Island of Fire
| Island of Fire | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Traditional | 火燒島 |
| Simplified | 火烧岛 |
| Mandarin | Huǒ Shāo Dǎo |
| Cantonese | Fo2 Siu1 Dou2 |
| Directed by | Chu Yen-ping |
| Produced by |
Jimmy Wang Yu Ko Chun-hsiung |
| Written by |
Lee Fu Yip Wan-Chiu |
| Starring |
Jackie Chan Andy Lau Sammo Hung Tony Leung |
| Music by |
Fu Lap Chan Chi-yuen |
| Cinematography |
Chen Jung-shu Yip Chun-wing |
| Distributed by | Golden Harvest |
Release dates |
|
Running time |
125 minutes (Taiwan) 93 minutes (Hong Kong) 96 minutes (United States) |
| Country |
Taiwan Hong Kong |
| Language | Mandarin |
Island of Fire (Chinese: 火燒島) is a 1990 Hong Kong action film directed by Chu Yen-ping, and starring Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Sammo Hung, Tony Leung Ka-fai and Barry Wong. The film was shot in Taiwan and the Philippines in 42 days from 5 April until 17 May 1989.[1] The film's theme song, The Last Gunshot (最後一槍) by Cui Jian, was written as a response to the 4 June 1989 Tiananmen massacre in Beijing, China.
After appearing with Chan in Killer Meteors in 1976, the film's producer and co-star, Jimmy Wang Yu, came to Chan's aid when the then young actor sought his help in settling a dispute with veteran director, Lo Wei. Chan repaid the favour by playing roles in Wang's films, which included this film as well as the 1982 film Fantasy Mission Force.
As with both of those earlier films, recent DVD and VHS releases market Island of Fire & Jackie Chan Is the Prisoner as a Jackie Chan film, displaying an image of Chan on the cover as though the lead actor. In fact, Chan only appears in a supporting role, with Tony Leung Ka-fai as the central character.
Synopsis
Wang Wei (Tony Leung Ka-fai) is a police officer who goes undercover in a prison, hoping to determine how the fingerprints on a recently killed felon could belong to a con who had been executed three months before. While inside, he is tortured for getting involved in internal matters.
His fellow prisoners include Da Chui (Jackie Chan), who accidentally killed a card player while trying to raise money for an operation to save his girlfriend's life, Iron Ball (Andy Lau), who has himself thrown in jail to exact revenge for his dead brother killed by Da Chui, Kui (Jimmy Wang Yu), a leader of the prisoners, and Fatty (Sammo Hung), a compassionate but pathetic inmate who frequently escapes to visit his young son.
When Wang kills an especially corrupt guard and is sentenced to a firing squad, he learns that the "executed" convicts are actually used by the warden (Ko Chun-hsiung) as hitmen to assassinate untouchable criminals.
Cast
- Jackie Chan as Da Chui / Lung (Hong Kong version) / Steve (US version)
- Andy Lau as Iron Ball / Lau / Boss Lee
- Sammo Hung as Fatty John Liu Hsi-chia
- Tony Leung Ka-fai as Wang Wei / Andy / Andrew
- Barry Wong as Inspector Wong
- Jimmy Wang Yu as Kui / Lucas (as Wang Yu)
- Ko Chun-hsiung as Prison Chief / Prison Superintendent
- Tou Chung-hwa as Chiu / Charlie (as Tao Chung Hwa)
- Jack Kao as Ho Lin
- Ken Lo as Bodyguard
- Rocky Lai as Iron Ball's thug / Prisoner
- Chin Ho as Iron Ball's assistant
- Teddy Yip Wing-cho as Prisoner
- Wang An
- Yen Ru-chen
- Kao Ming
- Kang Ho
- Fang Jing
- Yuen Yi
- Wai Hung-ho
- Tou Hu
- Wang Yao
- Bang Yu
- Chien Tsao
Versions
There are three different versions of this film: a 93-minute Hong Kong version, a 96-minute American version was released by Columbia Tristar Home Video in 2000 and later by Lionsgate in 2011 and a 125-minute Taiwanese version which focuses more on character development and plot detail.
See also
- Andy Lau filmography
- Jackie Chan filmography
- List of Hong Kong films
- List of Taiwanese films
- Sammo Hung filmography
References
- ↑ "Island on Fire (Taiwan version)". Hong Kong Digital. Retrieved 2007-10-05.