Time: 105 Minutes
Cast:
Chow Yun-fat as Ko Chow
Danny Lee as Fu
Sun Yueh as Inspector Lau / Uncle Kung
Carrie Ng as Hung
Roy Cheung as Inspector John Chan
Director: Ringo Lam

When I went to watch City on Fire at the local film society, I mainly just knew that it was a Hong Kong action movie starring Chow Yun-Fat. It really surprised me in the best way.

Based on the little I knew beforehand, I was expecting City on Fire to be an over the top Hong Kong action thriller like one of John Woo’s earlier films. However, it was far more hard hitting than I was expecting, with surprising emotional depth and human drama, focussing quite a bit on cops and criminals. It’s very well staged and I was constantly entertained and engaged. The climax is particularly amazing and concludes with an impactful and memorable ending.

City on Fire has a really solid cast too. Chow Yun-fat is reliably charismatic and great in the lead role. The supporting cast including Danny Lee and Sun Yueh are good too.

Ringo Lam’s direction is top notch and stylish. The visuals are stunning, bright and energetic, and the action sequences are entertaining, explosive and wonderfully over the top. It’s also accompanied by a heavy jazz and saxophone score which does give it quite the atmosphere and mood throughout.

City on Fire is an entertaining action thriller, well directed and with enthralling action set pieces.