Raging Fire (film)

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Raging Fire
File:RagingFire.jpg
Official film poster
Directed by Benny Chan
Produced by Benny Chan
Donnie Yen
Screenplay by Benny Chan
Ryan Ling
Tim Tong
Starring Donnie Yen
Nicholas Tse
Qin Lan
Music by Nicolas Errèra
Cinematography Edmond Fung
Edited by Curran Pang
Production
company
Distributed by Emperor Motion Pictures (Hong Kong, Worldwide)
Intercontinental Film Distribution (HK) (Hong Kong)
Release dates
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  • 30 July 2021 (2021-07-30) (China)
  • 19 August 2021 (2021-08-19) (Hong Kong)
Running time
126 minutes
Country Hong Kong
China
Language Cantonese
Mandarin
Box office US$225 million[lower-alpha 1]

Raging Fire is a 2021 Hong Kong-Chinese action film written, produced and directed by Benny Chan in his final directorial effort before his death on 23 August 2020.[1] The film stars Donnie Yen as a righteous cop who crosses path with his former protege, played by Nicholas Tse, who is out for revenge on his former mentor for putting him in prison in the past.

The film was released on 30 July 2021 in Mainland China and on 19 August 2021 in Hong Kong.[2]

Plot

Cheung Sung-bong is an officer of the Regional Crime Unit who worked in the front line for many years and cracked many major cases. However, he is seen as an outcast due to his extremely righteous character which affected his career, but his protege, Yau Kong-ngo, respects him as a good officer although Yau does not completely agree with Cheung's overly hard-boiled style and believes in taking shortcuts. Yau manages to reach up to Cheung's level. However, fate unexpectedly brings them to different paths and pits them against one another.

Cast

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  • Donnie Yen as Cheung Sung-bong (張崇邦), senior inspector of the Regional Crime Unit who is extremely righteous and dedicated.
  • Nicholas Tse as Yau Kong-ngo (邱剛敖), Cheung's former protege and former senior inspector who goes rogue and swears revenge on his mentor when the latter testified against him, leading him to be imprisoned for beating suspect Coke to death.
  • Qin Lan as Anna Lam (藍可盈), Cheung's pregnant wife.
  • Simon Yam as Lok Chi-fai (駱智輝), Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Cheung's hearing for Cheung's internal investigation.
  • Ray Lui as Yiu Yeuk-sing (姚若成), Superintendent of the Regional Crime Unit and Cheung's superior officer and mentor.
  • Ben Yuen as Sze-to Kit (司徒傑), former Commissioner of Police and Cheung's and Yau's former superior who instructed the latter to use any means necessary to rescue Fok and later testified against Yau in court.
  • Ben Lam as Au Man-kwai (區萬貴), a drug dealer who hires Yau to rob crystal meth from Wong Kwun.
  • Ken Lo as Ma Kau-wing (馬交榮), a robber who intended to collaborate with Yau to rob Fok's bank.
  • Carlos Chan as Ha Chi-ming (夏智明), a higher-up police officer who looks down on Cheung and his squad.
  • Patrick Tam as Beau Yuen (袁家寶), Chief Inspector of Regional Crime Unit, Cheung's superior officer and best friend.
  • Kenny Wong as Tai Cheuk-yin (戴卓賢), Sergeant of the Regional Crime Unit and Cheung's most trusted subordinate.
  • Deep Ng as Chow Chi-chun (周子俊), a Regional Crime Unit Probation Inspector and Cheung's subordinate who is an alcoholic, but is dedicated to his job.
  • Jeana Ho as Turbo Lui (呂慧思), a Regional Crime Unit officer and Cheung's subordinate.
  • Angus Yeung as Cho Ning (曹寧), a Regional Crime Unit officer and Cheung's subordinate.
  • Bruce Tong as Kwan Chung-him (關頌謙), a Regional Crime Unit officer and Cheung's subordinate.
  • Henry Mak as Chiu Chi-keung (招志強), Yau's underling and former police officer.
  • Yu Kang as Mok Yik-chuen (莫亦荃), Yau's underling and former police officer.
  • German Cheung as Chu Yuk-ming (朱旭明), Yau's underling and former police officer.
  • Tony Wu as Law Kim-wah (羅劍華), Yau's underling and a former police officer who is a father to a six year old daughter.
  • Derek Kok as Bill Cheung (張德標), an officer in Yau's squad who threw himself off the police headquarters building after feeling betrayed by the police when they testified against the squad.
  • Matt Chow as Officer Chow (周Sir)
  • Fire Lee as Officer Tai (戴Sir)
  • Mak Cheung-ching as Lam Ngai-sing (林毅星), a police superintendent present at Cheung's internal investigation hearing.
  • Cheung Kwok-keung as Officer Lau (劉Sir), the Chief of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau.
  • Kwok Fung as Fok Siu-tong (霍兆堂), a bank tycoon who was kidnapped five years ago where Seto instructed Yau to use any means to find Fok.
  • Julius Brian Siswojo as Wong Kwan (王焜), a drug dealer who was set up and killed by Yau.

