Arrow Video UK 4K UHD Blu-ray Synopsis: After the success of John Woo's A Better Tomorrow, lead actor Chow Yun Fat cemented his reputation as Hong Kong's hottest new action film megastar with his electrifying performance in Ringo Lam's City On Fire, one of the most beloved examples of the 'heroic bloodshed' subgenre. Ko (Chow) is an undercover cop on one last job, assigned to infiltrate a gang of jewel thieves committing armed robberies across Hong Kong. When another police officer is killed in the line of duty during one of the gang's heists, Ko finds himself caught in the crossfire between the police force desperate to catch the culprits at any cost, and the trigger-happy thieves who begin to smell a rat in their midst. As the bullets fly and the body count rises, Ko's only hope for survival might be his burgeoning friendship with weary gang member Fu (Danny Lee)... A marked influence on Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, Lam's gritty and dynamic crime thriller has been restored from the original negative and is finally unleashed on home video again in all it's lethal fury, looking and sounding more spectacular than ever before. (105 Mins)

 

Shout Factory US 4K UHD Blu-ray Synopsis: Chow Yun-fat (Hard Boiled, A Better Tomorrow) stars in this sizzling, highly influential crime drama from director Ringo Lam (Full Contact, Prison On Fire, Maximum Risk). Ko Chow is an undercover cop torn between his duty as a police officer and his loyalty to his friends on the wrong side of the law. He wants out – and his commanding officer Inspector Lau reluctantly approves his resignation – but only after he completes one final assignment. Tasked with infiltrating a notorious gang of criminals, Chow bonds with their leader (Danny Lee, The Killer), building a relationship based on mutual trust and respect. But when a planned heist turns into a violent shootout with the law, the tension among the thieves heats up... and they begin to suspect there is an informant in their midst. (105 Mins)

 

Cargo Movies German Mediabook Blu-ray Synopsis: After the death of an important undercover agent, the Hong Kong police are in trouble. The information chain in a crime syndicate specializing in jewel robberies is in danger of breaking down. Cop Ko is chosen as his successor and infiltrated into the underworld disguised as an arms dealer. To gain the gang's trust, he must survive a series of deadly tests. Accepted into the syndicate, it's time to carry out the super heist. The cops have already surrounded the crime scene, and Ko's cover, and thus his life, are on a knife edge... (105 Mins)

 

Hong Kong Legends UK DVD Synopsis: Haunted by a guilty past, undercover cop Ko Chow (Chow Yun Fat) infiltrates a violent criminal gang, but when a daring heist turns into a bloodbath, questions of his loyalty are raised, and compulsion takes him to the very edge of reason. Experience the original inspiration for Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, with an acclaimed knife-edge thriller that has influenced leading filmmakers from all over the world! (102 Mins)

 

Hong Kong Legends Magazine UK DVD Synopsis: Undercover policeman Ko Chow walks a fine line between cop and criminal in an attempt to break up a gang of brutal jewel thieves before they can strike again. Ringo Lam announced his arrival as a top-notch Hong Kong director with City on Fire – a gripping gangster thriller that shook up audiences across the world. Shot in Kowloon and boasting a cast of up-and-coming stars, the film follows the last assignment of undercover cop Ko Chow, as he struggles to break up a criminal gang and avoid losing his long-suffering girlfriend, Hung. As events spiral out of control, Chow finds himself torn between loyalty and duty. (102 Mins)

 

Fortune Star HK DVD Synopsis: Chow Yun Fat plays Ko Chow, a police undercover agent who is torn between his duty as a police officer and his loyalty to his friends on the wrong side of the law. He wants out and his commander officer Inspector Lau, played by Sun Yueh, reluctantly approves his resignation but gives him his last assignment – supplying guns to a gang of criminals suspected of armed robbery. Danny Lee who plays Tiger, heads the gang of robbers. He has built a relationship with Ko Chow based on mutual trust and respect. During the final shoot out with the police, he is equally torn when Ko Chow sacrificed himself to save him and simultaneously revealed his true identity. (105 Mins)

 

Made In Hong Kong UK VHS Synopsis: Number one Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun Fat (Hard Boiled, the Better Tomorrow series) stars opposite Danny Lee (his co-star in John Woo's classic The Killer) in Ringo Lam's explosive crime thriller. The Far East's Robert De Niro is at his charismatic best as Ko Chow,maverick undercover cop who infiltrates a gang of ruthless jewellery thieves. Seriously wounded in the aftermath of a bloody heist gone horribly wrong, he is trapped in the gangsters' hideout as they determine to unmask the traitor in their midst. Lam's 1987 classic, the readily acknowledged inspiration for much of Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, effortlessly blends no-holds-barred ballistic action in a gut-wrenching epic of violence and betrayal that moves inexorably to a bullet-riddled, bloodsoaked climax. (101 Mins)

