Police Story 3: Super Cop

Though this is billed as the official third entry in the "Police Story" series, it doesn't really feel like a part of it. The higher production values and the rapid changes of international locations give it an almost Bondian feel. The comedy has been touched-up a bit from the previous entry, and it is actually frequently funny (unlike, for example, the comedy in "Twin Dragons" or the "Lucky Stars" films). The action sequences - from the (literally) death-defying stunts to the dizzyingly fast fight scenes - are incredible. The plot is much stronger than usual for a Chan film, though sometimes it collapses into chaos (particularly in the massacre after the meeting of the drug lords, where it's hard to know who's killing whom, or why). Michelle Yeoh cannot quite match Jackie in the comedy department - she doesn't have his facial expressions or comic timing - but she more than matches him in the action scenes, and she shows off some fantastic moves. The version I saw was (acceptably) dubbed, but thankfully did not include the rap soundtrack that others mention. (***)

Jackie Chan is the "Supercop" of the title in Stanley Tong's martial arts caper. Forget about the plot and just sit back and enjoy the spectacular stunts, broad comedy, (it's even funnier in this dubbed version), and first rate action sequences including an absolutely terrific climatic chase scene involving a train, a helicopter and a rope ladder between the two while the redoubtable Michelle Yeoh proves to be every bit Chan's equal when the chips are down. Not a Chan classic perhaps but hugely entertaining nevertheless.

After the dissapointing Police Story 2, Jackie steps off the director chair and let's Stanley Tong do the job. This entry in the series tones down the acrobatic fights trademarked by Chan, focusing more in vehicle chases, shoot-outs and regular (but well coreographed of course) hand to hand fights, and instead of Ka Kui running around Hong Kong, he travels from country to country while infiltrating a gang of drug dealers. Funnily enough this feels more of a natural sequel to the original than the jarring Police Story 2. The addition of Michelle Yeoh's Capt Yang brings a lot of freshness and contrast to Chan's Ka Kui wacky and hot-blooded persona, and steals the show for the most part. The only downside is that most of the secondary characters from the previous movies are either ditched or have just small roles. Still, you can go wrong with this one.

I've seen a lot of Jackie Chan films and its rare to find gem in the many jewels in the films he's made. There are real drama films like Crime Story, or the frentic action in the original police story, there's the three-brother action in Project A, there's the frenctic kung-fu in Drunken Master 2, and then there's this gem.

This is certainly the best in the police story series, the action is fantastic, the humor brilliant, the story well put together. The duo of Michelle Kahn (Yeoh) and Chan is amazing, and Yeoh almost steals the show in her own right - her persona and her instance to do her own stunts (like Chan) makes her a marvel to watch - this is why she is so damn good in Tomorrow Never Dies, but its a shame the director of TND never captured her in the same way Stanley Tong does!

Chan maybe getting older, and its getting harder and harder for him to surpass his best. In that respect, this is possibly the last, best action film we'll get to see. I enjoyed it, and I'm sure most chan fans will enjoy it too.

My Rating: 9/10.

Probably my fave Jackie flick so far, this has great story, GREAT stunts, great action, and great work from an awesome cast. The helicopter/train finale is an absolute rollercoaster. I'm fortunate enough to have scored a chinese-language DVD, and this cut is definitely better than the Americanized version, with more exposition, and probably more MICHELLE YEOH! She's the greatest, nearly upstaging Jackie every moment she's onscreen, and they work great together! And of course the terrific Yuen Wah always makes a good villain! All around a great, slick, fast paced action adventure, that anyone could enjoy! A blast all around! Oh, and let's not forget the gorgeous Maggie Cheung, pretty funny here...