Prison on Fire 2 features more inmate angst and action and the return of Chow Yun-Fat. Chow stars as Ching, a seasoned inmate who seems to get in all sorts of trouble. Ching is still serving time after the departure of Tony Leung Ka-Fai (who appeared in the last Prison on Fire film), and his son is stuck in an orphanage. Ching wants a leave to see him, but evil prison guard Tsui Kam-Kong simply won’t have it, especially after what happened to Roy Cheung (think Blue Velvet) in the first flick. Also, there’s a conflict between the Hong Kong and Mainland prison factions, and Ching is caught in the middle. Chan Chung-Yung plays the head mainlander and Tommy Wong returns as Boss Bill. 

This sequel is not as absorbing as the first, but Ringo Lam’s films are definitely not boring. He sets up the conflicts well, and carries them out with gritty flair. What’s lacking is simple: Tony Leung and whatever freshness or impact the first had. Also, Tsui Kam-Kong is ridiculously evil whereas Roy Cheung was simply a control freak. Chow is charming as usual and there’s male bonding to spare. Not a bad flick at all, but to be honest a double bill of the two Prison on Fire movies is probably a bad idea. Too much of the same thing. (Kozo 1997)

image courtesy of Universe Laser & Video Co., Ltd.