Firestorm (2013 film)
Firestorm is a 2013 Hong Kong action film written and directed by Alan Yuen, produced by and starring Andy Lau. The film was converted to 3D during post-production, making it the first 3D Hong Kong police action film. Firestorm was chosen to be the opening film at Screen Singapore held on 4 December 2013 where Lau and co-star Gordon Lam walked the red carpet for the film's premiere. The film also opened the 56th Asia Pacific Film Festival on 13 December 2013 in Macau before it was theatrically released on 19 December 2013 in Hong Kong. In addition, Firestorm also had its North American premier at the 57th San Francisco International Film Festival on 3 May 2014.
Plot
Senior inspector Lui Ming-chit and ex-con To Shing-bong alive. Paco leads the gang in another armoured car heist armed with heavy weaponry, which turns out to be a trap set by the police to arrest them when several Special Duties Unit officers turn up inside the armoured car and shoot at them, killing one of the gang members. Enraged, Paco orders To to drive to the Central District where Lui rams their van down Pedder Street and a major firefight erupts between the police and the gang where many police officers and civilians were killed. To, having seen the video of Lui framing Cao, takes a mobile phone from a hostage and calls Lui to allow him to flee in a car, which Lui agrees and tells him not to surrender. After the intense shootout where four of the gang members dies, Paco, To and Dicky hide in a bus and Paco tosses a bag of explosives into a opening on the ground in construction. Dicky wants to surrender to save his own life but Paco refuses to let him to so and he shoots Paco dead and runs out to surrender but is killed by Lui. At this moment, the explosives blow up the gas pipes underground which causes the road to sink. As To flees the scene, Lui attempts to shoot him but ultimately decides not to, but To was run over by an incoming truck and dies, which was broadcast live and seen by Yin-bing.Afterwards, Lui faxes a letter to Yin-bing, stating To was an undercover officer and turns himself in for his illegal actions. After giving his testimony, Lui asks the officer whether the storm is over and shows a sign of gratefulness after given yes as an answer.
Cast
- Andy Lau as Lui Ming-chit, senior inspector of the Regional Crime Unit of Hong Kong Island who holds a strong sense of justice and utterly detests criminals. He is a judo expert and was the interschool champion when he was in secondary school, where he studied with To.
- Gordon Lam as To Shing-bong, a criminal who have been imprisoned multiple times for robbery and is the driver for Cao Nam, and later Paco's crew. He was classmates with Lui during secondary school and also skilled in judo like Lui.
- Yao Chen as Law Yin-bing, To's girlfriend from Mainland China who has mixed feelings for his boyfriend due to his criminal life.
- Hu Jun as Cao Nam, leader of a robbery gang who was a former soldier from China and Lui's arch nemesis. He was later arrested by Lui when the former frames him for the murder of Tong Keung and his daughter.
- Ray Lui as Paco, Cao's sworn brother who was recently released from prison and takes over Cao's gang after the latter's arrest.
- Philip Keung as Tong Keung, an ex-con who was To's cellmate in prison and has worked as Lui's informant for many years.
- Kenny Wong as Chiu Kin-kwok, sergeant of the Regional Crime Unit of Hong Kong Island and Lui's second in command.
- Oscar Leung as Kit, Yin-bing's asthmatic younger brother who is a small-time criminal and drug addict.
- Michael Tong as Jackal, Cao and Paco's underling.
- Vincent Sze as Szeto Yat-ming, probary inspector of the Regional Crime Unit of Hong Kong Island and Lui's subordinate.
- Terence Yin as Goofy, Cao and Paco's underling who is a firearm expert.
- Sammy Hung as Dicky, Cao and Paco's underling.
- Michael Wong as Chief Superintendent Choi, deputy commander of the Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters and Lui's superior officer.
- Wong Cho-lam as a correctional service superintendent.
- Alex Tsui as Chu Yin-ming, a police negotiator who persuades Paco to surrender.
- Eddie Cheung as a truck driver.
- Ben Wong as Special Duties Unit team leader.
- Bob Lam as Yin-bing's attorney.
- Mandy Wong as Yin-bing's colleague
- Lo Hoi-pang as Uncle Chi, a restaurant owner who Yin-bing pleads to give To a job.
- Grace Wong as a female victim.
- Bonnie Sin as a hostage killed by Cao.
- Lavinia Smith as Nipple, Cao's girlfriend who has a sexual relationship with Kit.
- Cheung Kwok-keung as Sergeant Chow, sergeant of the Criminal Intelligence Bureau.
- Hayama Go as Daffy, Cao's underling who was executed by the former for revealing himself during the opening heist.
- Brian Siswojo as Au-yeung Ping, Lui's subordinate.
- Phat Chan as Phat, Lui's subordinate.
- Jacqueline Chan as Tong Yuen-yiu, Tong Keung's ten-year-old autistic daughter who Lui regards as his goddaughter and took care of while Tong served in prison.
- Ricky Chan as Chow Lung, nicknamed Blind Dragon, Cao's underling who was taken down and arrested by Lui, who raiding his hideout, and kills himself after being instructed by Cao to swallow a piece of evidence.
Production
Reception
Critical
Firestorm received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Derek Elley of Film Business Asia gave a positive review praising the acting, especially by Andy Lau and Gordon Lam, strong characters and action sequences, referring it as "one of the best Hong Kong shoot-'em-ups in recent memory, with top playing and action. Asian and genre events, plus ancillary." Gabriel Chong of MovieXclusive also gave a positive review, praising the action choreography, twisty and compelling narrative and the tight engaging script and referring it as "the must-see Hong Kong action thriller of the year that's packed with exhilarating action, a compelling plot, and a commanding lead performance from Andy Lau." Time Out Hong Kong gave the film three stars out of five praising the action sequences, strong performances and visual effects that were never seen in Hong Kong cinema.On the other hand, James Marsh of Twitch Film gave the film a mixed review, praising it for having "a vibrant, kinetic aesthetic that attempts to keep its audience in a state of breathless anticipation throughout" and also criticising "the over-reliance on computer-generated effects and the almost total absence of plot or characterisation make Firestorm an incredibly loud, yet hollow experience." Clarence Tsui of The Hollywood Reporter also gave a mixed review praising Lam's performance and action choreography by Chin Ka-lok, but criticising how the film "could not read as anything more than just an action thriller."
Box office
Firestorm premiered in China on 12 December 2013 and grossed ¥165,308,501 during its first three days and opening at No.1 during its debut weekend. During its second week, the film grossed ¥100,045,163 and was the second highest-grossing film of the week. The film remained at top 10 for the rest of its theatrical run in China and eventually grossed ¥309,878,757.In Hong Kong, Firestorm premiered on 19 December and grossed HK$8,024,961 during its first three days and was also No. 1 during its opening weekend grossing a total HK$11,056,920 including its preview-screening gross. During its second weekend, the remained at No. 1 spot and grossed HK$11,186,358
The film grossed a total of HK$24,336,182 at the Hong Kong box office.
As of April 2014, Firestorm grossed a total of US$56,382,533 worldwide, combining its box office gross from Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.