 

Views: Based on real events, City On Fire has long been considered one of Hong Kong cinemas greatest thrillers, a prime title of the heroic bloodshed genre, and a must for all fans of the charismatic Chow Yun Fat. After an undercover cop is killed by a gang of jewellery thieves, experienced officer Ko Chow is sent into infiltrate. Reluctant, due to past missions that saw him lose someone close, Chow agrees to do it as his last assignment before retiring. Making himself known as an arms dealer, Ko Chow is eventually taken into the gang – although not without it's own problems – and soon becomes close friends with their leader, Tiger Fu. Torn between his duties as a cop and his loyalties to his new friends, Chow quickly begins to realise that things may not go as smoothly as he once thought. Between running from robberies to secretly reporting in, shoot-outs with his own brothers in the force to proving his worth within the gang, Ko Chow struggles with himself to understand what is right and is soon forced to chose for the sake of his own life!

​

After impressing producer Karl Maka with the very fun Aces Go Places 4 (1986), Cinema City handed Ringo Lam 4 million HKD with the chance to write and direct whatever he wished. Around the same time, a famous crime case was just hitting the news – the Time Watch Robberies. Lam attended the court case, taking notes and observing throughout the tribunal before creating the script for this Hong Kong classic we now known as City On Fire! Nominated for a host of awards at that years HKFA, the film went onto bag Best Director for Ringo Lam and Best Actor for Chow Yun Fat. Infernal Affairs (2002) director Andrew Lau serves as the DOP of the project, his first in that particular role although prior to this had served as a cinematographer on films such as Where's Officer Tuba?, Mr. Vampire 2, Armour Of God and others just the year before. He does an amazing job with the visuals, mixing slick cityscape shots with semi-documentary handheld shots (when Lam's guerilla film-making called for it). Although he captures the nighttime colours of Hong Kong – whether it's via well-lit back streets soaked with rain or foggy graveyards – Lau and Lam refuse to share much of the beauty of Hong Kong, from it's waterfront or glories of Victoria Peak, keeping City On Fire a bleak, dark and intense visual experience. This is accompanied by a great score from the legendary Teddy Robin Kwan, mostly executed by saxophone which predates John Woo's Hard Boiled (1992) by 5 years.

​

Of course, a lot of this 'intense viewing experience' is also down to Ringo Lam's realistic storytelling as well as the incredible performances from everyone involved – and what a cast indeed! The incredible Chow Yun Fat leads the way; hot-off the success from John Woo's A Better Tomorrow in 1986 and already a highly praised actor before that due to his roles in Hong Kong 1941 (1984), Women (1985), and Love Unto Waste (1986) as well as many other film and television titles since the late 70s. Suddenly, Chow was suddenly in high demand with City On Fire only being 1 of 11 films he would make in 1987 alongside titles such as Rich & Famous, Tragic Hero, Flaming Brothers, A Better Tomorrow 2, Spiritual Love, and Prison On Fire which was also directed by Ringo Lam, of course. One would think that, with this insane amount of work and pressure as an actor, we would see a weaker performance somewhere along the way – but that is simply not the case. Always the professional, Chow impresses in every role, whether serious drama or in comedy, and none more-so than here as Ko Chow, bagging him another award (as mentioned) for Best Actor just right after he won the same award for his role in A Better Tomorrow (1986). Naturally, Chow Yun Fat's career exploded and through to today, has starred in well over 100 television and film productions from the much loved Hard Boiled (1992) to the Oscar winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), God Of Gamblers (1989) to Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End (2007) and so much more – this incredible and very down-to-earth actor is loved by many and is one of the biggest reasons to watch City On Fire, in my honest opinion.

​

Co-starring alongside him, and just two years before their landmark roles in John Woo's The Killer (1989), is the equally talented and very popular Danny Lee Sau Yin – a man who had been lighting up the Shaw Brothers screen since the early 1970s, appearing in films such as All Men Are Brothers (1973), Super Inframan (1975), Killer Clans (1976), Oily Maniac (1976), Battle Wizard (1977) and so much more. But in 1981, Lee made his own debut as a director with One Way Only, going on to direct a further 9 films to date, produce/present over 50, and star in almost 150 films through to 2002 where he would quite often play a cop. That was, initially, his intended role here in City On Fire, but Ringo Lam made some last minute changes that saw him flipped to the main villain of the piece with Chow Yun Fat as the hero – a decision that, of course, would be reversed for Woo's aforementioned hit, The Killer (1989), soon after. Prior to that, and missed by a lot of people, is the fact that Lee and Chow actually shared the screen in 3 films this year with City On Fire being the first followed by Taylor Wong's fantastic Rich & Famous and it's sequel, Tragic Hero. Here, they are joined by celebrated Taiwanese actor Sun Yueh – a prolific actor with almost 200 films behind him and a strong favourite of the director himself. Yueh may be more recognisable to fans in the West for his role in Jackie Chan's super-fun Fantasy Mission Force (1983), but also appeared in classics such as The Mars Villa (1977), Raining In The Mountain (1979), Legend Of The Mountain (1979), and as the baker in Sammo Hung's amazing Pedicab Driver (1989). The great Roy Cheung makes his mark in his first big starring role as the Inspector determined to take Chow down as the criminal he is pretending to be, while a fresh-faced Carrie Ng leaves an impression as Chow's love interest. Actors such as Lau Kong, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong, Fong Yau, Tommy Wong, and Victor Hon also co-star, while the wonderful Maria Cordero makes a cameo as a nightclub singer whose main song will stick with you for some time...

