Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

I never believed in rebirth, but italian freak cinema of the 70ies lived on in a lot of Hong Kong flicks of the 80ies. If you like animals, human life or are a fan of political correctness you should NOT watch this movie. If you like explotation movies, italian cinema and have mental problems like me, GO FOR IT. It really has a good script, lot of twists, overall good acting and is very well made. What I really missed are car chases between Alfa Romeo's and BMW's, Tomas Milian, Henry Silva and a score from let's say Stelvio Cipriani, then it would be perfect, but you can't have it all. Hardcore entertainment par excellence (really).

DANGEROUS ENCOUNTERS OF THE FIRST KIND is a searing political thriller and an unforgettable debut from first-time director Tsui Hark. The storyline follows a fan of amateur anarchists who decide to terrorise Hong Kong by setting off home-made bombs in various places such as a cinema. Their fortunes take a turn for the worse when they meet up with a young girl who proves to be even more of a maniac than they are, and when they steal a wad of Japanese cash their adventures turn deadly.Be warned: I would have given this film a higher rating if it wasn't for the real-life animal cruelty that plagues the production. In order to show us that the protagonist is a psychopath, Hark has her committing real-life cruelty by torturing mice with pins. These are horrible scenes and a bit with a cat, although less realistic, is equally disturbing.Otherwise, the film itself is fine: a slow start, plenty of tension, building to a breathtaking all-out climax set in a hillside cemetery. The cast give effective performances, particularly seasoned pro Lo Lieh, thankfully not cast as a bad guy for once but instead the cop brother of the main character. Scenes of the main characters going on bombing rampage were censored by nervous distributors but they remain the most interesting part of the production. Watch out for the soundtrack, which borrows heavily from the likes of Jean-Michel Jarre and the music from DAWN OF THE DEAD.

Three friends out for a night of fun in daddy's car accidentally kill a pedestrian. The only witness is young, psychotic girl who decides to blackmail them. She forces the boys to participate in her misanthropic deeds, which eventually bring them into some Japanese bank notes for 800 million yen that belong to some illegal arms dealers. Wow, this is one psychotic movie! DON'T PLAY WITH FIRE (aka DANGEROUS ENCOUNTERS: 1ST KIND) is Tsui Hark's third film and it is one angry movie. Opening with the scene of a mouse having a pin shoved into its head (sadly, for real), Hark makes modern day Hong Kong look like hell on earth with its grimy streets and claustrophobic apartment buildings. I'd like to think he is making a statement on class warfare, but Hark just seems like he wants to destroy everything in a wave of nihilistic fury. A final shootout in an equally crowded cemetery is the film's highlight. The score is stolen from all over the place. Tracks I identified were from Goblin (off the DAWN OF THE DEAD soundtrack), Jean Michel Jarre, and the disco band The Mike Theodore Orchestra. I actually wish Hark made more modern day stuff like this as I got tired of his costume kung fu drama porn rather quickly.

I can only agree with the preceding comments; this really is the most nihilistic movie I've ever seen (comparable only to Sergio Corbucci's "Il grande silenzio" in that respect) and the heroine is very likeable indeed, although the name Pearl is VERY inapt. The scene where she completely unmotivatedly throws a cat out of the window was too much even for Hong Kong's censor boards which rarely cut out a scene for being too violent. Another scene that I'll never forget was when she set the car of the 'gwailo' (those sunglasses!) on fire. The definition of recklessness and defiance of death.Someone please release this film in PAL-format, either on VHS, VCD or DVD. I've seen it only once and I'm desperate to see it again. Please!!!