances, yet one only has to watch Cherie Chung as Cher as she sits at the bedside of the wounded Mew Mew, not knowing if he will live or die, her worry, longing and love playing over her features, to appreciate her work in this film. Chow's Mew Mew may lack the flash and dazzle of some of his bullet ballet roles, but the transformation from grief stricken widower to a man being brought back to life by love is fascinating to watch. His scenes with the young actress playing the daughter of the murdered woman are especially touching and heartwarming.

Action fans and bullet ballet junkies will be disappointed by this film. But those of us who enjoy character driven drama will find much to enjoy in Wild Search.

Good movie for Chow Yun Fat
This is one of the good movie acted by Chow Yun Fat. The story is very warm and caring. The acting for all the actors/actresses are pretty good. It is worth it to see. I don't need to read the subtitle, so I don't rate this movie based on the quality of the subtitle. But, as a Chinese, I am willing to give it a 5 stars.

This is a great movie...forget the other reviews.
This movie shows the soft and caring of CYF. It is a must have if you are a CYF fan. This movie is one of my favorite CYF films....it truly is a good movie.

Uninspired.
Another one of the formulaic action/romance films made by CYF from 1989. This was the same year as "God of Gamblers" and "The Killer" were released, both A pictures. This is definitely one of the B pictures, only worth watching for the more completist CYF fans.

CYF plays "Mew Mew", a widowed cop. While investigating the murder of a female arms dealer he meets Cher (played by his frequent castmate Cherie Chung), a country divorcee and sister of the dead arms dealer.

It is love at first sight for Mew Mew, even though he feels twinges of guilt before the memories of his dead wife and son. Cher and Mew Mew are thrown together while Mew Mew investigates Cher's sister's death, mainly by the existence of Ka Ka, the orphaned girl and niece of Cher.

There are some touching scenes between Mew Mew and Ka Ka; while it is never touched upon in the script, it seems as if Mew Mew enjoys taking care of the child as he might have done his own dead boy.

Unlike the other rough cops CYF has played in these B pictures, Mew Mew seems fastidious and neat, knows how to cook and treats his girl at least as well as his best friend. While in this film there are really no romantic moments between Mew Mew and Cher after that first fateful glance, there are some sweet scenes between them, but unfortunately they are brief at the expense of some of the action sequences - action which really isn't good enough to warrant pulling away from the story, such as it is.

A slight story doesn't give CYF or Cherie Chung, both consummate professionals, much to work with but they do their best. Miss Chung is always at her most interesting when portraying less sophisticated, more down-to-earth women and one really wishes she had had more to work with in this role; the scenes of her cutting bamboo and mixing traditional Chinese medicines for the new love in her life are solid and seem very natural. This pair of two of Hong Kong's finest actors are given wooden characters and while they manage to paint them in realistic colors, Mew Mew and Cher never really come to life except for some very brief moments.

The subtitling is very bad on this film (the Mei-Ah DVD); it looks as if the translation was done by machine, and not by a very sophisticated piece of software at that. For those who have seen a lot of these HK flicks subtitled in English you will be able to take the Canto-English and translate it on the fly; those who are unused to doing such may find the subtitling confusing at times and downright frustrating at others. At least most of the words are spelled correctly, even if misused, so I would give the subtitles a rating of 2 of 10 just for that (and that's being generous).

The direction, even though by Ringo Lam, is unexciting and unoriginal. It may be that he, apparently like CYF and Miss Chung, was simply uninspired by the whole idea of this film.

CYF looks good as usual, but a bit tired. 1989 saw the release of "A Better Tomorrow 3", "God of Gamblers", "The Killer", "Triads - The Inside Story" and this film. Two classic pictures, one very good one and two not-so-good ones in one short year is a remarkable achievement. Rent this one if you just want to see CYF and Cherie Chung together again, but only buy it if you are a CYFanatic looking to complete your collection. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A promising film that can't decide what it wants to be
I think Victim was a pretty good film, but I'm not sure because I didn't really grasp all of the intricate details of the plot to my satisfaction. Perhaps there is something missing in the English subtitles of this Cantonese film from famed Hong Kong director Ringo Lam, but I thought Victim never did figure out exactly what kind of movie it wanted to be. The plot summation I had read led me to expect a film of ghostly possession and one man's fight against such otherworldly forces, but the whole ghost sub-plot never worked for me and only got in the way of my appreciation for everything else that was going on.