​

Film journeyman Joe Chu Kai Sang, director of films such as My Hero 2 (1993), The Tragic Fantasy – Tiger of Wanchai (1994) and Temptation of an Angel (1999), serves as the film's action-director as well as making a small appearance throughout. Interestingly, Chu had served as the action-director on Ringo Lam's earlier films The Perfect Match (1982), Cupid One (1985) and Aces Go Places 4 (1986), going onto work with him after this with Prison on Fire (1987) and serve as the Executive Director on his intense classic, School on Fire (1988) soon after that. Here, Chu delivers some hardcore action pieces and shoot-outs that fit the nihilistic and grim tone used throughout the majority of the film. As squib after squib explodes, the blood flies and the body-count climbs. Any hand-to-hand or scuffles between people is kept raw and realistic, showing the pain and emotion with each hit. The stunt-work involved is just as tight, from the impactful car crashes and edge-of-your-seat chases through the streets, to Chow Yun Fat leaping off a balcony onto the ground below before running off – how that man's legs didn't break is beyond me. Regardless, the action involved and direction from Joe Chu is a big part of what makes City On Fire a solid piece of the heroic bloodshed sub-genre of Hong Kong cinema.

​

Although released by Arrow Video, City On Fire opens with the animated logo for Shout Factory and Hong Kong Cinema Classics – the US based distribution house who initially sealed the deal for the Golden Princess/Cinema City catalogue. With this, what we see here is pretty much exactly what they put out before it (although word is that Arrow had their subtitles redone and picture tweaked slightly); from the stunning new 4K restoration to it's informative and enjoyable audio commentary with Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto. While it's new extras are just the same – an 18 minute interview with screenwriter Tommy Sham, the fun 11 minute appreciation on the film by Grady Hendrix, Ric Meyers 33 minute piece on Chow Yun Fat and Hong Kong action cinema, Kim Newman's 14 minute comparison of City On Fire and Reservoir Dogs, the unrestored original theatrical trailer and lengthy image gallery – this Arrow release graces fans with 3 extra archival pieces not available on Shout's release. The first is a 10 minute interview (his audio over footage) with director Ringo Lam, taken from the Fortune Star Hong Kong DVD release. The others, taken from the Hong Kong Legends UK DVD release of the film, is a 21 minute interview with DOP and award-winning director Andrew Lau as well as a 26 minute one with co-star Roy Cheung – he's a little modest and dry, but it does make for an interesting watch if you haven't already seen it. Aside from that, the very talented Tony Stella delivers some gorgeous new artwork on the cover while an illustrated collectors booklet helps to flesh things out. Overall, probably the most superior release of this fantastic movie to date and well worth a place in any true Hong Kong film fan's collection!

​

Overall: A genuine classic of 80s Hong Kong cinema, City On Fire is intense and gripping, and still holds up well today!

​

Arrow Video 4K UHD Blu-ray Extras: 4K Restoration, Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng & F.J. DeSanto, Interview with Screenwriter Tommy Shan, Appreciation by Grady Hendrix, Appreciation by Ric Meyers, Appreciation by Kim Newman, Archival Interview with Ringo Lam, Archival Interview with Cinematographer Andrew Lau, Archival Interview with Actor Roy Cheung, Trailer, Image Gallery

​

Shout Factory 4K UHD Blu-ray Extras: 4K Restoration, Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng & F.J. DeSanto, Interview with Screenwriter Tommy Shan, Appreciation by Grady Hendrix, Appreciation by Ric Meyers, Appreciation by Kim Newman, Trailer, Image Gallery

​

Cargo Movies Mediabook Blu-ray Extras: Trailers

​

Hong Kong Legends DVD Extras: Audio Commentary with Bey Logan, Interview with Cinematographer Andrew Lau, Interview with Actor Roy Cheung, Trailers

​

Fortune Star DVD Extras: Interview with Ringo Lam