City on Fire (1987)
Directed by Ringo Lam Ling-Tung
Ko Chow is an undercover cop who is under pressure from all sides. His boss, Inspector Lau, wants him to infiltrate a gang of ruthless jewel thieves; his girlfriend wants him to commit to marriage or she will leave Hong Kong with another lover; and he is being pursued by other cops who are unaware that he is a colleague. Chow would rather quit the force, feeling guilty about betraying gang members who have become his friends.
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What critics compared City on Fire to
Cinemaphiles will have a field day dissecting which movies Tarantino has lifted from, referenced, and paid homage to in Kill Bill Vol 2. Ever since film critics cried foul over his alleged cribbing of the Reservoir Dogs heist plot from Ringo Lams obscure Chinese actioner City on Fire, viewers have delighted in determining the inspirations for the directors subsequent films, scenes, and characters.
When “Reservoir Dogs,” his first feature film, came out in 1992 fans of Asian cinema called it a rip-off of Ringo Lam’s “City on Fire” (1987).
…which on one level leads to a great Reservoir Dogs/City on Fire standoff…
Yes, the film that many consider the most influential of the 1990s reached our televisions uncut and with its reputation intact, in spite of the revelation that it bears more than a passing resemblance to Hong Kong action director Ringo Lam's City on Fire.