The film starts off quite promisingly, as a guy gets sandwiched between a minivan and a wall; security video shows a man being kidnapped and placed into that van just before it made its memorable exit. Hong Kong's finest is on the case, with Detective Pit (Tony Leung Ka-Fai) taking a pretty intense personal interest in the matter. Word comes to the kidnapped man's girlfriend Amy (Amy Kwok Oi-Ming) that her boyfriend Ma Mansun (Lau Ching-Wan) can be found at a nearby abandoned building. This particular place is known by everyone to be haunted, as back in 1967 a man killed his wife for supposedly cheating on him and then killed his child and himself. Pit and the gang find Ma hanging from a chain, but the nature of the discovery doesn't sit well with Pit. The sequence in the house, with Pit and a fellow cop searching the old place by flashlight, has a nice creepy feel to it, and Pit's experience had me wondering if he would be touched by a ghostly presence himself, especially since his own personal situation bears a strong resemblance to the home's infamous former owner. There's an exciting high speed chase scene later on, but the action sequences are more than balanced out by slower scenes that left me struggling to get a solid grasp on what exactly was going on.

Things start to get a little complicated at this point. Ma isn't talking, and what he does say makes little sense or comes out in a fit of fury (words aren't the only things that come out of his mouth in one scene, I might add). His girlfriend is confused and scared, Detective Pit begins to work the case so hard that he neglects his family, and then we get this whole story about Ma's economic woes and his possible ties to some loan sharks or worse. I never knew where this movie would go next, and I guess that is a good thing in a way. It certainly doesn't turn out the way I expected it to, and I can't help wondering what the purpose of the whole ghost subplot is doing in an otherwise gritty suspense film.

I much prefer English subtitles to English dubbing on a foreign film such as this, especially when the performances consist of a lot of highly emotional dialogue, but Victim does not feature particularly good subtitles. There are some really awkward translations that come across the screen, but much more annoyingly there are a number of times when the white subtitles are displayed against a white background, making parts of the dialogue impossible to read. Obviously, I am not completely enamored with this film, but Victim is a quite interesting viewing experience and is well worth a look for anyone longing to try something new or to sample the wares of foreign filmmaking. A couple of scenes are just a tad gory, but I would certainly not consider Victim a horror movie of any kind. It's a suspenseful thriller with an intricate plot, some impressive action sequences, and a story that seems to bite off slightly more than it can chew - at least in translation.

Superb thriller from Ringo Lam.
The Victim once again proves that Ringo Lam is perhaps Hong Kong's greatest director's with a stylish and gripping film that is on par with Lam's Full Contact. This horror/thriller revolves around a computer engineer who is kidnapped by loan sharks...P>Trying to solve the case, a manic cop played by Tony Leung attempts to solve the case... Here the story takes various sharp twists. Is he possessed? Lam keeps you guessing right until the final frame.

Inspired by the shining by Stanley Kubrick the film has a creepy and haunting feel that is punctuated with scenes of real horror. The film also features some inspired chase scenes and action, making this is a must by for any Ringo Lam or Hong Kong film fan. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Shawshank Last Castle Redemption
When I first read about this movie, I was expecting a fire in a prison and Chow and his buddy trying to get out. What I got instead was a beautiful drama about friendship in the midst of prison. It was almost a combination of "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Last Castle." The acting was wonderful. And for a prison drama, it was very tender. The characters were great and you could feel yourself bonding with them. If you don't mind a good foreign film you have to read, Prison on Fire is a good movie for you.

one of the films that made Chow great...
Audiences used to Western style cinema might poo-poo at the melodramatic sentiments of this film. It is melodramatic and at times unrealistic (I mean how many times can a guy get beaten but not die? ) but it is also without a doubt different. This is not an American prison film by any means which is reason enough to watch it. Also despite the gritty violence that Ringo Lam is known for, this is not a Midnight Express type film. Sure, there is the bad guard but there are also good guards.

Chow plays a kind hearted prisoner who knows the system. He takes the naive Tony Leung Ka Fai and helps him get through his prison term. Despite the closeness of the men's friendship in prison, there is no subtext (just as there isn't meant to be one in John Woo's HK films)

Chow is at his best here and shows why he is such a respected actor in the East. His expressions and mannerisms are excellent and help make Prison on Fire such a good film. Some of the expressions Chow used in this film and his other HK classics are used sporadically and unevenly in The Corruptor (Chow's 2nd American film.)

Prison on Fire and City on Fire (School on Fire is the last in the trilogy) are known as Ringo Lam's masterpieces and it's easy to tell why. Prison is a fast paced film with loads of heart. The fighting among prisoners and among guards is quite something to watch. It's a prison film with chinese ideals of chivlary, honor and friendship among men. One could even make a case for it being a film with John Wooism themes with out the ballet. ... Read more