DVD Synopsis: A Vietnamese gang of gangsters fulfills an order for a wealthy industrialist in Hong Kong. They kidnapped another businessman. But when the gang doesn't get paid, the venture ends in a bloodbath and a series of retaliatory attacks. The police are able to eliminate a large part of the gang, but since cop Steve shoots the boss of the Vietnamese criminals, his brother Hawk swears merciless revenge. Steve's brother Roy, police officer for a US special unit, doesn't sit idly by and tries to end the revenge campaign together with the FBI, which is also after the gang. (85 Mins)

 

Views: When I started collecting Hong Kong movies in the early 1990s, Fury In Red always seemed like a title that was destined never to be found. Mind you, trying to locate these movies in Northern Ireland before the widespread use of the internet proved to be very problematic and provided many adventures when travelling to video stores across the country in search of something new. That said, I'm a very patient man and it only took a good 30 years for me to finally find this particular film, now named Eastern Heroes, on DVD courtesy of a German distribution company. The artwork provided was what really grabbed my attention at first, although I was disappointed to find that this release only gave me the option of the German soundtrack – no English subtitles, unfortunately. The film opens in L.A. where it introduces the characters of Vietnamese criminal Night Monster (who has just been released from prison) and police detective Ray before heading to Hong Kong for an action-packed introduction to Sergeant Mak; brother-in-law to Detective Ray. At the same time, in Hong Kong, Night Monster's gang of Vietnamese brothers are causing trouble with a kidnapping case (handled by Mak) that leads to a number of their members being killed during the rescue mission. But after word gets back to their boss in the States, both cops find out that trouble is on the cards as the Night Monster sets out for revenge in the most brutal of ways; slaughtering Ray's partner and raping Mak's wife, which sends both cops on their own trail of vengeance!

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It's fair to say that Eastern Heroes/Fury In Red doesn't get the attention it deserves. I'm not saying that it's one of the finest movies to come out of Hong Kong by any means (hailing a typical plot we've seen time-and-time again) but negative reviews in the past have definitely made fans steer clear of this enjoyable action-thriller. Some state that the director of the piece is a certain Chong Lei – a man whose only other credit is the 1999 triad-drama Outburst starring Michael Chan Wai Man – while the DVD and IMDB claim it to be directors Lai Wen Hsing and John Ni; with this film being the only credit for the latter. Lai, however, is a cinematographer-turned-director who started work in the industry during the mid-70s capturing kung-fu films such as Superdragon Vs. Superman, Invincible Devil, The True Game Of Death, Wolf Boxer, and others including The Guy With Secret Kung Fu. He made his directional debut in 1985 with Thunder Cat Woman, a fun female-led martial arts thriller that was later edited into Joseph Lai and Godfrey Ho's Golden Ninja Warrior for IFD Films who would do the same thing with his next film, Fierce Lady, which was then edited into Ninja Knight Thunder Fox. Lai would continue his female led action-thrillers with Stormy City Girl in 1990, making Fury In Red his first action film with male leads. This was probably encouraged more-so by Philip Ko Fei who helped produce the movie – although I'm quite surprised that he didn't take a role as he could have easily adapted to either of the characters on offer. Interestingly enough, this particular version I own credits Ko Fei as the director (which is still possible) and its star; although fails to mention the real lead of the movie. The multi-talented filmmaker had previously just came off Cyprus Tigers with Conan Lee and Robin Shou (of which he had also starred in, produced and directed) and was working similar roles on the fun Phantom War alongside Alex Man and a young Ben Ng around the same period as this...

