Police Story

Version: Universal / Hong Kong Legends R4 DVD release. Cantonese / English subtitles

Once upon a time, five years ago, the world was obsessed with 'The Matrix', and I was perhaps one of the few fifteen year olds left who still believed that 'Terminator' was better than 'Matrix'. I was but a simple teenage boy, looking for a good action movie, and then there was a shining light on a TV station I had never really watched, a little station known as SBS. One night I noticed in the TV guide that a movie starring Jackie Chan - 'Police Story' would be on later. Being fifteen, and having only seen 'Rumble in the Bronx' and 'Rush Hour', I said... "WOW AWESOME" and sat down to watch it, and continually shouted "WOW AWESOME" as the movie progressed. Two weeks later, after SBS had shown the 'Police Story' trilogy, I knew I had found my new favourite actor.

Jackie plays Chan Ka Kui, a Hong Kong cop who busts a major drug-lord, Chu (Yuen Chor). Chu's secretary, Selina Fong (Brigitte Lin), is being held by the police as a witness against Chu, and Chan is assigned to protect her. Things go bad - reaaaal bad - when Chu's case is dismissed and he decides he wants Fong and Chan dead.

'Police Story' is one of the greatest action movies ever, and certainly one of my favourite Jackie Chan films. It starts off strong, and ends with one of the most incredible action sequences ever filmed. Everything in between is great. However, some of the funny parts may seem a little tasteless to more than a few people...

As a story, this is still one of Jackie's better efforts. For an action movie, the story is pretty good, and Jackie is a much better actor in this than he is in the acting & plot intensive 'New Police Story'. This isn't 'Miracles', but maybe that's a good thing.

'Police Story' is one of Jackie's finest works. It got me hooked on Jackie Chan movies, and should provide a nice start for any potential Jackie fans. The bad news for anyone who sees this first is that Jackie Chan movies don't come much better - 10/10

It is a great shame that Jackie Chan's eventual emergence as a fully -fledged Hollywood star did not happen much earlier when he was at his physical peak. Of course even now he is pretty amazing,but he IS around 50 now. The Jackie Chan of Police Story would have REALLY amazed the world.

Police Story may not be his best movie but it is possibly the one to watch to get an overview of his abilities and film-making style {one must not forget he directed many of his Hong Kong films}.It is a somewhat uneven but often exhilarating film which mixes cop drama,slapstick comedy and amazing action. The film features opening and ending action sequences which are amongst the best done EVER. The opening has a shoot-out in a shanty town,virtual destruction of the town by cars and Jackie hanging on to a bus with a walking stick. The climax features an incredible fight scene in a shopping mall which is a fantastic combination of martial arts,brawling and sheer destruction,and the final stunt-WOW!

In between the film concentrates more on comedy,some of which slows the pace a little but is simply delightful to watch,such as a scene where Jackie has to answer lots of telephones at the same time {cut from the slightly poor dubbed version which also has a far inferior score},a very funny courtroom scene and even the old pie-in-the-face routine! Some of the humour may annoy those wanting more action but it is as essential to an understanding of Jackie's art as his martial arts and stunts,and here he perhaps perfects his favoured 'everyman' hero,a normal guy who may have amazing martial arts skill but still has relationship problems and is as likely to lose a fight as to win it. Sadly female stars Maggie Chung and Brigite Lin simply exist to be knocked about!

By no means a perfect film,and possibly Project A,Drunken Master 2 or Dragon's Forever might be better films but if you want a sampling of Jackie doing everything he does best,than this is the film to see .It spawned 3 sequels,all of which add to and build on the first one.

Out of the 10 plus films Jackie Chan has directed this is his most personal. I can see why its a personal favorite of his because of the energy and sweat that was put into making the movie. The ingredients for success are here with the actor/director's trademark of slam bang action sequences with a touch of the absurd. Jackie Chan as director creates many show stopping moments for this well made feature.

The opening sequence begins with a nicely ser up action moment that pays off with a fantasitc car chase. My favorite opening scene in all of Jackie Chan's films because of its usage of excellent action imagery. Ging Chaat Goo Si/Police Story(1985) does lose some steam after the scene ends but only for a short while. This sequence represents some of the best work in Jackie Chan's output from the 1980s.

The car chase which concludes the opening scene of Police Story(1985) is the big moment of the sequence. Its a amazing moment especially when Kevin Chan drives his car down in and out some Shantytown buildings to catch some drug dealers. This aspect of the car chase makes it stand out from car chases in American films of that period. The originalty of the car chase in Police Story(1985) is what makes the moment fun to watch.

