For those who are fans of Hong Kong’s bountiful martial arts action cinema, the name Benny Chan is one you likely think of fondly. The filmmaker had a career in Hong Kong cinema dating back to the 90s, with his name attached to many favourites in the action genre. From the Andy Lau Moment of Romance movies to the Jackie Chan adventures of Who Am I and New Police Story, Chan made a name for himself as one of the most dependable directors of this breed, giving his stars the space to strut their acrobatic stuff in elegant fashion. It is a career built on a solid foundation of coherent, no-fuss action sequences that simply let the well-choreographed ballet of flyings kicks and fast hands do the talking.
Chan sadly passed away last year at the age of 58 after a short battle with cancer. Raging Fire – the last film he was working on (which he did manage to complete before his passing) saw him work with another action icon in the form of Donnie Yen. It is a classic tale of the genre, one of ‘good cops and bad cops’ and the enduring fight to do what’s right. Those looking for an instant classic to act as a glory-filled capstone to Chan’s career may be slightly disappointed. But as a testament to his skills as a filmmaker, Raging Fire certainly brings the heat.
Read the full review over at THN, originally published November 12, 2021.
Andrew Gaudion 
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