Is Man on Fire a True Story? Hands down, this is one of the most common questions that you would find people asking for a few months.
The movie Man on Fire is a thriller movie released back in 2004. This movie became a trending topic recently from 2021, making everyone question is Man on Fire based on a true story? And thus, we are here to answer all the common questions people might have when watching this acclaimed fan blockbuster.
A movie based on a true story resonates more with the audience than one based on the creativity of a mind. Naturally so, because if the movie is based on a true story, the excitement of knowing what happened next increases to a whole new level.
The storyline in the case is based on a true incident that does not just go haywire. Well, is that not obvious? Because if the story is not interesting enough, why would any producer invest in it in the first place, right?
Hence, it is difficult for a person to figure out how good and seamless the plot of the movie Man on Fire was. Are you wondering why? Well, that is because it kept people wondering is Man on Fire a true story. Is it based on one? That we would eventually figure out as we keep on reading the article.
If you have watched the movie, you would know the impact it leaves on the audience’s minds. If you have not, let us take you through a synopsis of the movie to build on your excitement.
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What is the plot of the movie Man on Fire?
The movie Man on Fire created a buzz amongst thriller and action-packed movie lovers when it became available on Netflix. This movie was released back in the year 2022 in April. Tony Scott directed it. It features Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning in prominent roles.
The movie did not receive very nice ratings from the critics back in the year when it was released. However, after being available on Netflix, the audience got swept away by the story, the power-packed action, and the suspense it tends to create till the end. Thus, this movie got many viewers asking the question, is Man on Fire a true story.
In the movie, Denzel Washington plays the role of John Creasy. He depicts a melancholic and alcoholic ex-CIA Special Activities Division and U.S. Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Captain. Dwelling over the guilt over certain actions, he reaches Mexico to meet a friend, Paul Rayburn. Rayburn suggests he indulges himself in work. He asks him to work as a bodyguard for a nine-year-old girl called Lupita ‘Pita’ Ramos.
The movie moves forward by slowly shaving a bond generating between John Creasy and Lupita Ramos. However, things go on in a bad place when Pita gets kidnapped in Mexico when she goes for her Piano lesson.
Pita’s parents then try to save Pita by giving the kidnappers a ransom. However, the random drop fails and kills ‘the Voice’s nephew in the process.
The leader of the kidnapper somehow holds the Ramoses responsible for the death of his nephew. Filled with anger, the kidnappers refused to give Pita back to her parents. Instead, they claim to give Pita the same treatment that the main kidnapper’s nephew received: death.
John Creasy then sets out on a killing spree to eliminate every person responsible for the little girl’s death. This includes all the kidnappers as well as all the corrupt police offers.
The movie is packed with a lot of nail-biting actions. Easily, it is a treat for all the people who love to watch action-packed movies. The movie goes through a couple of emotions.
From portraying John Creasy as a person filled with guilt to him finally opening himself up and generating a bond of love with a little nine-year-old girl, it leaves the views dwelled with heart-warming scenes. The tension rises in the second half of the movie when John Creasy vows to kill everyone linked with the little girl’s death, thus portraying another sphere of emotion.
Thus, it is safe to say that this movie has everything you can ask for. From perfectly directed actions to the involvement of the mafias to finally good winning over evil.
It is sure to net let the hopes of a perfect climax down for the audience. The perfect climax to a nail-biting action movie is something very rare to find. This stands true, especially in the case of movies that come out directly of a creative mind. Mostly those movies get good endings that a real-life incident has inspired. That is the reason why there is a huge buzz around when people want to know is Man on Fire a true story.
Is Man on Fire a True Story?
Now that we are aware of the basic story that the movie Man on Fire revolves around, let us now look at the fact is Man on Fire a true story. You would be amazed to know the movie Man on Fire is not based on a real-life incident. This movie is based on a novel written by A.J. Quinnell (Philip Nicholson) of the same name. The novel was released back in the year 1980.
Now that answers the question, is the movie Man on Fire based on a true story. However, the next question that probably arises is Man on Fire a true story pointing toward the novel.
Well, no one is clear that it is Man on Fire a true story. However, we know there were a few incidents from which A.J. Quinnell drew inspiration.
