Prison on Fire (1987) User Reviews

Pretty violent second entry of the trilogy titled ¨Prison on fire¨ professionally directed by Ringo Lam

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 20 November 2007]

This is a brutal portrayal of Hong Kong big-house life in Cantonese language. It concerns about a naive innocent(Tony Leung Ka Fair,The lover) who has been framed by accidental homicide and unjustly imprisoned behind bars. A mobster sets him up against other inmates and he's accused as informer. He becomes friend with a tough but sympathetic inmate(Chow Yun Fat,Better tomorrow) fighting Chinenes triads and against a cruel warden nicknamed scarface(Roy Cheung). The protagonists, each other, developing a fraternal friendship against their enemies and get involved with the unjust prison system commanded by nasties wardens.

The picture packs thriller, bloodshed, drama and lots of violence. Every prison clichés are exposed, including riots, fighting, abuse, evil security wardens, among others. The film contains a strong prison-drama in the wake of ¨Midnight express¨ with essentially the same argument but also displays touching images, such as the lyrical Christmas dance sequence and the emotive relationship between the two leading characters. This is the second and the best installment into ¨On fire ¨ trilogy , the first is titled ¨City on fire¨ and the third titled ¨ Prison on fire 2¨ where Ching again in prison troubled by an ongoing battle between local inmates and those from Mainland China. The trilogy is well directed by Ringo Lam. He's a nice Chinese director, filmmaker for Jackie Chan(Double dragon)and was hired in US for Jean Claude Van Damme vehicles(In hell, Replicant, Maximum risk), but nowadays he has returned Hong Kong for directing his usual Chop-Socky movies. Rating : Good and entertaining, the motion picture will like to Hong Kong movies enthusiastic and Chow Yun Fat fans.

Intense, convincing and gritty - all the things that can be expected from Ringo Lam

[Bogey Man · 8/10 · 17 November 2002]

Hong Kong film maker Ringo Lam has done many extraordinary films during his career. They include the extremely bleak and violent "School on Fire" (1988), "City on Fire" (1987), the incredible "Full Contact" (1992) and "Prison on Fire 1 and 2" from 1987 and 1991. "Prison on Fire" stars the then raising star Chow Yun-Fat as Ching, a positive and friendly inmate in a prison in which Lo Ka Yiu, played by Tony Leung Ka Fai is sentenced. They are both judged for a manslaughter and now they'll have to survive the violence and triad corruption inside the stone. What follows is a very intense 100 minutes and a film that won't be remembered among the least effective works of the great Lam.

The film is pretty close to "School on Fire" even though it is not as fierce and pessimistic as that film which was made one year later. "Prison" is pretty powerful and believable depiction of the state of prisons in Hong Kong and how much power the triad members have there. Where "School" depicts the horrible violence among school children and triads, "Prison" depicts violence and terror among convicts and triads, and how it all may end as horribly as in "School". But this time Ringo leaves a hope for a better tomorrow (as Chow's character even mentions at one point) and so the film is much more optimistic than the harrowing "School". Still the finale in the prison is very violent and shocking so the ride through the prison won't be an easy or pleasant one at all, and why would Ringo do such a pointless and light film that wouldn't have its message and anything to say in the first place? That is exactly why his films are much more than just action and gun battles.

The cast is very good in "Prison" and it includes Roy Cheung as the violent warden "Scarface" and Roy can also be found as a triad leader in "School" and a cop in "City on Fire." The characters, especially Chow's and Tony's, seem to develop little too fast as their dramatic decisions and actions are not as carefully explained and introduced as possible. I mean the scenes like "the suicide attempt" and the angry and almost comical face expression Chow gives to "Scarface" at one point; they show that these men really can act (and they can) but these kind of actions should be little more restrained and explained, but still Chow's character is here much better than in "City on Fire" which suffers a lot from the weak character of Chow's.

