Ba wong fa

I had the opportunity to sit down and watch the 1988 Hong Kong action comedy "Ba Wong Fa" (aka "The Inspector Wears Skirts") for the first time here in 2023. Oddly enough, with my interest and fascination with the Hong Kong cinema, then I had actually never heard about the movie prior to getting to watch it.

Writer Kam Fu Cheng put together a fair enough script and storyline here. However, while the movie certainly was watchable, then it was also at the same time not a particularly outstanding movie. So I hadn't really been missing out on a gem in the Hong Kong cinema.

There were a few moments here and there throughout the course of the movie that brought a smile to my lips. But for a comedy, then "Ba Wong Fa" wasn't really all that funny. I wasn't brought to laughter once throughout the course of the movie.

They had a good cast ensemble in the movie, and it was definitely nice to see Sandra Kwan Yue Ng on the screen. And the movie also had Dennis Chan, Ken Lo and Fui-On Shing on the cast list, though in smaller roles. So there were some familiar faces. Oh, and the movie also had Cynthia Rothrock on the cast list, though it wasn't something I found a particular joy in, as I have never been a fan of hers.

I can check this movie off the 'watched-movies-list' now. But I doubt I will ever return to watch director Wellson Chin's movie a second time.

My rating of "Ba Wong Fa" lands on a very bland five out of ten stars.

The movie makes you think that it's a police action movie like "In the line of Duty". It's actually not. It's about women police academy students and their misadventures.

Almost third of the movie is spent on the stupid skate rink scene. The other third is spent on boring training scene. There's hardly any story to this movie.

The movie says it's produced by Jackie Chan. If it's true, this is the worst movie he's ever made.

There's a teaser action scene involving Sibelle Hu and Cynthia Rothrock in the beginning. If the movie went on in entirety with this kind of action, it would have been a pretty good action movie. Instead it's mostly acted by novice female actors that are less than a comic relief.

This is the first movie I see Sandra Ng in.

The movie has no focus, and jumps from one topic to another. It's one of the worst movie I've ever seen, from Hong Kong or otherwise.

This film is more than great.I love it.the scenario is equally good for a comedy and for an action.The jokes are original and really funny, the fight is an art.The actors fit their roles perfectly.Cynthia Rothrock's presence improves the quality , the adventure that she created on the abandoned ship was a professional performance, its ashame that she didn't take place in the other 3 parts of the movie.Sibelle Hu amazed me...she combines charm , character , fighting skills she is sexy and tough ,elegant and disciplined , she got sens of humor and she is sever when needed.I love her :) And May ,Amy , Aylene they are so much fun :)) , the love stories - Karen and Peter that showed us what an angry women can do , and also Jean and her lover ...but Amy oh this Amy , it is only worthy to watch the movie because of her she always gets into the biggest messes and always turns them into a huge fun well i can tell you more and more and more but why let me when you can see with your eyes this treasure , do not hesitate ,you will not sorry ...

If you're looking for HK-style girl action thrills you won't find very much here. Practically all of it is confined to the beginning and the end of the movie with lots of light comic filler in between. There is a goofy musical production number in a roller rink and Cynthia Rothrock is great but there's very little of what most viewers want from a movie like this..namely watching Chinese girls fight and shoot better than any guy can.

Tough commando Madam Hu (Sibelle Hu, My Lucky Stars) is recruited to train a hand-picked squad of policewomen to become specialists in diffusing hostage situations. Faced with the task of turning a group of pretty girls, narcissists, and nervous nellies into ideal law enforcers, she enlists the help of her comrade Madam Law (Rothrock, Above the Law) to teach the giggling girls the ropes of apprehending terrorists; it will take their combined efforts to prepare them to take on a pack of deadly jewel thieves looking to steal one of Hong Kong's most precious diamonds.

An enjoyable HK Kung-fu film, though don't expect wall-to-wall action. There's one in the beginning featuring Cynthia Rothrock, and where Sibelle and Cynthia thwart a suicide bomber with a flagpole, a three-on-one weapons encounter involving a staff, sword, and three-section nunchaku, and a daredevil stunt featuring dropkick delivered from 15 feet off the ground. Phew! In the middle of the mayhem is a typical undisciplined girls joining a Commando academy, then through trials and tribulations they become disciplined. It's quite fun with some good comic moments.