These comments are based on watching the English language US version of the film.After his friend is assassinated policeman Andy Lau is surprised to discover that the killer's fingerprints match those of a convict who had apparently been executed recently... either something is wrong with the computer records or something is very wrong at the prison. As it doesn't appear to be the former he agrees to go undercover in the prison to uncover the truth. The prison is a brutal place and Andy has nobody to go to if he gets in trouble. In the prison we are introduced to other key characters; John 'Fatty' Liu, who keeps escaping to visit his son; Steve, who is marked for death because he accidentally killed a crime boss's brother and Lucas, the unofficial leader of the convicts.I don't know if it was just the version of the film I watched but it certainly seemed rather lacking. The most obvious weakness is that once in prison Andy barely bothers to investigate; he asked a few questions about the late assassin, got in trouble with Lucas, then he was just another prisoner who gets caught up in a few scrapes. Jackie Chan is sold as the lead actor but in reality he plays a secondary character; we do get to see some of his trademark action, which is rather fun, at least. Sammo Hung provides some of the film's more amusing moments as John. There is a reasonable amount of action; the regular fight scenes are pretty good but the shootouts are a bit unrealistic to say the least. The acting looked good enough but the dub is pretty poor; none of the voices really went well with their characters making them hard to believe in. Overall I'd only recommend watching this version of the film if you are desperate to see it and can't find a Chinese version with subtitles.

Personally, I liked this movie, when I was a kid. However, after rewatching it, as an adult. I can now say, this 1990 movie doesn't hold up! Its plot is all over the place. The film never chooses whether it wants to be a "comedy escapism movie", "life in a prison, gritty melodrama" film, a "smooth and cool hustle & con" movie, or a "over the top hit-man" film. You know that your movie is all directionless, when there is three different versions of this film!! That's pretty sad! First off, you got a 93-minute Hong Kong version, a 96-minute American version and then, 125-minute Taiwanese version which focuses more on character development and plot detail. The best one out of the three is the Taiwanese print. Yet, the version, I watch as a kid was the American version released by Columbia Tristar Home Video in 2000, under the title, 'Jackie Chan is The Prisoner'. Everything about this version was a big fat lie. Directed by Yen-Ping Chu as Lawrence Full, the films tells the story of an undercover cop, Wei Wang/ Andy Lau (Tony Leung Ka Fai) who goes into a deadly prison to infiltrate the establishment, because somebody in a prison is faking the deaths of convicts to later use them as expendable hit men for political targets. Without spoiling the movie, too much, though Jackie Chan is billed as the star of this film, he's actually part of a stellar ensemble cast, along some others including Sammo Hung & Andy Lau. The title is quite misleading, as Jackie Chan doesn't come into the film, until after the 15 minute mark and only stays for 30 minutes after that. It's pretty clear, that Chan is just appearing as a favor to the director, who was in dire financial trouble with some 'dodgy types' as his character clearly serves absolutely no purpose as his story as a pool hustler turn prisoner named Steve Tong really goes nowhere. Even his feud with Mob Boss, Lee/Iron Ball/Lau (Andy Lau), whom brother is accidentally killed by Steve is forgotten, during the middle part of the film. Nor does any of his story get resolve, even in the end. Does his girlfriend ever get the liver transplant?? Who Knows!? The movie never tells us. Also, what is with the out of place, 1986's 'Platoon', downer ending!? After all, I was rooting for comedy relief, Fatty Liu Hsi Chia / John Liu (Sammo Hung) to see his son, again. It's felt like if 1963's 'The Great Escape' kill off, Steven McQueen's character. It's a big mistake, even if the fat jokes don't mesh well with the rest of the film. I kinda like his character. Nevertheless, I also hate that the focus of the film keeps shifting from one character to another, sometimes even focusing too much on minor characters like prison leader, Lucas/ Ki (Yu Wang) or Chiu/ Charlie (Tsung-Hua Tuo) It took nearly half of the movie to establish, why each character was in prison. It really ate a lot of screen time. No wonder, why this movie has pacing issues. Added to the fact, that most of their sub-stories doesn't add much with the overall plot. It's pretty serve as filler. Another thing, why was this movie, even called 'Island of Fire' in Taiwan and Hong Kong and now U.S!?! Yes, I know, it was filmed in island nations of Taiwan & Philippines, but it has little to do, with nationality patriotism themes. Even, the film's theme song, 'The Last Gunshot' by Cui Jian has nothing to do with the plot. As it was written as a response to the 4 June 1989 Tiananmen massacre in Beijing, China. Honestly, if this movie was a political thriller, maybe that title and song would be logical, but here, it makes no sense. Even the brutal action and escape attempts scenes are a bit too unrealistic. Jackie Chan & Sammo Hung's silly scarce elaborate martial arts stunts don't mesh well, with the grittiness, this movie is trying to pull. Surprising, it's was very jarring to see Chan & Hung with guns, later in the film, fighting in an all-out-gun battle. I really don't see them, having to resort to armed weapons, before. It's also odd, that they take out a large amount of heavily armed soldiers with a few handguns, while the police and military oddly mostly miss them. This mindless scene was really unnecessary. Even the prison scenes don't make much sense. After all, what type of prison allows, a known escape-attempt convict, so much, access to material that would help him, escape!? It doesn't add up! Also, what type of prison, allows the brother of a murder victim to hang out with his brother's murderer!? Add to the fact, that this movie thinks that every inmate is a ballsy assassin in the making. Another problem, this movie has, is the English dubbing. Unfortunately, the film does no attempt or effort in matching the actor's lip action. Sometimes, I wasn't even sure, which character was even speaking, since the mouth was closed most of the time and the tone of voice did not match the character's demeanor! Overall: 'Island of Fire' is highly clichés, lost, and dated. I really can't believe, there is a loosely based-sequel to this film, 1997's 'Burning Island 2'. It's also not the best prison movie out there nor martial art film. I really can't recommended watching both of these movies. It's capital punishment.