The ending in "Prison" is near the rage and mayhem of "School" and I felt really bad during the finale, so once again Ringo has shown his unique talent and power of his cinema. Chow turns into the kind of wild animal that is hiding inside every one of us, and that just should be kept there forever no matter what the situation is. That kind of finale is very powerful and leaves the audience pretty stunned and often in pure disgust, as in the case of "School". Overall the violence in "Prison" is very strong and hurts almost as much the viewer as it does the characters and that is the only way to depict this horrible thing honestly and in a way that something important can be achieved and told by the film. I'm afraid the present day Hollywood wouldn't dare to do films like this, but fortunately there are alternatives and people who want to make films not just because of money.

"Prison" is composed by Lowell Lo, who has also made the soundtrack for films like "Naked Killer" (Clarence Fok, 1992), "The Killer" (John Woo, 1989) and Ringo's "School on Fire" but the usage of music is never as near as strong in "Prison" as it is in "School" and that is also among the elements that make "School" such a strong experience. "Prison" has also some very atmospheric photography inside the prison and there are some nice neon lights and almost mysterious lights coming through the windows at some points. There's also some very bright photography in the interiors and that creates almost a dream like feel to the film, and also depicts the state of mind of the inmates and how things vary from pure danger and alarm to peace and quiet inside the prison.

"Prison" is among the reasons why Hong Kong cinema is so powerful and unique and it is also among the reasons that make Ringo among the most talented directors in the field. His real masterpiece was still to come (Full Contact) but still "Prison" is among the most noteworthy achievements of his. 8/10

Slowburns to a devastating climax

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 8 August 2011]

This Chinese prison drama is a film that just gets better as it goes along. It starts off on the usual ground, with a green inmate unfairly sent to jail, and before long all the prison movie clichés are coming out: the ruthlessly corrupt guards, the rival prison factions and the tough gang bosses and inevitable riots. So far, so typical. But then the film pulls an ace from its sleeve with the presence of Chow Yun-Fat, pretty much playing the opposite of his John Woo tough cop character as a friendly, humorous fellow prisoner who befriends the lead and helps him find his way around.

Chow Yun-Fat is excellent in this film. I don't want to spoil the plot too much, but his character undergoes a gradual transformation as he becomes involved in the violent politics of prison life, and come the climax he's giving an unforgettable, show-stopping turn as an ordinary guy pushed to the limit…and beyond. Bestial, inhuman and altogether frightening, this is Chow Yun-Fat like you've never seen him before.

The Chinese star isn't the only good thing about PRISON ON FIRE. Ringo Lam, an underrated director, more than holds his own against John Woo. This film is the definition of the word "slowburning", gradually building up to one of the most unforgettably violent endings of the era. The fact that it takes a long time to get to that stage just makes it all the more effective. What's interesting is that the chief villain in this – officer Scarface, played by Roy Cheung – is far more of a subtle presence than usual for this genre. Instead of making the lives of his prisoners a misery with punishment and violence, he actually seems like an all right type of guy before you realise his talent for backstabbing and betraying, turning one against the other.

The other cast members are particularly good here; Tony Leung (DUMPLINGS) convinces as the mild-mannered convict not cut out for prison life, and Sammo Hung lookalike Ka-Kui Ho is fine as the gang leader you don't want to fall foul of (kudos to the filmmakers for making him an ordinary guy, slightly overweight and wearing glasses, instead of the usual bodybuilder type). Kwong Leung Wong also shines as gang leader Billy, a man who initially appears to be yet another villain but soon becomes a key ally. PRISON ON FIRE is a delightful movie that more than holds its own against later prison flick ISLAND ON FIRE.

Sombre Piece

[eibon09 · 7 March 2001]

Gaam Yuk Fung Wan/Prison on Fire(1987) is the second film in the On Fire Trilogy(excluding Prison on Fire 2). The first film, City on Fire(1987) dealt with a man who's trapped between duty with the police and loyality with the triad gang he's working undercover with. Prison on Fire(1987) is about a man sent to prison for manslaughter who slowly learns how to survive in prison with the help of a fellow inmate. A harrowing look into the prison system of Hong Kong. Makes Midnight Express(1977) look like a pleasent experience. Like City on Fire, this film shows a world of brutality where only the strongest and toughest survive. Chow Yun Fat is brilliant as the prisoner, Ching who takes the new guy under his wing.