Music

The film's theme song, titled Dead Lock (對峙), is composed and performed by Nicholas Tse, with lyrics written by Kenny So.[3] A promotional song for the film was also released as a tribute to director Benny Chan, which is a cover of the song A Real Man (真的漢子), which was originally composed and performed by George Lam, with lyrics written by Cheng Kwok-kong. The new version is performed by Andy Lau, Donnie Yen, Wu Jing, Nick Cheung and Jordan Chan, with slightly altered lyrics written by Keith Chan.[4]

Production

The film was first announced at the 2019 Hong Kong Film & TV Market (FILMART).[5] Producer and star Donnie Yen revealed that the film had originally been planned to be filmed in a foreign country, but he persuaded co-producer and director Benny Chan to stay in Hong Kong for filming.[6] Production began in April of the same year.[7] On 6 May 2019, a scene was filmed involving Yen jumping from a balcony for which he was suspended on wires for two hours.[8] The film held its blessing ceremony on 23 July 2019 at a constructed set on Peking Road in Quarry Bay Film Studio that was attended by Emperor Group head Albert Yeung, Chan, Yen and the rest of the cast and crew.[9][10] Production for the film wrapped up in September 2019.[11]

On 23 August 2020, director Chan died from nasopharyngeal cancer. It was reported that he had fallen ill during the film's production and had later been diagnosed with the illness. Chan completed his directing duties for the film but was unable to take part in post-production due to his illness.[12]

Release

Raging Fire was theatrically released in China on 30 July 2021, followed by a limited release in the United States on 13 August 2021, and in Hong Kong on 19 August 2021.[2]

Reception

Box office

As of 10 October 2021, Raging Fire has grossed US$225 million worldwide, combining its gross from Hong Kong (US$3.3 million),[13] China (US$221.2 million),[14] North America (US$368,301), Australia (US$54,211), New Zealand (US$2,417)[13] and Taiwan (US$172,558).[15]

In Hong Kong, the film debuted at No. 2 during its opening weekend, grossing HK$7,592,576 (US$974,544) during its first four days of release.[16] On its second weekend, the film grossed HK$8,775,780, coming in at No. 1, and have grossed a total of HK$16,368,356 (US$2,101,717) by then.[17] During its third week, the film grossed HK$5,271,353, coming in at No. 2, and have grossed a total of HK$21,636,628 (US$2,783,956) by then.[18] On its fourth weekend, the film remained at No. 2 where it grossed HK$2,749,226 and have grossed a total of HK24,385,854 (US$3,135,396) so by then.[19] During its fifth weekend, the film grossed HK$1,049,458, coming in No. 5, and have accumulated a total gross of HK$25,435,312 (US$3,268,144) so far.[20][21]

In China, the film debuted at No. 1 during its opening weekend, grossing US$40.5 million during its first three days of release.[22] On its second weekend, the film grossed US$49.2 million, remaining at No. 1, and have grossed a total of US$89.7 million by then.[23] The film remained at first place during its third weekend, grossing US$42.5 million, and have accumulated a total gross of US$132.3 million so far.[24] The film stayed at No. 1 again for four consecutive weeks, grossing US$25.1 million during its fourth weekend and have grossed a total of US$157.9 million by then.[25] During its fifth weekend, the film grossed US$19.2, coming in at No. 2 behind new release Free Guy, and have grossed a total of US$177.1 million by then.[26] On its sixth week, the film grossed US$13.1 million, remaining at No. 2, and have grossed a total of US$190.2 million by then.[27] During its seventh week, the film grossed US$10.7 million, coming in at No. 3, and have accumulated a total gross of US$200.9 million by then.[28] On its eighth week, the film grossed US$8.8 million, remaining at No. 3, and have grossed a total of US$209.7 million so far.[14]

Critical reception

Matthew Monagle of the Austin Chronicle gave the film 4/5 stars and praises the characterizations and action set pieces [29] Lim Lian-yu of Yahoo! Singapore gave the film a score of 3.5/5 stars, describing the film as "126 minutes worth of explosive action that is bound to entertain and keep your eyes busy."[30] Edmund Lee of the South China Morning Post gave the film a score of 3/5 stars, praising it as "the best that Hong Kong action-film making has to offer", but criticizing its illogical story and crude script.[31]

G. Allen Johnson of the San Francisco Chronicle praises the film's action scenes but criticizes the exposition scenes which drags the film.[32] Cary Darling of the Houston Chronicle praises director Chan's execution of a basic premise and the action choreography as "breathlessly exhilarating."[33] Anna Smith of Deadline Hollywood describes the film as "an accomplished visual feat with detailed fight choreography and strong physical performances", while also noting its underdeveloped characterizations and overuse of flashbacks.[34]

Marc Zirogiannis of Tae Kwon Do Life Magazine wrote, "In Raging Fire, Benny Chan's final directorial work, Yen combines the elements of his persona as an action star and dramatic actor for a successful result. His dramatic engagement equals his action prowess, and these elements combine to make this film superior."[35]

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Category Recipient Results Ref(s)
2022 40th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Film Raging Fire Won [36]
Best Director Benny Chan Won
Best Cinematography Fung Yuen Man Nominated
Best Action Choreography Donnie Yen, Ku Huen Chiu, Tanigaki Kenji, Li Chung Chi Won
Best Film Editing Curran Pang Won
Best Sound Design Lee Yiu Keung George, Yiu Chun Hin, Kaikangwol Rungsakorn, Stan Yau Nominated
Best Visual Effects Raymond Leung Wai Man, Lim Hung Fung Alex, Diu King Wai, Hung Man Shi Candy Nominated
Best Original Film Song "Dead Lock", composer: Nicholas Tse Nominated

Notes

References

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External links