cityonfire.com | Lifeline

	Lifeline "I have a hard time sitting there looking at shit burn and watching people run away from getting their asses BBQ'd..." - Mighty Peking Man Lifeline (1997) Literally: Hundred Thousand Fire Urgency AKA: Fireline Director: Johnny To Producer: Mona Fong Writer: Nai-Hoi Yau Cast: Lau Ching-wan, Ruby Wong Cheuk-ling, Alex Fong Chung-shun, Carman Lee Yeuk-ting, Damian Lau Running Time: 98 min. Plot: Hong Kong's version of Backdraft is centered around a jinxed, hardluck firefighting unit lead by hardened veteran Lau Ching Wan. At odds with his by-the-book commander and doctor girlfriend, Lau joins his dedicated team of firefighters to battle the blaze of their lives. Reviews MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S REVIEW: I've never seen "Backdraft" so I can tell you right now there is NOT going to be a comparison. There's a reason why I've never seen "Backdraft" - and that reason is: I find movies with, or about "fire" boring and repulsive. It's probably a personal problem more than anything. No matter how good the effects (if any) may seem, I have a hard time sitting there looking at shit burn and watching people run away from getting their asses BBQ'd- especially in slow motion. So why did I watch "Lifeline" if I dislike "fire" movies so much? Or better yet, why did I watch "Lifeline" and not "Backdraft"? That's easy to answer. Most Hollywood movies suck chunks. Hollywood "fire" movies suck even more chunks. Not only that, but how could I go wrong with Lau Ching-wan? I swear, one of my goals in life is to see every one of Lau's flicks before I leave this earth. The guy is simply one of the greatest actors I've ever seen. Even DeNiro couldn't save me from checking out "Backdraft". Lau Ching-wan is worth it - and I ain't no homo either. I actually enjoyed the human drama more than the action, it was all interesting: The mini-love story between Lau Ching-wan and the beautiful, yet suicidal, Carmen Lee. What about that condom-puncturing asshole hubby of Ruby Wong. And most of all, Alex Fong's confused little-daughter who wants to become independent because her divorced parents keep on bouncing her around like a ball. It actually broke my heart when that little girl spoke out with her unexplainable english accent. What was up with her accent anyways? Come to think of it, I think she was dubbed. With all that said, I guess you can excuse my low rating for this well-made Johnny To film packed with an all-star cast that did a great job in the acting department. Like I said, "fire" movies are not my cup of tea. I'd rather see a straight-up drama or love story instead. MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S RATING: 6/10

Lifeline

"I have a hard time sitting there looking at shit burn and watching people run away from getting their asses BBQ'd..."

- Mighty Peking Man

Lifeline (1997)

Literally: Hundred Thousand Fire Urgency

AKA: Fireline

Director: Johnny To

Producer: Mona Fong

Writer: Nai-Hoi Yau

Cast: Lau Ching-wan, Ruby Wong Cheuk-ling, Alex Fong Chung-shun, Carman Lee Yeuk-ting, Damian Lau

Running Time: 98 min.

Plot: Hong Kong's version of Backdraft is centered around a jinxed, hardluck firefighting unit lead by hardened veteran Lau Ching Wan. At odds with his by-the-book commander and doctor girlfriend, Lau joins his dedicated team of firefighters to battle the blaze of their lives.

Reviews

MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S REVIEW: I've never seen "Backdraft" so I can tell you right now there is NOT going to be a comparison. There's a reason why I've never seen "Backdraft" - and that reason is: I find movies with, or about "fire" boring and repulsive. It's probably a personal problem more than anything. No matter how good the effects (if any) may seem, I have a hard time sitting there looking at shit burn and watching people run away from getting their asses BBQ'd- especially in slow motion.

So why did I watch "Lifeline" if I dislike "fire" movies so much? Or better yet, why did I watch "Lifeline" and not "Backdraft"? That's easy to answer. Most Hollywood movies suck chunks. Hollywood "fire" movies suck even more chunks. Not only that, but how could I go wrong with Lau Ching-wan? I swear, one of my goals in life is to see every one of Lau's flicks before I leave this earth. The guy is simply one of the greatest actors I've ever seen. Even DeNiro couldn't save me from checking out "Backdraft". Lau Ching-wan is worth it - and I ain't no homo either.

I actually enjoyed the human drama more than the action, it was all interesting: The mini-love story between Lau Ching-wan and the beautiful, yet suicidal, Carmen Lee. What about that condom-puncturing asshole hubby of Ruby Wong. And most of all, Alex Fong's confused little-daughter who wants to become independent because her divorced parents keep on bouncing her around like a ball. It actually broke my heart when that little girl spoke out with her unexplainable english accent. What was up with her accent anyways? Come to think of it, I think she was dubbed.

With all that said, I guess you can excuse my low rating for this well-made Johnny To film packed with an all-star cast that did a great job in the acting department. Like I said, "fire" movies are not my cup of tea. I'd rather see a straight-up drama or love story instead.

MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S RATING: 6/10