Raging Fire

"Everyone knows that Hong Kong films often start with a concept before slowly being churned into a complete script... That story was about a police officer who goes to Mexico and takes down a drug cartel, but the project was scrapped because the scale and budget were too big. Benny was quite hurt by that, so I encouraged him by telling him to tell a story set in Hong Kong and to make a cops-and-robbers film, which was absolutely his forte. After a few days, his confidence and creative flame returned. We began compiling ideas, and that's how the story of Raging Fire came to be." - Donnie Yen

Raging Fire not only stands out as one of the best action films of this year, but is also the last film co-written and directed by Benny Chan who died on August 23, 2020 in Hong Kong of cancer. After having established himself with action films of a formidable efficiency like Gen-X Cops (Dak ging san yan lui) (1999), New Police Story (San ging caat goo si) (2004), The Hong Kong Expert (Bo bui gai wak) (2006), Connected (Bo chi tung wah) (2008), Cartel War (So duk) (2013), Call of Heroes (Ngai sing) (2016), Benny Chan delivers here a crime film based not only on two excellent actors specialized in action films Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse but especially on a perfectly mastered scenario. Far from the American blockbusters that are constantly playing with overkill, Rapid Fire is based on a story that mixes past and present events and plunges us into a spectacular confrontation between an honest policeman and a gang of violent ex-police robbers.

Even if the main plot of Raging Fire is reminiscent of Michael Mann's Heat (1995), the treatment is reminiscent of the best of Hong Kong action films, especially John Woo's films, whose gunfights and fight scenes will always remain in our memories. In Raging Fire, we meet Bong (Donnie Yen), a highly respected, hard-nosed cop whose wife is pregnant. He has always been successful in dangerous cases and has always wanted to remain honest even if it meant his evolution in the police force was more difficult. However, his past unexpectedly resurfaces when an undercover operation is attacked by a mysterious group of criminals led by Ngo (Nicholas Tse), his former protégé, a talented former officer who once respected and admired Bong. Decimating several law enforcement officers, Bond decides it's time to step in and nail this gang. Ngo, promoted to a successful career in the past, had made a terrible mistake three years ago that landed him in jail, quickly turning the rising star into a man with a grudge and a desire to destroy all those who wronged him, including his former mentor. The confrontation between Bong and Ngo is inevitable and promises to be bloody.

If Raging Fire takes up what has made the strength of Hong Kong films, numerous stunts, masterful gunfights and close combat scenes, it shows a real willingness to give more importance to the psychology of the characters and especially to show how a good man has become one of the worst criminals sought by the police. Despite its length of about two hours, the film does not suffer from any drop in pace and shows once again how Donnie Yen is one of the best actors in action films and we are really looking forward to his fight against Keanu Reeves in the next film of the John Wick saga.

The care taken not only to make a perfectly balanced film in the manner of a true Hong Kong blockbuster is constantly felt, especially in the chase scenes, but above all by a desire to offer an impressive but realistic film at all costs. The director shows a real talent to put in anthological scenes and to remind us the importance of the Hong-Kongese cinema in the world cinema landscape. In the same way, we feel through the numerous aerial shots a real love for the city of Hong Kong that would make us want to visit this city with its many districts and this real beauty that gives this film an undeniable added value.

The film is dedicated in memory of Benny Chan who could not participate in the editing of this film following his death from cancer. This last film testament imposes one of the best directors of action films and we must celebrate this film in his memory and realize like John Woo the important impact he leaves on the current Hong Kong cinema.

Raging Fire
Directed by Benny Chan
Screenplay by Benny Chan, Ryan Ling, Tong Yiu-ling
Produced by Benny Chan, Donnie Yen
Starring Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse, Qin Lan
Cinematography : Edmond Fung
Edited by Curran Pang
Music by Nicolas Errèra
Production companies : Emperor Film Production Company, Tencent Pictures, Sil-Metropole Organisation, Maoyan Pictures, Super Bullet Pictures, One Cool Film Production, Central Motion Pictures, BC Films Production
Distributed by Emperor Motion Pictures (Hong Kong, Worldwide), Intercontinental Film Distribution (HK) (Hong Kong), Well Go USA (United States)
Release date : 30 July 2021 (China), 19 August 2021 (Hong Kong),August 13, 2021 (United States)
Running time : 126 minutes

Seen on August 21, 2021 (Fantasia press screener)

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