Roaring Fire is an interesting little time capsule in Japanese and action cinema. The influences from Western and Chinese movies create a unique mix of comedy and action and something that is hard to describe.
At the time of its release, the already huge Sonny Chiba of The Street Fighter would be the reason you walked through the cinema doors, but this was actually the vehicle of an unrecognisably young Hiroyuki Sanada. He stars as Joji, the kidnapped twin of a high-ranking crime family. His brother was murdered by Triad gangsters and Joji, on the death of his adoptive father, is back to claim his throne.
What follows is a madcap mixture of genres and styles that results in an incredibly fun, incredibly bonkers action movie that should be way more well known than it is. Roaring Fire is an indelible mixture of camp, bawdy humour, absolute lunacy and brilliant action.
This was one of Sonny Chiba’s first films working on the action choreography, and he pulls out all the stops, bringing his muscular style seen in films like The Street Fighter. Director Norifumi Suzuki and Chiba do some interesting things that give Roaring Fire an almost proto-mid-80s Hong Kong action style. It meshes the more hardcore Japanese action style – less acrobatic, more “realistic” – with the under cranked and ridiculous stunts of a Shaw Brothers Hong Kong film. There is on-location filming in actual Hong Kong, giving the film an international vibe while also amplifying that Shaw Bros. feeling.
The action choreography is great, and it should be, as Hiroyuki Sanada and his on-screen sister, Etsuko Shihomi, are members of Sonny Chiba’s legendary Japan Action Club of stunt professionals and actors. The unrecognisably young Hiroyuki Sanada bounces off the screen with daring feats of athleticism that are miles away from his older, more measured and methodical, Shakespearean acting. Etsuko Shihomi (Chihiro Hinohara), a legitimate karate and kempo expert, puts some of those skills on full display in an awesome scene in the mansion of her evil, Hitler-obsessed uncle, Ikki Hinohara, who is immaculately portrayed by Mikio Narita. Sonny Chiba stars as the mysterious Mr Magic, a helper in Joji’s quest, and of course he eats up every scene, bringing his unique mix of charisma and machismo.
Roaring Fire is a roaring success and has been for over 40 years. It’s a crime that it’s not as well known as it should be, but this re-release should give people the opportunity to catch this hidden gem.
Not only that, it has great extras on the Blu-ray. For those who are fans of the squared circle, there is a great profile on the enigmatic godfather of hardcore wrestling, Abdullah the Butcher. There are also some featurettes on Roaring Fire and a profile of Sonny Chiba, as well as original trailers and featurettes. So it’s not just a great film but a solid package.
Blu Ray Special Features
– NEW Audio Commentary with film historian Brian Bankston
– NEW Fire-storm!, Japanese film critic Akihiko Ito on Sonny Chiba, the man, the actor, the legend
– NEW A Roaring Success, critic James Mudge (easternKicks.com) offers a retrospective on Roaring Fire
– NEW Wrestle with Fire, pro-wrestling critic and film writer Chris Lines on the life and times of Abdullah the Butcher
– NEW A Buffet of Comedy and Action, critic Clément Rauger discusses the secrets of Roaring Fire
– Theatrical trailer & TV Spot
Roaring Fire is available now on Blu-ray
