The first film, PRISON ON FIRE, revolves around Lo Ka-Yiu (Tony Leung Ka-Fai), an advertising manager serving a two-year sentence on an accidental manslaughter charge. He finds himself at odds with gangster Micky (William Ho), who gets every opportunity to make Lo’s life a living hell. Eventually, Lo befriends Chung Tin-Ching (Chow Yun-Fat), serving time for killing his unfaithful wife. Ching is friends with some of the more righteous gangsters in the prison, including Bill (Tommy Wong), Chiu Chow (Victor Hon), and Snake (Frankie Ng).
When a fight in the laundry room causes Lo to finally snap, he accidentally cuts Ching in the middle of his madness and even nearly kills himself. Soon, it is revealed that prison guard Scarface (Roy Cheung) is in cahoots with Micky although it is never proven. For a year, things become peaceful when Micky is transferred. When the gangster returns, he begins to start up again. That is, until prices for the prisoners’ goods are raised and they cannot afford it. They decide to protest by fasting, but when Micky sides with Scarface, the fire within Ching and the others begins to rage and internal prison war is imminent.
The title PRISON ON FIRE is more of a subtext rather than a literal title. The “fire” of the title emerges describes the madness that eats the likes of newcomer Lo and veteran Ching as they find themselves involved with the corrupt prison system. For Lo, played by the great Tony Leung Ka-Fai, he goes as far as snapping and going after all in his way with a huge shard of glass in the middle of the film. Although he stands out as more of an outcast, his actions eventually earn the respect of the more righteous gangsters.
As for Ching, played by the always great to watch Chow Yun-Fat, he starts out as mild-mannered but due to the actions of the insane guard Scarface, played in an excellent and fearing performance by Roy Cheung, Ching eventually gets himself in the deep end, going as far as going Mike Tyson-like in the climatic fight scene.
What may freak some people out is that a scene that can be described as “homoerotic”, but shows the rise of happiness and respect between the prisoners. On the New Year, the prisoners dance as music is played, with Ching dancing with Lo in a slow motion sequence. While this may bring a sense of homoeroticism, it truly describes that despite the predicaments each prison is in, he knows that there will be no chaos and that he can live a peaceful existence even if for one day.
Four years after the release of this film, Lam, screenwriter Nam Yin, and Chow Yun-Fat returned for PRISON ON FIRE II. This time, the film revolves around just Ching, who is still serving time and is now in a bigger predicament than ever before. When a group of Mainlander prisoners arrive at the prison, war nearly begins between the two factions of China and Hong Kong. When Ching helps out a Mainland prisoner, he earns the respect of Mainland crime boss Dragon (Chen Sung-Yung), who is serving a five-year sentence.
However, Skull (Woo Yiu-Chung), Dragon’s right hand man, begins to ally himself with new prison guard Zau (Elvis Tsui). Zau is more ruthless and will not tolerate anyone. He especially has hatred towards Ching after the veteran refuses to give any information and is denied temporary release to attend his mother’s funeral. Furthermore, because he is in jail, Ching must have his son Siu-Leung stay in an orphanage.
When Zau sends Skull to give Ching a beating, Snake (Frankie Ng) finds out and comes to his rescue. However, Skull kills Snake in the midst of all things and with Zau’s help, frames Dragon for the crime. Skull tells the fellow prisoners that Ching betrayed Dragon, making Ching a target for all the Mainlanders. Meanwhile, Dragon escapes from the prison. Learning of Zau’s actions and Skull’s betrayal, Ching makes a decision to escape in an effort to get Siu-Leung back and clear his name at the same time.
When Ching finally catches up to Dragon, the two set out to make sure they are not caught. When Ching tells Dragon what has happened, Dragon finds a way to make things right. When the duo head to the orphanage, Ching is caught and sent back to the prison. The film then becomes a literal title when Ching tells Mainland prisoners that he met Dragon and that he wants them to set the prison cells on fire to start a riot so that he can expose both Skull and Zau as their real villains.
Chow once again gives a rousing performance again as Ching, who attempts to escape on two occasions to see his son. Chow brings a healthy dose of angst and comic relief. The angst comes in the form of his being framed for betraying Mainland gangster Dragon as well as corrupt prison guard Zau, played with tenacity by Elvis Tsui. Comparing the two prison guards, Zau is truly an upgrade from Scarface as Zau is seen as more ruthless and goes as far as giving beatings when he feels like it no matter who sees it.
Like its predecessor, there is a scene that screams “homoerotic” but once again, describes the temporary peaceful existence and respect between prisoners. During their escape, Ching and Dragon go to a lake where they are goofing off and even go underwater to look up at the sun. Yes, it may make someone cringe, but others can read the scene as more than something that shows that sense of homoeroticism.
The action is well done here like its predecessor, with people getting stabbed and beatings galore. Surprisingly, Chow takes quite a few falls himself, flipping off a barbed wire fence and even flipping off beds and benches after getting him. However, one will really root for Chow again in the end, when he finally goes off the deep end once again and gets his revenge on Skull and Zau.
Fans of Chow Yun-Fat will most likely get a kick out of the PRISON ON FIRE films. While he plays it straight for the most part, fans will love when he finally gets that “raging fire” in him and goes medieval on those who make him go crazy by the films’ ends. Despite the homoerotic sequences, Ringo Lam truly shows with these two films why he is one of Hong Kong’s biggest directors.
AlbertV's Ratings:
PRISON ON FIRE - A+
PRISON ON FIRE II - A
Run time: 103 minutes (Part 1); 108 minutes (Part 2)
Rated II-B for language, excessive violence, and brief nudity
Distributed by Universe Laser and Video (HK) Ltd.
PRISON ON FIRE
Produced and Directed by Ringo Lam. Written by Nam Yin. Cinematography by Cinema City Cinematographers Unit, Lau Hung-Chuen, Joe Chan, Nico Wong, Jingle Ma, and Cho Wai-Kei. Edited by Cinema City Production Co. Ltd. Editing Unit. Action directed by Joe Chu and Lau Kar-Wing. Starring Chow Yun-Fat, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Roy Cheung, Tommy Wong, Victor Hon, Frankie Ng, William Ho, Joe Chu, Shing Fui-On, Terrence Fok, Nam Yin.
PRISON ON FIRE II
Directed by Ringo Lam. Produced by Wellington Fung. Written by Nam Yin. Cinematography by Andy Fan and Chan Hon-Wing. Edited by Tony Chow. Action directed by Lam Moon-Wah. Starring Chow Yun-Fat, Chen Sung-Yung, Elvis Tsui, Yu Li, Woo Yiu-Chung, Tommy Wong, Victor Hon, Frankie Ng, Vincent Wan, Terrence Fok.
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