Rapid Fire (1992 film)
Encyclopedia
Rapid Fire is a 1992
action film
starring the late Brandon Lee
. Lee was reportedly in talks with 20th Century Fox about making Rapid Fire 2, prior to his death. School scenes were filmed at Occidental College
in Los Angeles
. Many of the fight scenes were orchestrated by Lee, which contain elements of his father's, Bruce Lee
, Jeet Kune Do
fighting style.
). Antonio is a mafia drug distributor who wants to work with tau. After a disagreement, Tau cannot offer him a job. Tau goes into the competition and fights off two competitors. Tau walks up to Serrano and says "don't ask for what you can't take". Turned off from politics after witnessing the death of his father at Tiananmen Square
in China
, Los Angeles
art student Jake Lo (Brandon Lee
) is lured to a party of Chinese pro-democracy activists by a figure model from one of his art classes. While there, Jake witnesses Antonio Serrano (Nick Mancuso
) killing party sponsor Carl Chang (Michael Paul Chan
), who was an associate of Tau. Placed under protective custody by federal agents, Jake is brought to Chicago to testify against Serrano.
Stewart, an FBI agent, guides Jake to a house. The danger intensifies when two FBI agents shoot another agent. Jake fights them off and tries to escape through a bathroom window, but finds out its been glazed. He then gets a pitchfork through the glazing. One of the agents come in, and Lo kills him with the pitchfork. He pushes the body through the glazing and escapes through the window. While running under the train tracks, a cop named Karla Withers (Kate Hodge
) tries to stop him while another cop comes. Lo sees the FBI agent who tried to kill him. He takes Karla's gun and puts it to her head. He tells the cop he did not do anything wrong before running away. It turns out nick works for Antonio. Lo calls Nick to meet tonight at a cul-de-sac, which is interfered by cops. When Lo goes there he sees a police car. Chicago cop Mace Ryan (Powers Boothe
) comes out to say that if he still wants to keep breathing, he cannot move. But Nick tells him he is a traitor, but finds out the truth when Antonio's men come out.
Jake teams up with Ryan, who has been after Tau for 10 years. Karla turns out to be Ryan's partner and punches Jake in the stomach for what he did. Ryan uses Jake as bait to lure Serrano into giving details of his next big drug shipment. But the arrest of Serrano turns into a battle of bullets, fists, and feet. When the smoke clears, Serrano has been arrested. Soon Jake talks to Karla about his father. He eventually falls for her and a montage sequence ensues shifting between Jake and Karla having sex while Tau's henchman infiltrate the jail where Serrano is being held and kills him in his cell. This forces Ryan to use Jake once again as a pigeon. Posing as a worker, Jake is sent into the heart of Tau's industrial laundry operation to find out how Tau manages to process his imported opium without soiling any shirts. Jake succeeds, but he finds out tau has captured Ryan and Karla. Tau manages to run away. Jake fights with one of Tau's tougher henchmen (Al Leong
), forcing Jake to kill his way to a confrontation with Tau on the tracks of the Chicago 'L'
, where Tau is electrocuted on the tracks, before being hit and killed by an 'L' train.
1992 in film
The year 1992 in film involved many significant films. -Top grossing films:-Awards:Academy AwardsGolden Globe AwardsNational Film Awards...
action film
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
starring the late Brandon Lee
Brandon Lee
Brandon Bruce Lee was an American actor and martial artist. He was the son of martial arts film star Bruce Lee...
. Lee was reportedly in talks with 20th Century Fox about making Rapid Fire 2, prior to his death. School scenes were filmed at Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Many of the fight scenes were orchestrated by Lee, which contain elements of his father's, Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
, Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do is a hybrid martial arts system and life philosophy founded by martial artist Bruce Lee with direct, non classical and straightforward movements. Due to the way his style works they believe in minimal movement with maximum effect and extreme speed. The system works on the use of...
fighting style.
Plot summary
In Thailand, at a stick fighting competition, Antonio Serrano meets drug kingpin Kinman Tau (Tzi MaTzi Ma
Tzi Ma is a Chinese American actor who has made numerous appearances in American films and TV series.-Life and career:Ma was born in Hong Kong...
). Antonio is a mafia drug distributor who wants to work with tau. After a disagreement, Tau cannot offer him a job. Tau goes into the competition and fights off two competitors. Tau walks up to Serrano and says "don't ask for what you can't take". Turned off from politics after witnessing the death of his father at Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square is a large city square in the center of Beijing, China, named after the Tiananmen Gate located to its North, separating it from the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is the third largest city square in the world...
in China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
art student Jake Lo (Brandon Lee
Brandon Lee
Brandon Bruce Lee was an American actor and martial artist. He was the son of martial arts film star Bruce Lee...
) is lured to a party of Chinese pro-democracy activists by a figure model from one of his art classes. While there, Jake witnesses Antonio Serrano (Nick Mancuso
Nick Mancuso
Nicodemo Antonio Massimo "Nick" Mancuso is a Canadian cinema and stage actor.-Career:Mancuso was born in Mammola, Calabria, Italy and immigrated to Canada in 1956...
) killing party sponsor Carl Chang (Michael Paul Chan
Michael Paul Chan
Michael Paul Chan is an American television and film actor. Some of his recent television work includes Judge Lionel Ping on Arrested Development, Robbery Homicide Division, Dr. Lee in the Joel Schumacher directed "Batman & Robin," the voice of Jimmy Ho on The PJ's, and Lieutenant Michael Tao on...
), who was an associate of Tau. Placed under protective custody by federal agents, Jake is brought to Chicago to testify against Serrano.
