From what I've read about this film, and the clips that I have seen Ye can easily spot QT's inspiration for his blistering début. This remains one of a number of HK Chinese movies that is on my wish list. Redux review and more in due course
Jesus fucking christ, Tarantino didn't improve shit. This movie is great for it's own merits, and sadly has just ended up being refered as the "movie that inspired Tarantino". Which just adds further injury to the irony.
More than a mere action filler, this is a film about the characters. Back in the days when both Ringo Lam and Chow Yun Fat were the top dogs in the genre. recommended view for any serious HK movie aficionado.
Though Reservoir Dogs is probably the better film I can see myself watching City on Fire far more often than Tarantinoâ??s effort which despite reports is not a direct rip-off in fact Tarantinoâ??s film is more an expansion on the last ten minuets of this energetic Hong Kong film. It is a shame that the above is almost the only thing most people know about City On Fire, a great shame because director Ringo Lam and his charismatic star Chow Yun Fat have produced a highly enjoyable crime film and though the central story of an undercover cop has been done many times since and even before there is a freshness to COF that makes it stand out and rise above its conventions.
The film is a little bedraggled around the edges and it has a habit of sprawling off the screen but instead of harming the film the overall effect only adds to the increasingly wild, energetic and engaging structure of the narrative. As with the best of Hong Kong cinema the merging of genres is blended to perfection the film is essentially a crime drama but it has some superb action, a dash of pathos and some great dork-like humour too.
A very cool gangster/heist flick. A bit long in parts, still some flaws, but the performances, very well-staged action, and cool atmosphere make up for it. A satisfying piece of work and indeed, the perfect companion to Reservoir Dogs! (which was very much a love letter to this film)
THis film is not perfect, but it is the movie Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs was loosely based on. Fans of that film will definitely enjoy this one.
Quite good action of a cop goes undercover as a gun-smuggler to infiltrate a gang that has staged a series of daring robberies, then has an identity crisis when he develops a friendship with one of the gangsters.
When someone mentions "Reservoir Dogs" then mention "City on Fire" since it shows you know about Hong Kong cinema, Tarantino's influences and the knowledge that subtitles in a film do not equal shitty.
I liked this film so much that I've yet to know of any Hong Kong film that got me this interested that I'll watch it till the end without getting bored.
Fresh, great stuff. It shows how low Quentin Tarantino can sink when he steals nearly all of the film, turns it into the horrific "Reservoir Dogs", and fails to credit it to Ringo Lam.
i love this film. it's not perfect as it suffers fro the typical failings of 80s hk flicks with very cliched and often cring-inducing moments dialogue but great characters bring it back up.
An alright movie that Quentin Tarantino lifted many of his ideas for Reservoir Dogs. Actually, watch it with Reservoir Dogs for an interesting double bill.
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