Product Details

• Actors: Scott Glenn, Jade Malle, Joe Pesci, Brooke Adams, Jonathan Pryce
• Directors: Élie Chouraqui
• Writers: Élie Chouraqui, A.J. Quinnell, Fabrice Ziolkowski, Sergio Donati
• Producers: Arnon Milchan, Robert Benmussa
• Format: NTSC
• Language: English, French, Italian
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Vestron
• VHS Release Date: March 1, 1989
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301231414
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,001 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes the demons of the past are the hope for the future, April 12, 2003

By 

Kali "bengaligirl" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Man on Fire [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Based on a book by the best selling author A.J. Quinnell this is a slightly wooden film in parts. However it is surprisingly very watchable despite this minor flaw.

Creasy, played by the excellent and underrated actor Scott Glenn is a hard-bitten, no nonsense body-guard whose young charge Sam portrayed by Jade Malle, is kidnapped whilst he is left for dead. Desperate to save her, Creasy goes on the rampage, systematically torturing and killing those who dared to hurt the one person who had given his life true meaning.

With a star studded cast (though most weren't famous when this movie came out) like Joe Peci, Jonathan Pryce, Brooke Adams, and Danny Aiello this little film didn't get the attention it deserved, in fact I am not even sure if it made it to the big screen.

Touching yet violent, (there's a very nasty but satisfying scene with explosive bullets and ramming them were the sun doesn't shine if you get my gist...) with some some good camera shots, look out for the white billowing curtains, the audience is slowly drawn into the brutal uncompromising world of kidnappers and gangsters as a man with a flawed but totally human soul finds his last hope of redemption lies with a child whose suffering is now comparable to his own...

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please... please... bring this out on DVD, June 26, 2005

By 

Jay R. Chase (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Man on Fire [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have no idea why this did not make a bigger splash. Most of the main characters in this movie have gone on to have awesome careers. Maybe they should have played it as an art house movie! Thís interpretation of Quinnel's novel is much slower paced and thoughtful (if a violent, revengeful, crime type film can go there)than the current production. More importantly to me, after reading the book, Scott's performance was dead on. The scene where the kidnapping has occurred and he is about to be killed is hair raising in how well he played his character (once you watch, you will definitely understand!!!) This is not a "fun" film to watch, but is a great study into the human condition and shows that even the toughest cases are redeemable. Let's start a DVD petition... :)


Oh, by the way.... I highly recommend the book too.. either before or after the movie.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Man on Fire, October 30, 2004

By 

Trident86 "Just SDV" (Chesapeake, VA US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Man on Fire [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The original, starring Scott Glenn. A little more true to the book than the remake, with a slightly different take on the story. Both are good, but worth watching for different reasons. The original was filmed in Italy vice Colombia, but the basic theme is the same: a conflicted man trying to escape his past and find something in the world worth living for. If you like the movies, I would also highly recommend the book of the same title, by A.J. Quinnell.

Enjoy!