The role of the new guy was originally offered to Danny Lee who turned the role down. Tony Leung Ka Fai was given the role of Lo Ka Yiu and did a wonderful job. The actor gives a sense of naive honesty in his performance. Lo Ka Yiu gets in trouble when he accuses one of the prisoners of stealing sissors. This put him under the wrath of the prisoner in glasses who sets him up as a rat. Roy Cheung is sadistic and dislikable as Officer "Scarface" Hung. His best roles are when he plays dislikable and dispictable characters like the arrogant Police officer in City on Fire(1987) or the Triad punk in School on Fire(1988).

Ringo Lam deals with many issues involving the prison system in Hong Kong. excellently scripted from the writer of Xia Dao Gao Fei/Full Contact(1987). Emotional involving film with an realistic fight scene during the climax. One thing I would like to know is the name of the song that's playing on the radio during the New Year Celebration. Officer "Scarface" Hung gets what was coming to him when Ching becomes deranged. One of the best acting by Chow Yun Fat comes in the climax when he goes insane. He plays this scene with an emotional wildness that hasn't been seen from him since.

It escalates... it builds...

[ultimatenexus · 7/10 · 15 August 2018]

...and soon enough, like any situation where the pressure does nothing but build, it'll explode.

Chow Yun-Fat plays Chung Tin Ching, a prisoner on a manslaughter charge, who befriends a harmless, naive twig of a man named Yiu, also on a manslaughter term. At first, he's a nuisance, but as he sees just how useless Yiu is in his situation, he can't help but step in when Yiu's blunders aggravates the wrong people. Friendship blossoms, and then the two of them must fend for themselves and each other against the cruel warden, Officer Hung, and Hung's obnoxious rat. The situation intensifies... it escalates... and when it finally explodes, it is intense, emotional, and effective.

I've seen six of Ringo Lam's films now, the other four being Prison on Fire II (right after I saw this one), City on Fire, Full Contact, and two of his Van Damme vehicles, and Prison on Fire is definitely the second-best film I've seen from him so far. It's nothing original, and the villains are a little cartoonish at times, but for the most part, it's a great movie, and definitely among the best of Chow and Lam.

Prison on Fire

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 13 March 2017]

Yiu has been sentenced to three years in a Hong Kong prison for manslaughter. Here is taken under the wing of Ching, a man jailed for murdering his wife in a jealous rage. Early on Yiu gets on the wrong side of Mickey, one of the 'bosses' amongst the inmates. With the help of sadistic prison officer, Hung, AKA Scarface, Mickey makes other inmates believe Yiu is an informant, which puts him in danger. Over the course of the film they endure occasional, brutal violence, frequent sense of threat and the inevitable boredom. Yiu must also deal with the fact that his girlfriend is studying in England.

This is not a plot heavy film; it is more a slice of Hong Kong prison life shown through the experiences of Yiu; Tony Leung Ka-fai does a fine job making us believe in this ordinary man caught in a frightening situation. Chow Yun-fat stands out as he does a great job as Ching; a likable character who for the most part tries to avoid the inevitable conflicts. The rest of the cast are pretty good to; notably Roy Cheung who is genuinely menacing as the sadistic 'Scarface'. There isn't a huge amount of violence but what there is, is fairly brutal. The fights aren't stylish martial arts extravaganzas but are scrappy with a sense that the characters are really hurting. There is also a sense of threat; I was unsure if both of our protagonists might not survive to the end. It isn't entirely grim though; there are quite a few humorous moments spread through the film. Over all I'd recommend this to fans of prison dramas; just don't expect the full on action so many Hong Kong films contain.