First of all, this movie doesnt really have main character. There are five of them. Like the original trailer says, "five stories in one", the film is about five main characters, whose life are somehow related to each other. Jackie Chan does a different role in this movie. Role is similiar to Heart of the Dragons. There are only few fight's, but it didnt bother me. I didnt watch this as a Chan movie.Movie is touching especially the ending. Surprising is the violence level in this movie. Endings big shootout and some other brutal violence too. The way jail-staff(movie happens in jail)treats the main character's made me wanting them to die. Guards are real a***oles.Movie success as a drama too. Samo Hung's character is most touching. He desperately escapes from jail to meet his son and pays for it, with pain. Ending is surprising and shocking. This movie is very very good. I can recommend this movie to every one who likes HK movies. Great actors. Great plot. Great emotions. I loved it.

First, let me state that Jackie Chan is NOT the star of this film. Nor are Andy Lau, or Sammo Hung.Tony Leung Kar Fai IS the star and plays a policeman who is put in prison to find out why a vicious gangster was freed to wreak havoc on the world. In prison he finds a rats' nest of corruption and violence.He is soon thinking of ways to avoid and/or alter the volatile atmosphere he finds there by befriending one of the Kingpins, and by becoming a "cheerleader" for more wholesome ways to let off steam (i.e. a race to see who can finish building a road first).Jackie Chan has a tiny role as a man who accidentally kills the brother of mobster, Andy Lau, and is seen in sporadic bursts throughout the remainder of the film, trying to avoid death. In general, a forgettable role...and I'm such a Jackie fan that I even own most of the "dogs" he has done. I include this film in that category.Andy Lau is seen so seldom, you almost forget he is in the film.All of this is just fine with me as I watch the film for Tony Leung who is a real babe! He is a terrific and versatile actor who shines even in losers like this film. He is kind of like an Asian, male Bette Davis. His performance does not disappoint.Nor does Sammo Hung, who is touching in his performance of a man who will do and risk anything to visit his young son.The end of this film is a confusing gore fest which will thrill some and disgust others.All in all, I gave the film a 5. It was worth seeing, but I may not revisit for some time.