Ging Chaat Goo Si/Police Story(1985) is one of five Hong Kong action pictures that would influence numerous American action pics of the late 1980s-early 1990s. The one actor whose films have been influenced the most by Police Story is Sylvester Stallone. Especially true in films like Tango & Cash(1988), and Demolition Man(1993). Many American action pics have been influenced by this picture and some never reaches the excellence of its action sequences.

What makes Police Story work is the approach to make the character of Kevin Chan Ka Kui into an everyman figure who fights against opponents with strength and will power. Because of this approach the movie becomes much more entertaining. The everyman character that Jackie Chan plays is a part of what makes his films popular with audiences in manny parts of the world. He rarely plays a character who is super tough and is not an everyman.

The stunt work in the action scenes are amazing because of the danger element. Jackie Chan performs such dangerous stunts in Police Story(1985) that it's a testament to his strong conditioning and bravery. Because of his fearless attidude, Jackie Chan always recovers from injury to do more dangerous stunt work. Very few would do what Jackie does and this is what makes him beloved in the eyes of his fans.

Police Story(1985) finishes in style with the action sequence that tops the one at the beginning. The physical work done in this one scene is reward with top notch execution of the action. The closing sequence uses visual gags to strengthen its status as a classic sequence. Many have imitated this one scene but few never bother to make any imitated scene into a great scene.

Maggie Cheung plays a lousy role as the helpless girlfriend of Kevin Chan, May. One of her first major film roles before she became known as a serious dramatic actress. During this period in her career, Maggie Cheung never did any action moves or attempted to do so. This would change when Maggie Cheung took on the role of Thief Catcher in The Heroic Trio(1993).

Police Story(1985) and Police Story 3:Supercop(1992) are the best in the Polce Story series. Both contain strong female characters in the presence of Brigitte Lin and Michelle Yeoh. The two films have dazzling action scenes with creative thought put behind them. Police Story(1985) and Police Story 3(1992) have high octane finalles that never bore or disappoint.

Ging Chaat Goo Si/Police Story(1985) was Jackie Chan's response to the disappointing results of his second American film, The Protector(1985). Has many of the Chan highlights The Protector lacked. Jackie Chan as actor and director wanted to do things with Police Story(1985) he wasn't able to achieve in The Protector(1985). Police Story(1985) benefits from losing the Dirty Harry style of The Protector(1985).

Jackie Chan was Born to be a Star, or perhaps more Down to Earth, He made Himself a Star with Hard Work, Dedication, and Determination.

This Hong-Kong Feature became an International Hit with its Death-Defying Daring-Do. Incredible Practical Stunts that most in the Industry would say are Impractical as Jackie Performed and Audiences were Amazed.

As Likeable as any Action Hero, He Delivered a Half-Action, Half-Comedy Extravaganza on a Limited Budget with Unlimited Appeal.

Predictably the Extensive Comedy-Slap-Stick bits are an Acquired Taste, especially Considering the Cross-Cultural Limitations.

Overall, Arguably the Best of Jackie Chan can be Seen here and the Glory is Captured on New Transfers that are as Pristine as it gets in the World of Home HD Video.

One of the Highlights of the 1980's and Action Fans (and their dates) Responded with Overwhelming Praise as He Launched a Stellar Career that Survives to this Day.

Few have Embraced the Love of Craft more than this Dynamo as it is Evident in Every Jackie Chan Movie and His Fans Eat it Up.

Jackie Chan stars as tough police inspector Chan Ka Kui, who is determined to bring Hong Kong drug lord Chu Tao (Yuen Chor) to justice, but who finds himself having to clear his own name when he is framed for the murder of a corrupt cop. Helping Chan to put things right is Chu Tao's secretary Selina (Brigitte Lin), but her presence doesn't sit well with the inspector's jealous girlfriend May (Maggie Cheung).

Police Story is widely regarded as being amongst Jackie Chan's best films, but while it undeniably showcases some of the star's most incredible fighting and stunt-work—opening in spectacular fashion with the destruction of a hillside shanty town during a car chase, and closing with a jaw-dropping shopping mall showdown in which no pane of glass remains un- smashed—the simplistic plot and frequent Chaplin-esque comedy routines prevent it from being one of my favourites. Chan is renowned for his trademark blend of kung-fu and comedy, but in this case it seems out of place amidst the organised crime, murder and shooting.

6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for the eye-watering moment three men fly through the top window of a double-decker bus and hit the ground in a most painful manner.