Good, but could potentially have been somewhat better...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 12 June 2020]

Oddly enough I haven't seen "Prison On Fire" (aka "Gam yuk fung wan") from 1987 before now in 2020. I happened to get the chance to sit down and watch parts I and II, and being a big fan of the Hong Kong cinema, of course I did so.

And the fact that it had Chow Yun Fat and Tony Ka Fai Leung on the cast list, of course helped sweeten the deal.

While writer Yin Nam and director Ringo Lam definitely were on to something unique with "Prison On Fire", it just felt that the movie was lacking that particular something to make it truly outstanding. Perhaps it was the fact that the storyline felt a bit too scripted and predictable, or because oddly enough not a single police officer in the prison facility had a firearm.

"Prison On Fire" is a good prison movie, but it just feels like director Ringo Lam was cushioning the movie a bit, not making it fully as rough and gritty as it deserved to be.

Aside from Chow Yun Fat and Tony Ka Fai Leung, the movie does have a good cast ensemble of actors to help bring the movie to life on the screen.

This is definitely an enjoyable movie and one that is well-worth the time to sit down and watch. My rating of "Prison On Fire" is a six out of ten stars. I was genuinely entertained by what transpired on the screen.

The Question Poses Itself

[gtretan · 10/10 · 17 April 2020]

This movie was riveting and frightening. However it makes one wonder, is still a norm in Hong Kong's prisons and in developing countries' prisons, ie., are prison wardens and superintendents normally this cruel, depraved, and sadistic? There have been many reports on abuse in Stanley Prison, HK. In fact, reports show that ex-convicts who file reports against these prisons rarely get heard, that around two out of over 100 complaints ever went to court. This must mean that the degree of accuracy of this film holds staggeringly true even up to the present day. Are democracies truly effective then or are they limited? That is exactly the point.

The plot is concise, the rhythm is clear, tell the story well. It's much better than many movies nowadays.

[yoggwork · 7/10 · 18 February 2019]

The plot is concise, the rhythm is clear, tell the story well. It's much better than many movies nowadays.

Great look into the life

[blackmamba99971 · 10/10 · 4 March 2014]

Usually when I watch films like this it often says boring. Not this film. Although not a lot of action happens through out there is a more human aspect to their system. Hardened criminals who stay in a particular prison become unwitting participants as tier bosses rank number one. Chow Yun Fat plays a magnificent inmate who's life is turned upside down after killing his wife in a fit of jealous rage. His bunk mate 51910 (Lo Ka Yiu) is a man who is put inside because of a manslaughter charge.

Now as they try to do their time the bosses always has a way to make their lives even more disparaged by using them as scape goats for their own crimes inside the prison with the help of a superintendent who is as bad as the bosses. For the most part seeing the prisoners try to cope with sanity is at best the most difficult. I enjoyed how each and every one of the characters lose control in one way or another as they try to clear their names. Despair sets in, loneliness, rigour in the minds, and self pity.

Even though the criminal system in china is probably the most strict, it does show that not all guards or higher ups are that uptight. But in this film seeing those men lose their sanity is the worst nightmare they have to face. Trying to keep above water, keep themselves occupied with work or play, or even with family visits. Much like the prison systems across the globe.

Except as I watched the film you could feel chow's anger as he rips off the ear of the guard nearly going insane like the last time when he killed his wife. Excellent performances through out. Lots of passion, and very gritty. I recommend this to anyone who watches the prison genre.

Ringo Lam does tough prison movie

[Matti-Man · 6/10 · 22 February 2006]

Though this isn't Ringo Lam's best film by a long way, PRISON ON FIRE still has enough on offer to keep you in your seat for 90 minutes. True, the story is familiar - middle- class lad goes to jail and is at the mercy of the tough inmates - but it's the convincing performances of the two lead actors, Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung, that carries the film and ultimately sells the average plot to the audience.

