When an undercover cop is killed, Ko Chow is asked to go undercover and take the dead man's place, and try to infiltrate a gang of thieves responsible for a series of high-profile diamond robberies. Chow has to pose as a man who can supply guns needed for a jewelry heist, and later on Chow finds himself accompanying the gang on a robbery that goes totally wrong. Chow also becomes more involved with the gang on a deeper level and has a hard time dealing with what side to choose.
It is said that City on Fire was the HK movie that inspired Quention Tarantino when he made Reservoir Dogs. It's not hard to see, and if you've seen Reservoir Dogs, you'll recognize things here that are quite similar, and some that are the exact same. Or that is, that Reservoir Dogs is similar to City on Fire which was released five years before Tarantino's flick.
Ringo Lam is a great director and a big name when it comes to HK cinema, no wonder since he has truly made some great flicks (and some bad ones too). I can't really say that City on Fire is great, but it is still very good and entertaining. Chow Yun-Fat is as always great to watch, and Danny Lee makes a good performance too. Chow Yun-Fat infiltrates Danny Lee's gang but becomes very close to Danny Lee's character and Chow finds himself having a hard time to choose between his role as a cop or his allegiance to the gang.
 
When it comes to action, it's for the most all good. There are some really cool and intense scenes, and the movie is kinda raw at times as well. People get shot mercilessly, and it actually looks a bit more realistic than a lot of other similar types of action flicks do. While the movie is rather violent, it can also be a bit comical at times, and is a fast-paced flick that is interesting all the way through. It has a mix of being quite a bloody action flick, a thriller, a drama with a touch of comedy every now and then.
One problem that the movie has though, is that there are too many plots going on at the same time. Looking at it one way it's a cool thing with a lot going on and it's all ok to watch. Problem though is that there's not enough time to give all the plots the time they deserve to be fully developed. And while some plots are more interesting than others, they should've been given some more time. Tarantino's movie was a little bit different and had less going on which I personally think made it better. But watch this one to know where it came from.
If you're a fan of HK flicks, City on Fire is a must see. And if you're a fan of Reservoir Dogs, you should check this one out as well. Great action scenes, some truly violent scenes that makes the movie feel more realistic. The bond between Chow and Lee could've been developed much further but is ok for what it is. Recommended.
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ALTERNATIVE TITLE: Lung fu fong wan
MOVIE YEAR: 1987
DIRECTOR: Ringo Lam
WRITING CREDITS: Ringo Lam
GENRE: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
CAST: Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee, Carrie Ng
COUNTRY: Hong Kong
RUNTIME: 101 min
RATING: 7/10
City on Fire Website/IMDB Click here
City on Fire Trailer Click here
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