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Of course, the very same Ben Ng stars as Sergeant Mak here in Eastern Heroes, and while Conan Lee and Robin Shou are often promoted as the leads to help sell the movie to fans like myself, it's pretty clear that Ng is the main star of the show. Although he had a brief appearance in David Lai's Midnight Girls in 1986, Ben's first starring role was as another young detective in Norman Law's highly enjoyable action-thriller, Family Honour. The aforementioned Phantom War and this production would follow less than a year later, with also Ng returning to work under Norman Law once again in Scheming Wonders alongside his co-star, Conan Lee. While he wasn't a huge star in the early 90s, Ng does a great job here as Mak – both in the action and drama department – and is still going strong today with almost 100 titles to his name including Daughter Of Darkness 2, Red To Kill, The Adventurers, Sex & Zen 2, To Be Number One, and many more. The unfortunate Conan Lee (whose real name is Lloyd Hutchinson) does another fine job as the US cop who comes back to Hong Kong. Interestingly enough, Lee was born in Hong Kong although moved to the States as a child and grew up in Queens, New York. As any true Asian movie fan will know, Conan Lee made an incredible debut when he starred alongside the great Hiroyuki Sanada in Corey Yuen Kwai's amazing, Ninja In The Dragons Den – practically becoming the next Jackie Chan almost instantly. But, accordingly to legend, the new star was sent back West and followed up his groundbreaking role with memorable appearances in American films Gymkata, Eliminators, and Armed Response, as well as a blink-and-you'll miss him role in the legendary Big Trouble In Little China. In the late 80s, Lee would return to Hong Kong for another shot at the Asian market and landed a great role in Lau Kar Leung's fantastic Tiger On The Beat alongside Chow Yun Fat. A number of titles would follow including Aces Go Places 5, Tiger On The Beat 2 (which left him hospitalised for some time), Killer's Romance, Prince Of The Sun,the aforementioned Cyprus Tigers and Scheming Wonders, King Of The Sea, Dragon Killer, Fury In Red and – apparently – he even had a cameo in Jackie Chan's First Strike. Although the reasons are unclear as to why his star never did shine for too long, causing his departure from Hong Kong cinema (based on a mix of rumours that his attitude was unruly and cocky, or that he returned to the States to look after his sick mother), it's a damn shame that things didn't really work out for the better as I always enjoy seeing him in action. Of course, here in Eastern Heroes, he entertains once again and looks great during the fight scenes – even though he is only a supporting character. Actor Newton Lai Hon Chi, recognisable from films such as Heroic Defenders, City Kids 1989, Queen's High, Casino Tycoon 2, and Future Cops, stars as Ben Ng's commanding officer, and I was happy to see the wonderful Mark Houghton star as a good guy for once – even if he was a bit of a dick to his colleagues at times. I've long been a fan of this amazing Brit-kicker and always enjoy seeing him on-screen. A student of the late and legendary Lau Kar Leung, Mark has appeared in many great Hong Kong titles over the years including Angel Enforcers, Killer Angels, City Cops, Princess Madam, Tiger On The Beat 2, Outlaw Brothers, Skinny Tiger Fatty Dragon, Final Run, Angel Terminators, Shaolin Popeye, and Drunken Master 2 among many, many more. In 2018, Mark produced his bio-doc, I am the White Tiger, which was an interesting insight to his life in the Hong Kong film industry (which I recommend you check out) and the problems that came with it. As the FBI agent on Ray and Mak's case, Mark does a great job and delivers some nice moves a number of times throughout – including one of the most memorable kills of the movie that sees him make use of a bamboo pole in the most brutal of ways.

