Ultra Force III - In the Line of Duty

Hong Kong action films of the Eighties were so bloody tough and so beautifully made, especially films that had budgets (like this one).

Against the bland, CGI-driven Hollywood action flicks of the Noughties, a film like IN THE LINE OF DUTY 3 looks like an artifact from another planet.

Everything you see was done for real. Every sequence was staged by stunties who risked their lives.

There is an amazing relationship between two Japanese lovers (Michiko Nishiwaki and Stuart Ong) in this mind-blowing film. Ong is dying of leukeamia, and in one scene, they make love while Ong's hair comes off in Nishiwaki's hand. Later, after Ong is killed, Nishiwaki vows a brutal revenge that we clearly understand because we've been intimate with them.

It is this kind of attention to nuance that lifts this Arthur Wong-Brandy Yuen-directed pic to classic status.

Cynthia Khan, debuting as D & B Films' replacement for Michaelle Khan, does a terrific job as a cop assaulted at ever juncture by the murderous villains.

A sequence involving a jewellery heist is one of the best of its kind and possesses a kineticism rarely seen in any films these days.

Ditto an incredibly violent and realistic fight sequence between genre stalwart Dick Wei and Hiroshi Fujioka's hardcore cop.

Relentless, operatic and explosive.

A pair of stylish Japanese thieves steal some valuable gems at a fashion show, and during their escape, they kill the partner of a ruffled detective (Hiroshi Fijioka). The detective swears revenge, and the thieves played by Michiko Nishiwaki and her terminally ill partner/lover played by Stuart Ong plan on going to Hong Kong, sell the loot, and buy weapons for the Red Army. All the while Cynthia, a rookie cop in Hong Kong, tries to get in on the action of the task force she has been assigned to, but unfortunately her superior is her uncle who wants to keep her out of harms way. The Japanese thieves and the detective trailing them, all make their way to Hong Kong, and Cynthia ends up entangled in the same mess with the detective, trying to bring the cold blooded and desperate thieves to justice. People on both sides are killed, leading to crossed paths of personal revenge, everyone out for each others blood.

Cynthia Khan takes over from Michelle Yeoh in this "girls with guns" action thriller which has a mix of comedy, drama and hard-hitting action. It's a strange concoction as in one hand you have light humour between Cynthia and her uncle, who doesn't want her to be a cop, and in the other you have two cold-blooded villains who make Bonnie and Clyde seem like church-going devotees; they cold-bloodedly kill, and are part of the Red army. They are pretty dark characters. Plus you got a detective, who looks like a cross between Sonny Chiba and Columbo, who is on a mission to nab the killers. It's not as good as Royal Warriors, but it's a satisfying piece of action mayhem with a good plot, good humour and some intense and exhilarating action scenes. Plus Cynthia Khan looks cute, is likeable and kicks butt!

This is the first and only Cynthia Khan movie I have seen so far, and all I have to say is "WOW!". She is amazing - more flexible than rubber. If she ever got in a fight with Jackie Chan, he could conceivably beat her, but I wouldn't bet my money on it! Plus, she is MUCH cuter than Michelle Yeoh. And if she is not enough, there is an extra bonus for action-girl fans: one of the villains is a real tough bi*ch who definitely won't go down without a fight. But the men don't get short-changed, either: there is a Japanese cop and two male villains, and all three are VERY determined and VERY good at fighting - the cop and one of the bad guys engage in one of the most brutal, vicious fights that have ever been committed to film. The rest of the action scenes (car crashes, explosions, shootouts) are also supreme. The film never stops to take a breath - there is little of the comedy that usually bogs down Hong Kong productions (there ARE cameos by some of the "Lucky Stars", but they only last a few seconds). As a result, there is more room for action, action and more action. And if action is what you want, "In The Line Of Duty 3" is as good as it gets. (***1/2)

Seminal film in the modern Hong Kong action film series, notable for the debut of Cynthia Khan, who had the unenviable task to replace the `retired' Michelle Khan/Yeoh.

In a bloody beginning, a pair of stylish Japanese thieves steal some valuable gems. In a harrowing scene, during their escape, they kill the partner of a ruffled detective (think Columbo with a Chuck Barris hairdo). The detective swears revenge, and the thieves played by the athletic and lovely Michiko Nishiwaki and her terminally ill partner/lover played by Stuart Ong plan on going to Hong Kong, sell the loot, and buy weapons for the Red Army. All the while Cynthia, a rookie cop in Hong Kong, tries to get in on the action of the task force she has been assigned to, but unfortunately her superior is her uncle who wants to keep her out of harms way. The Japanese thieves and the detective trailing them, all make their way to Hong Kong, and Cynthia ends up entangled in the same mess with the detective, trying to bring the cold blooded and desperate thieves to justice. People on both sides are killed, leading to crossed paths of personal revenge, everyone out for each others blood.

The action, typical of the genre, is fast, bloody, and brutal, both Cynthia and Michicko are firecrackers and, in addition to being very easy on the eyes, display some great kicks and punches. The fight scenes, particularly the finale, are directed in a rapid paced, blink and you'll miss it fashion, with shots edited so that someone will be falling down from a punch, then in the next shot they are already up and spinning a kick against the opponent (any kind of reaction or recovery shot is gone, its just kick, punch, kick). Highly entertaining film.

The third of the In the Line of Duty films. Not as good as the first two but excellent nonetheless. Cynthia Khan takes over as the lead from Michelle Yeoh although different character completely once again. She is excellent here & I thought many of her stunts surpassed Michelle Yeoh but the script is not as strong.

Plenty of action and fight scenes that are well choreographed. The subplot of Rachel (Cynthia Khan) and her Uncle was played too much for laughs, wasn't funny at that & just a single repeated joke line.

You really watch this film for the action and not so much for the story. So if you like the Girls with Guns films, this should be on your watch list.