One slight niggle - it wasn't made completely clear what happened to brutal prison guard Officer Hung after being attacked by Ching (Chow Yun-Fat) in the climactic scene. Does he die? Does he remain in the prison service? And how about Ching? We see him returning to the prison at the end of the movie. But there's no indication of his fate.

But these are minor carps. If you enjoy the movies of John Woo, then it's well worth seeking out the films of Ringo Lam and though PRISON ON FIRE is enjoyable enough, you might also want to track down FULL CONTACT.

Hong Kong, classic

[g-89622 · 9/10 · 12 January 2022]

Revisiting this film years later, still classic. Every actor's performance is very serious and very touching. The director put the theme of the whole film in place. The darkness of the prison, the hierarchy, the cannibalism, the gangs, the loyalty, the tolerance. In this film, we can see a lot of human things, and at the same time reflect a lot of social conditions at that time, people's thoughts. The chic of the brother is still the highlight of the whole film. The scene of dancing in the music students, the scene of mowing the grass in the pasture, and the farewell blessings of the prisoners when Lu Jiayao was released from prison were all moving.

Fairly entertaining, needed stronger story

[Groverdox · 7/10 · 3 March 2019]

"Prison on Fire" is one of the trilogy of violent films made by Hong Kong filmmaker Ringo Lam, the others being "School on Fire" and "City on Fire". As with "City", "Prison" also stars Chow Yun-Fat.

Chow plays a character similar to the one he played in "City", kind of a charismatic goofball. His wisecracking presence is counteracted by another actor who plays a serious inmate, a guy I don't recognize who is very handsome and wears glasses.

The movie is about the two men adjusting to prison life.

The two men bond when Glasses discovers Chow's sensitive side.

The movie is fairly violent, though ironically, not more than "School on Fire". Most of the violence looks like slapstick. The violent individuals act like they're on speed, shaking and spasming around, and their punches and kicks are clearly not very hard. It reminds me of when I was in drama class at high school, and all anyone wanted to do was pretend to beat each other up.

The movie has two separate scenes where someone is hit over the head with a billy club, and instead of collapsing backwards from the force of the blow, they stay stock still, and blood runs down their face.

"Prison on Fire" is pretty good, but would have benefited from a stronger narrative. I assume one of the guards was crooked (aren't they always?) and there seemed to be something going on with Chow's character sacrificing himself for the bespectacled guy, but I didn't really understand it.

Boring

[willians_franco · 5/10 · 23 July 2020]

The typical drama about a prison system in which almost everything is a complete mess. Rebel prisoners, incompetent guards, and various inconsistencies in the script mark this film. The beginning is interesting, but then it becomes boring. Honestly, I don't recommend it.

Still a classic

[solo-11 · 13 March 2001]

I first watched this movie when I was rather young. After 13 years, I've just re-watched it. Still a brilliant piece of work. Often, I'd be bored watching old films which I had thought the world of. But this movie still amazes and excites me after so many years.

I am sure the more violent scenes were cut from the version I watched, because I vaguely remember moments that were a lot more shocking. But I would't classify it as a "violent" movie, because there was a lot of meaning to it. If I as an elementary school child could take it, it shouldn't be any more gruesome than The Ring 2.

Simply watching Chow Yun Fatt was a treat in itself. His acting was intriguing and absolutely intense. Never did a moment pass that he wasn't giving in his best. The smiles and the stares, the jokes and the scorn, the singing and the scolding... and who would forget his orange with 3 cigarettes? No kid from a chinese-speaking family doesn't remember this classic arrangement.

Tony Leung, another great actor, could be seen shining in his own right. Although much of the glamour belonged to Chow Yun Fatt, Tony Leung's performance in the suicide scene, and the sheer ignorance in his eyes as he incurred the wrath of just about everyone, were truly commendable. He was the "stupid little lamb" in the film.

