Man on Fire-Collectors Edition (2004)

"Man on Fire, with a best-ever Denzel Washington, is the first (nonreligious) sure thing to hit the multiplex this year.  Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

Editor's Note John Creasy (Denzel Washington) is a lost soul. A former government operative, he has become an alcoholic nomad, searching for inspiration and redemption. An old friend (Christopher Walken) who lives in Mexico gets Creasy a job as a bodyguard for nine-year-old Lupita "Pita" Ramos (Dakota Fanning), the daughter of Mexican Samuel (Marc Anthony) and his American wife Lisa (Radha Mitchell). Creasy's primary job is to protect Pita from the kidnapping attempts that are an increasing menace to the children of Mexico City's wealthy. A man of few words and many secrets, Creasy initially balks at Pita's attempts to befriend him, but soon a bond grows between the precocious child and this lonely man who is tormented by his past. When Pita is kidnapped despite Creasy's valiant attempts to save her, he will do anything to bring all of those involved to justice. His fury unravels a net of almost unimaginable corruption and greed in the process. Director Tony Scott (TOP GUN, CRIMSON TIDE) builds the relationship between Creasy and Pita in the first half of the film in order to justify Creasy's violent actions in the latter half, and in the process he does a fine job of keeping the film's tension consistently high.

	Christopher Walken
	Dakota Fanning
	Denzel Washington
	Giancarlo Giannini
	Jesus Ochoa
	Marc Anthony
	Mickey Rourke
	Rachel Ticotin
	Radha Mitchell
	A.J. Quinnell - Based On Novel By
	Arnon Milchan - Producer
	Brian Helgeland - Screenplay
	Christian Wagner - Editor
	Lucas Foster - Producer
	Paul Cameron - Cinematographer
	Tony Scott - Director
	Tony Scott - Producer

Los Angeles Times
"[Fanning] turns Pita into a delightful, distinctive, self-possessed individual, likely the most mature youthful presence we'll see on screen all summer." 04/21/2004 p.C1

USA Today
"[The director] gives us solid chemistry between Fanning and lead Denzel Washington, plus a more complex than expected characterization by Radha Mitchell..." 04/23/2004 p.7E

Chicago Sun-Times
"We're absorbed by Washington's character." 04/23/2004 p.33

Uncut
"MAN ON FIRE explodes with some beautifully orchestrated mayhem that's driven by a cast of fully realised characters." 11/01/2004 p.147

Wall Street Journal
"Tony Scott directed this revenge fantasy from a sharp-witted script by Brian Helgeland." 11/12/2010

James Berardinelli's ReelViews 7 of 10
Man on Fire is a remake of a 1987 film starring Scott Glenn. Not having seen the earlier film

Miami Herald 8 of 10
The dead-serious Man on Fire awakens a genuine sense of bloodlust in the viewer. This is a sl - Rene Rodriguez

Chicago Sun-Times 6 of 10
Tony Scott's Man on Fire employs superb craftsmanship and a powerful Denzel Washington perfor - Roger Ebert