Comprehensive information and links about Man on Fire

Man on Fire is a 2004 film directed by Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell, Giancarlo Giannini, and Christopher Walken. It is a remake of a 1987 film of the same name, starring Scott Glenn, Joe Pesci and Jonathan Pryce. In both films, an ex-CIA agent by the name of John Creasy is a guard for a young daughter of a rich family, who seeks vengeance after she is kidnapped.

Both movies were originally based on a series of books by author A. J. Quinnell. loosely follows the first of the series about a former Marine and Foreign Legion soldier turned mercenary.

The remake was released on April 23, 2004 in the U.S. and drew $23 million USD in its opening weekend.

table

2004 Version

In Mexico City, kidnapping is a business. The wealthy and their families are targets for criminals looking to ransom those of value. Bodyguards are a standard for most families, and Samuel Ramos needs to hire a new one to protect his daughter. Enter John Creasey, a veteran military man and former assassin, burned out on his long career of combat and espionage. Creasy's friend Rayburn (Christopher Walken) sets him up to be a guard, especially to a youngster, but for lack of something better to do, he accepts the assignment. Creasy barely tolerates the precocious child and her pestering questions about him and his life. But slowly, she chips away at his seemingly impenetrable exterior, his defenses drop, and he opens up to her. They become friends and he replaces her parents in their absences, giving her advice, guidance and help with her competition swimming. Creasy's new-found purpose in life is shattered when Pita is kidnapped. Despite being seriously wounded during the kidnapping, he vows to kill anyone involved in or profiting from the kidnapping. Only a few select know of Creasey's mission such as Rayburn and a detective named Manzano (Giancarlo Giannini), who let the man do his job. With grisly efficiency, Creasey takes apart the corrupt organization that is responsible for not only Pita's kidnapping but many throughout Mexico City.

1987 Version

In Italy, kidnapping is a business. The wealthy and their families are targets for criminals looking to ransom those of value. Bodyguards are a standard for most families. Enter John Creasey, a veteran military man and former CIA agent, burned out on his long career of combat and espionage. Creasy is not interested in being a guard, especially to Sam, a twelve year old youngster, but for lack of something better to do, he accepts the assignment. Creasy barely tolerates the precocious child and her pestering questions about him and his life. But slowly, she chips away at his seemingly impenetrable exterior, his defenses drop, and he opens up to her. They become friends and he replaces her parents in their absences, giving her advice, guidance and help with her competition running. Creasy's life is shattered when Sam is kidnapped. Despite being seriously wounded during the kidnapping, he vows her safe return.

Tony Scott was initially lined up to direct the 1987 version of the film. But after the disappointment of his first feature The Hunger, the studio balked and handed the project to Elie Chouraqui. They later regretted the decision following the success of Scott's Top GunThe initial idea for remaking the film came from Quentin Tarantino. Before he was a Hollywood filmmaker, Tarantino worked at a video store in Los Angeles - screenwriter Brian Helgeland walked in one day and asked what was good, to which Tarantino recommended the original Man on Fire. Nearly 15 years later, Tarantino called the remake "one of Tony Scott's best pictures. Hard, gripping and tough as hell!"Among the actor's offered the role of Creasy before Denzel Washington included Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis and Will Smith.Christopher Walken was the first choice for the role of Jordan Kalfus, but took the part of Rayburn as he was tired of playing the villain.Brian Helgeland initially refused to write the screenplay for the film, as he now considers himself to be a director first and foremost. The studio told him if he wrote it, they would let him direct, but changed their minds following the failure of his latest film The Order and Tony Scott's interest.Over half an hour of footage was cut from the initial workprint to form the final theatrical version, making the first cut almost 3 hours long. Among the excised footage (included on the Special Edition DVD) are two sex scenes and an extended ending, where Creasy's revenge literally leads him to becoming a man on fire.Denzel Washington came up with the idea for the alternate ending. It continues past the final shot of the film, with Creasy being driven to the house of The Voice. The two chat for a while about the price of human life, with Creasy continually looking down at his watch. When the stopwatch finally reaches zero, Creasy flashes a freeze-frame smile. It cuts to the entire house being blown up, revealing Creasy's use of the anal bomb. Tony Scott cut it as he felt it didn't fit in with the tone of the film.