Watch this film, and you'd find "Anna and the King" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" terrible jokes. I still can't believe Chow Yun Fatt starred in these 2 films. From an Asian's point of view, his recent Hollywood films were disappointing. His roles in these new films were a far cry from his memorable performances in "The Story of Ah Lang", "A Better Tomorrow" and this film. Special effects can't be everything in a movie. Realism is more important.

And don't walk away without learning how to sing the prisoners' favourite song! *Yian sum yu sei shueang yao do siu...*

Life in a Hong Kong prison

[The-Sarkologist · 7/10 · 25 October 2013]

There are lots of prison movies around, Tango and Cash, Lockup, and Shawshank Redemption. Prison on Fire probably comes much closer to Lockup than the others as in these two movies the people in prison are guilty for their crimes. Prison on Fire was released before Lockup and has a look at the three year sentence of a man in a Hong Kong gaol.

The man which the film centres around is not a hardened criminal, he just was protecting his father when a group of thugs tried to steal food from his store. The thugs beat up his father and he ran then down and kicked one in front of a bus. The charge was involuntary manslaughter.

Prison on Fire looks at the politics that goes on in a Hong Kong gaol and is much more colourful than an American film. The gangs that operate on the street operate in the gaol as well and if you are not part of a gang then you are likely to be used as a scapegoat. As is expected for a gaol, there is a lot of violence and fighting between the gangs, and the man, who is not involved, gets caught up in the power struggle as a scapegoat. He is not a fighter and thus is lucky that Ching (Chow-Yun-Fat) who is also neutral, helps him out.

The movie focuses on this man and the struggles that he faces in gaol. His relationship with his girlfriend is examined as she struggles to wait for him to be released. He also faces potentially loosing her as she moves to England to study and it seems like she is going to run off with her tutor. There is also the struggle with the prison guards as they use him to extract information from the gang bosses.

There is a bad guy in this movie and that is a Triad boss named Marcus. Marcus is at war with another gang and this gang uses the man to get Marcus into trouble. Ching and the Man attempt to reconcile themselves with Marcus, and even though they have proved that Marcus is not strong, he does not want to listen. The action heats up in the cells when the guards leave for the night for that is when the gangs begin to rumble. It seems that certain people are placed in certain cells for the guards' pleasure, but this comes out much more in Prison on Fire II. Prison on Fire is set entirely in the prison and is quite an enjoyable movie.

Overrated Prison Melodrama

[cheekyfilm · 5/10 · 24 July 2021]

I don't get the high ratings on here. Sure, it's not terrible, but it's no better than average, either.

A pretty typical story about a prisoner taking another under his wing is mostly an excuse to show off the brutality of the prison system. A very grim movie, even considering the genre, featuring tasteless gore (someone is grousomely turned into hamburger by a runaway semi-truck within the first ten minutes) along with every humiliating experience prison can offer. Chow-Yun Fat is hamming it up, everyone else is forgettable and/or bad. It feels longer than it is, and is only saved by a solid ending featuring some bizarre action.

What we have here is a failure to communicate.. sorry I was just thinking of better prison films like Cool Hand Luke, Riki-Oh, Romper Stomper, Bronson... the list goes on.

Intense and violent

[donleavy · 30 July 1999]

Tony Leung stars as Yiu, who has been jailed for manslaughter. Chow Yun Fat stars as Ching, another prisoner also jailed for manslaughter. Ching is a good-natured prisoner who tries to make the best of his situation, and helps naive Yiu out.

It's a familiar story of the savagery of prison life, as Yiu & Ching must deal with intra-prison triads and a sadistic warden.

The pressure of these elements pushes them to the edge, and by the end of the movie, Ching & Yiu completely lose it. This is a very violent and uncomfortable movie to watch. The storyline doesn't make any profound social observations. But Chow Yun Fat's acting is very intense: he really turns into a bug-eyed wild animal. And Tony Leung is good as a man who would easily fall apart in such an environment if not for Ching's support.

The movie also has other Ringo Lam regulars like Tommy Wong & Roy Cheung (playing Billy & Officer Hung, respectively.)