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In the bad corner is an equally enjoyable cast led by the wonderful Robin Shou – another underrated star who made the move to the States as a child, much like his co-star Conan Lee. Shou made his Hong Kong film debut in the 1987 action-comedy, The Big Brother, alongside Alex Man, Simon Yam, and Michael Miu, before making a more memorable appearance in Andrew Kam and Johnnie To's amazing thriller, The Big Heat. Supporting roles in City War and In The Line Of Duty 3: Force Of The Dragon would quickly follow the same year, before the star would win his first leading role in Robert Tai's fun Death Cage – also known as Bloodfight 2. Over the next few years, Robin would continue his career of bad guy roles in films such as Burning Ambition, Tiger Cage 2, In The Line Of Duty 6: Forbidden Arsenal, Hard To Kill and more, although still had the chance to fight on the side of good in a number of films including the two Godfrey Ho directed, Cynthia Rothrock movies Undefeatable and Honour & Glory; or Bloody Mary Killer and Angel The Kickboxer depending on which version you are watching. Of course, none would be more memorable than that of his role as Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat – his big Hollywood debut that saw him go on to star in other tinsel town films such as it's sequel, Beverley Hills Ninja, DOA: Dead Or Alive, Death Race 1-3, and more. Here though, in Eastern Heroes, Shou steals the show for me as the insane Night Monster as he delivers a crazed performance and some kick-ass moments of action. Robin is supported by another Hong Kong-born American actor, George Cheung, one of the most popular Asian actors in Hollywood who has over 200 credits to his name with appearances in films such as Rambo: First Blood Part 2, Big Trouble In Little China, Robocop 2, Under Siege, Lethal Weapon 4, Rush Hour, and a host of U.S. Television shows as well as Hong Kong productions including The Amsterdam Kill and Ringo Lam's The Adventurers. Much like the other stars of Eastern Heroes, Cheung has shared the screen a number of times over the years with each of them, and although his role as a criminal boss here isn't massive in any sense, it was still great to see him appear. The brilliant Lee Chun Wa stars as one of the Night Monster's Vietnamese brothers, and makes for a fun character here as Buffalo. Lee started life in the Hong Kong film industry with a small role in 1975s Death Of Bruce Lee before going onto appear in many kung-fu classics including Drunken Master, Two Wondrous Tigers, Tigress Of Shaolin, Killer Constable, Game Of Death 2: Tower Of Death, Dreadnaught, and others including We're Going To Eat You, Dragon Family, Angel Enforcers, Princess Madam, Fatal Termination, and many more. And then, of course, there is the handsome Vincent Lyn – who doesn't really have a huge role here, although it still proves to be a prominent one. While this would be Lyn's final year working in the Hong Kong film industry; shooting Armour Of God 2: Operation Condor, Retreat Of The Godfather, and Robotrix alongside it (which would probably explain his smaller role here), this popular Western bad guy had already impressed with his appearances in films such as Tiger Cage, Blonde Fury, King Of The Kickboxers, Outlaw Brothers, and more..

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While Eastern Heroes/Fury In Red could be easily passed as just another Hong Kong action movie that were a dime-a-dozen in this era, I still feel that it has enough going for it to warrant it a watch. Aside from the fun cast mentioned (among others), there's a decent amount of fight scenes, hard-hitting action, and painful stunt-work that should keep any true fan happy. From the opening chase sequence and fight scene that introduces Ben Ng's character and sees an action-packed cameo from Tu Kuei Hua and Jack Suen Kwok Ming, to the gritty and stunt-filled shoot-out on the building site about 30 minutes in that sees Vincent Lyn in action, this fast and brutal style was typical of this era of Hong Kong cinema and continues throughout courtesy of choreographers Hung San Nam and Tony Tam Chun To; two former Shaw Brothers actors who have plenty of experience between them. Starting out in the famed studio in 1980, Hung went onto appear in over 100 films including over 30 Shaw titles before starring in modern hits like Project A, Yes Madam, A Better Tomorrow, Legacy Of Rage, The Iceman Cometh, Angry Ranger, and many more. The late 80s saw him turn his hand to action-choreography on films such as Vampire Vs Sorcerer 1 & 2, City Warriors, Bloody Brotherhood, Stars & Roses, Escape From The Brothel and this, many of which were alongside his colleague. Although he started in the Shaw Brothers studio just a few years before Hung, Tony Tam racked up as many titles during his time there and also appeared in films such as Miracle Fighters, The Prodigal Son, Shaolin Drunkard, Champions, Tiger On The Beat, Dragon Family, Burning Ambition, Crystal Hunt, Queen's High, The Bare-Footed Kid, Forbidden City Cop, and so much more. Similarly, started directing action in the late 80s on many of the same titles as Hung as well as titles such as Holy Robe Of Shaolin Temple, The Black Sheep Affair, The White Dragon, Black Ransom, and Donnie Yen films including Dragon Tiger Gate, Legend Of The Fist, Wu Xia, The Lost Bladesman, and Monkey King. Together, Hung and Tam deliver a number of exciting moments in Eastern Heroes and make good use of their cast involved from hard-hitting fight action to bloody shoot-outs and crazy stunts – especially in the action-packed final 20 minutes that sees Houghton, Shou and Ng let loose. In a nutshell, Eastern Heroes may not have an original plot, sharp direction, or an A-list cast, but it's still a neatly made action-thriller that has enough to entertain and plenty of great action to recommend!

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Overall: While it may not be perfect, Eastern Heroes is far from terrible and offers enough gritty action, stunts, and fight scenes to keep old-school fans happy!

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DVD Extras: Trailer