RAPID FIRE

US, 1992, 95 minutes, Colour.
Brandon Lee, Powers Boothe, Nick Mancuso, Raymond J.Barry.
Directed by Dwight H.Little.

Rapid Fire is a typical martial arts, police action feature. It was designed as a star vehicle for Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee. Lee also appeared, more sympathetically, in Mark L. Lester's Showdown in Little Tokyo. Here Lee is supported by veterans Powers Booth as the hardened policeman, Nick Mancuso as the head of the Mafia in Chicago, Raymond J. Barry as a corrupt FBI agent.

The film opens well with Thai locations, indicating the drug connections between Thailand and the US. However, the rest of the action is in Los Angeles and in Chicago - especially in Chicago using many locations for the shoot-outs and fights. Nothing particularly new, efficiently and effectively done by director Dwight Little, whose credits include KGB - The Secret War, Halloween 4 and Marked for Death. Part of the treatment is tongue-in-cheek - some highly emotive dialogue, some sentimentality - and a plot and characterisation which tend to go by the numbers.

1. Typical action martial arts feature? Impressive of its kind or not? The popularity of this kind of film in the '80s and '90s?

2. The opening in Thailand, locations, customs? The martial arts? The visit of Serrano, his clash with Tau? The rivalry, the violence? The setting up of the struggle? Each leader with his men and bodyguards?

3. The title of the film - and the indication of violence, shooting as well as fights?

4. Jake Low and his memories of the massacre at Tiananmen Square? The flashbacks? His father and his death? Jake's inability to help? People wanting him to speak out? His work as an artist, attracted to the model, seeing the dragon behind her? Her invitation to the gathering - and his being sought as a presence for the human rights campaign. The sudden outburst of violence and his witnessing the killing?

5. The Thai gang, Tau and his beginnings in Brooklyn? His empire in Thailand? Serrano and his dominance, putting Tau in business? Asking for debts? The visit to Thailand, his return to America? His anger at Tau's henchman? Shooting him?

6. Jake and his involvement? His defending himself, fighting the Mafia men at the gallery? His being taken by the police, examined? The police wanting to use him as a witness? His going to Chicago? His being under police protection, agent Stuart and the apartment? The crooked guards and the attempt to kill him? His escape? The encounter with Mace Ryan and with Karla? His antagonism towards them? Their offering protection when the Mafia turned against him? When Stuart set him up? His being kept under guard? The confrontation with Stuart? The planned meeting with Serrano in the restaurant? Stuart going in with him? The radio being crushed? Ryan not getting the message? The fight and the shoot-out? Jake and his ability to escape danger? Serrano's death in prison? Tau continuing with his work? The discovery of the Chinese laundry? Jake and his disguise, going in? Discovering where the heroin was kept? The confrontation - and the chase of Tau, over the roofs, on the railway line, the final fight, Tau being electrocuted? Jake and his relationship with Karla? His relationship with Ryan, cynical attitudes towards him, overhearing him talk with Karla about his appreciation and love for Jake? Jake rescuing him from the fire? Karla offering him the file about his father, coming face to face with the truth about his father, doing what was considered right? Reconciliation?

7. Serrano, tough, Chicago Mafia? In Thailand, throwing his weight around? His angers and madness? Shooting in front of witnesses? Wanting Jake dead? Having Stuart in his pocket? The meetings at the restaurant, the set-up, the confrontation with Stuart, killing him? Jake fighting him? His being taken to prison, looked after by the police? His being murdered by Tau's henchman in jail? His bodyguards and men?

8. Tau, the empire in Thailand, transporting the drugs across America? In Chicago, the death of his henchman? Confrontation with Serrano, ordering his murder? The Chinese laundry and its cover, the shooting of Ryan? The flight from Jake, the fight, his death on the railway line? The picturing of Thai drug rings?

9. Karla, the tough policewoman, the confrontation with Jake? Helping Ryan? The tough stances between them? Her attraction to Jake, the affair? Ryan expressing himself freely about Jake? Her participation in the final raid - a future with Jake?

10. Ryan, the tough policeman, ten years pursuing Tau? The chance for a witness? Bugging Stuart's phone? Being able to use the tape? Rescuing Jake from the set-up? His sardonic attitudes, the tenpin bowl and his missing, finally shooting? The plan, its going amiss? The laundry and his being shot? Saved by Jake?

11. Stuart, the corrupt FBI man, setting up the assassination, his men and the shooting of police? His family and wealthy home? Meeting Jake at the phone box? Ryan's intervention? The using of the tape to have a hold over him? Going into the restaurant, the radio connection being crushed, his death?

12. The background of Chicago drugs, police investigation, the FBI? The gang wars? Credible, all the material for an action feature?