Stewart, an FBI agent, guides Jake to a house. The danger intensifies when two FBI agents shoot another agent. Jake fights them off and tries to escape through a bathroom window, but finds out its been glazed. He then gets a pitchfork through the glazing. One of the agents come in, and Lo kills him with the pitchfork. He pushes the body through the glazing and escapes through the window. While running under the train tracks, a cop named Karla Withers (Kate Hodge
Kate Hodge
Kate Hodge is an American actress and film producer.-Career:Born in Berkeley, California, Hodge's first starring role was as Michelle, the heroine of the 1990 horror film Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III...
) tries to stop him while another cop comes. Lo sees the FBI agent who tried to kill him. He takes Karla's gun and puts it to her head. He tells the cop he did not do anything wrong before running away. It turns out nick works for Antonio. Lo calls Nick to meet tonight at a cul-de-sac, which is interfered by cops. When Lo goes there he sees a police car. Chicago cop Mace Ryan (Powers Boothe
Powers Boothe
Powers Allen Boothe is an American television and film actor. Some of his most notable roles include his Emmy-winning 1980 portrayal of Jim Jones and his turn as Cy Tolliver on Deadwood, as well as Vice-President Noah Daniels on 24....
) comes out to say that if he still wants to keep breathing, he cannot move. But Nick tells him he is a traitor, but finds out the truth when Antonio's men come out.
Jake teams up with Ryan, who has been after Tau for 10 years. Karla turns out to be Ryan's partner and punches Jake in the stomach for what he did. Ryan uses Jake as bait to lure Serrano into giving details of his next big drug shipment. But the arrest of Serrano turns into a battle of bullets, fists, and feet. When the smoke clears, Serrano has been arrested. Soon Jake talks to Karla about his father. He eventually falls for her and a montage sequence ensues shifting between Jake and Karla having sex while Tau's henchman infiltrate the jail where Serrano is being held and kills him in his cell. This forces Ryan to use Jake once again as a pigeon. Posing as a worker, Jake is sent into the heart of Tau's industrial laundry operation to find out how Tau manages to process his imported opium without soiling any shirts. Jake succeeds, but he finds out tau has captured Ryan and Karla. Tau manages to run away. Jake fights with one of Tau's tougher henchmen (Al Leong
Al Leong
Albert "Al" Leong , aka Al 'Ka Bong', is an American stuntman and actor. Characterised by impressive martial arts skills, long wavy hair, and a prominent Fu Manchu moustache, he has had a number of small but memorable roles as the token long-haired Asian henchman in popular action films, that...
), forcing Jake to kill his way to a confrontation with Tau on the tracks of the Chicago 'L'
Chicago 'L'
The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority...
, where Tau is electrocuted on the tracks, before being hit and killed by an 'L' train.
Cast
- Brandon LeeBrandon LeeBrandon Bruce Lee was an American actor and martial artist. He was the son of martial arts film star Bruce Lee...
as Jake Lo - Powers BoothePowers BoothePowers Allen Boothe is an American television and film actor. Some of his most notable roles include his Emmy-winning 1980 portrayal of Jim Jones and his turn as Cy Tolliver on Deadwood, as well as Vice-President Noah Daniels on 24....
as Mace Ryan - Raymond J. BarryRaymond J. BarryRaymond John Barry is an American film, television and stage actor.-Personal life:Raymond John Barry was born in Hempstead, New York . His father, Raymond Barry, worked in sales. His mother, Barbara Barry , was also an actor, known professionally as B. Constance Barry...
as Agent Frank Stewart - Kate HodgeKate HodgeKate Hodge is an American actress and film producer.-Career:Born in Berkeley, California, Hodge's first starring role was as Michelle, the heroine of the 1990 horror film Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III...
as Karla Withers - Tzi MaTzi MaTzi Ma is a Chinese American actor who has made numerous appearances in American films and TV series.-Life and career:Ma was born in Hong Kong...
as Kinman Tau - Tony LongoTony LongoTony Longo is an American actor who has appeared in many well-known television series such as Laverne & Shirley, Simon & Simon, Alice, Perfect Strangers, Sydney and Monk...
as Brunner - Michael Paul ChanMichael Paul ChanMichael Paul Chan is an American television and film actor. Some of his recent television work includes Judge Lionel Ping on Arrested Development, Robbery Homicide Division, Dr. Lee in the Joel Schumacher directed "Batman & Robin," the voice of Jimmy Ho on The PJ's, and Lieutenant Michael Tao on...
as Carl Chang - Al LeongAl LeongAlbert "Al" Leong , aka Al 'Ka Bong', is an American stuntman and actor. Characterised by impressive martial arts skills, long wavy hair, and a prominent Fu Manchu moustache, he has had a number of small but memorable roles as the token long-haired Asian henchman in popular action films, that...
as Minh - Nick MancusoNick MancusoNicodemo Antonio Massimo "Nick" Mancuso is a Canadian cinema and stage actor.-Career:Mancuso was born in Mammola, Calabria, Italy and immigrated to Canada in 1956...
as Antonio Serrano - Jeff McCarthyJeff McCarthy-Television:He made guest star appearances on television shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Ed, Designing Women, Cheers, Freddy's Nightmares, Matlock, and In the Heat of the Night. McCarthy was the voice of the Chuck Jones' creation, Michigan J. Frog, for the WB television network...
as Agent Anderson
Home media
After Brandon Lee's untimely death, movies such as Rapid Fire saw a surge in video sales.External links
- Rapid Fire Review at Obscurus Lupa Presents