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The late filmmaker Benny Chan's final directorial effort, Raging Fire, is quite as explosive as critics say, while his peers and collaborators shed tears at the film's premiere on July 28.
After the advanced screening, there was a standing ovation. The premiere for the film soon became more like a star-studded memorial service, with action film mogul Jackie Chan, legendary directors such as Wong Jing, Dante Lam, Raymond Lee, Lau Ho-leung, Li Shaohong, and a star cast including Nicholas Tse, Ray Lui, Qin Lan attending the event. In tears, they remembered how they worked alongside the late director and how big the loss.
Hailed as the king of crime movies in Hong Kong, Chan made more than 30 films, including many classics like A Moment Of Romance (1990), Who Am I? (1998) and New Police Story (2004). He died of nasopharyngeal cancer at the age of 58 on Aug. 23, 2020.
I have attended almost every premiere of Benny's films, with or without me starring, to support him, so I will not miss this one, however he was not here anymore, the director's long-time collaborator Jackie Chan said emotionally. He revealed they had worked together to prepare for “New Police Story 2, Rob-B-Hood 2 and a new installment of the kung fu film franchise Drunken Master, but things were never able to be materialized after Benny Chan had passed.
Cast members of the Raging Fire, as well as Jackie Chan and eight Chinese directors pose for a photo to show their support on stage at the premiere of Raging Fire in Beijing, July 28, 2021. [Photo courtesy of Dark Horse]
After finished watching Raging Fire, Jackie Chan was thrilled and jokingly lamented, why didn't he summon me to the project?
Director Wong Jing said: Chan's passing is too big a loss for the film industry. I wish he could have lived to make more great films like this.
Absent from the premiere, the crime thriller's biggest star Donnie Yen now is working overseas on another film, but he talked via phone at the premiere to share his insights. Benny is the best director for the Hong Kong crime films and made great contributions to this genre. This is his last film and everyone who loves films should not miss this one.
An IMAX poster of Raging Fire, starring action megastar Donnie Yen. [Photo courtesy of IMAX China]
The film follows a Yen-played highly respected hardline police officer's investigation to hunt down a ruthless drug trafficking ring; however, things get complicated and bloody after his past unexpectedly comes back to haunt him when a sting operation is attacked by a mysterious group of criminals led by his former colleague, played by Nicholas Tse.
The film is filled with constant explosive scenes from car chase, gun fights, hand-to-hand combat, and more, with some of the critics and audiences hailing it the best action crime film ever.
Tse said his career didn't start with being as an action actor, and had no experience in this regard, So I can only bet on my life and nerve. In many impressive and critical moments through my collaboration with Benny Chan, such as stunts of falling from high buildings, the director was always there for me and with me. He is the milestone and mark for Hong Kong action films. Losing him, is like losing my right hand, the actor said.
A still image from Raging Fire shows Donnie Yen, who plays a cop, shaking hands with his former colleague and the real villain, played by Nicholas Tse, in the film. [Photo courtesy of Tencent Pictures]
Raging Fire opened in various formats including IMAX in China on July 30.