Although, it is clear that the fiction of the book is not based on any real events and comes out purely from a creative mind.
Real-life incidents are from which A.J. Quinnell
Let us look at the real-life incidents are from which A.J. Quinnell drew inspiration:
- The first incident that inspired A.J. Quinnell was a kidnapping in Singapore. The Triad kidnapped a wealthy businessman’s eldest son. Then they asked for a huge sum of money in return for his son. However, the businessman feared that they would probably again come back and target his other children upon giving up on the Triad’s demands. For the same reason, he refused to pay the asked money to the kidnappers. As a result, the eldest son sadly was killed. However, the businessman was able to keep his other children safe.
- The second event that inspired A.J. Quinnell is also one that shook the world. It was the abduction of the then richest man in the world, J. Paul Getty’s grandson. The boy was kidnapped when he was in Rome, and in return, the kidnapper wanted a ransom of a whopping USD 17 million. However, J. Paul Getty refused to pay the ransom to the kidnappers.
Well, he had two reasons for doing so.
At first, just like in the previous case, he did not want to put the life of his other 13 grandchildren in danger.
Secondly, J. Paul Getty suspected that the whole kidnapping was indeed staged by his grandson only. He feared that his grandson did this in the hopes of receiving a huge amount of money.
However, all doubts were put to rest when the kidnappers sent him a mail with one of the ears of his grandchildren.
It was then J. Paul Getty wanted to come to a negotiation with the kidnappers for the ransom money. The deal was finally settled at $ 2.2 million. It was only after that his grandchild was released. This was almost five to six months after the kid was abducted.
There were a total of nine people involved in ten abductions. Three out of those nine kidnappers were later arrested and sent to jail.
This event also inspired the 2017 movie made by Ridley Scott, which is known as All the Money in the World.
However, if you read the novel Man on Fire, you would know that the novel and the movie are a little different on certain points. Let us discuss a little about that.
Man on Fire: Difference between Novel and Movie versions
The movie and the novel Man on Fire have certain differences between them. This is because while writing the script for the novel was written back in the year 1970, the writers and directors felt a need to make some changes to grab some audiences.
Well, by now, we are aware of is the movie Man on Fire based on a true story. Hence, let us now look at the difference between the movie script and the novel.
- The first difference lies in the little girl’s name, who gets abducted by the kidnappers. In the movie, the name of the girl is Lupita Ramos. People lovingly refer her as Pita. However, in the novel written by A.J. Quinnell, the name of the little girl is Pinta.
- Secondly, the location of the crime differs in the movie and the novel. In the novel, the crime, that is, the kidnap of Pita, takes place in Italy. However, in the movie, the crime occurs in Mexico. Well, this is because while making the script, the producers realized that Italy does not have a huge crime rate. Hence, for this reason, the story might not be so believable to the audience. Therefore, they decided on changing the location the movie is based on.
- Lastly and most importantly, the third and most critical difference between the novel and the movie lies in both climaxes.
As we are already aware, the novel inspired two incidents that took place in real life. Therefore, while writing the novel, too, A.J. Quinnel kept the ending similar to both the incidents. In the novel, the little girl Pinta loses her life after the mishap during the exchange. On the contrary, John Creasy survives. He falls in love with a woman, changes his identity, and then flees with her.
However, if you are watching the movie, this is not the ending you would come across. In the movie, the creators took some liberty to alter the ending.
In the movie, Pita survives. However, John Creasy loses his life. He turns over to the kidnappers to ensure that they leave the little girl. Shortly after the exchange, the bodyguard succumbs to his wounds and loses his life.
Final thoughts
Both the ending are heartbreaking in their ways. Neither the novel nor the movie finds a happy ending for both the main leads that drive the movie’s story. Either way, one of the main characters sacrifices their life. However, apart from these differences, the rest of the plot remains similar to both the novel and the movie.
Now we are aware of Man on Fire based on a true story. Even if it is not based on one, you suggest that the novel that is movie is based on is heavily inspired by two real incidents. However, that is not the case with Man on Fire true story when it comes to the movie. This is because the ending of the movie saw several changes. It has no match with the novel in this aspect whatsoever.
On an ending note, the movie is worth a watch. Hence, if you have not watched the movie yet, now is the time to do so.
