Ba wong fa

First, I feel I should mention that I LOVE Hong Kong films. I like Hong Kong action movies, and I've found funny Hong Kong comedies. This movie mixes action and comedy together, but this mix doesn't work this time around. Pretty much all of the female characters in the movie are wimpy whiners and act in other ways that are pretty stereotypical. (Maybe Hong Kong audiences might find this funny, but I didn't.) The men are a bunch of sexist pigs for the most part. Again, this behavior may be funny to a foreign audience, but I don't think it will go well for many westerners. Another big weakness of the movie is that there is really no plot, just a bunch of vignettes stitched together with the flimsiest of excuses. On the plus side, the opening and closing parts of the movie do have some acceptable action. And while this movie may be flawed, it is certainly better than all the awful movies Cynthia Rothrock has made in the U.S.

I've spent so many years looking for a copy of this film on DVD but still, there's nothing. I had it on video, years ago and watched it constantly.. absolutely love this film! Love the action, the sense of humour... It's just a brilliant film! And I'd absolutely LOVE to be able to watch it again!

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 ...

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.

Actress Sibelle Hu stars as Madam Wu, a character that is spun-off from the "Five Lucky Stars" movie series. Here, she is in charge of training a group of female Banshee Squad Members of the Hong Kong Police Force. Next door to their academy is the male Tiger Squad Members, led by Inspector Kan (Shui-Fan Fung).

What started out as some rigorous training action quickly was reduced to a prolonged scene set at a roller-skating rink towards the middle of the movie, where the Tiger Squad members try to court the Banshee Squad members. This scene really dragged with unnecessary slapstick humor that distracts from the movie's main plot. The subplots of the members courting one another and the rivalry of Madam Wu and Inspector Kan are not interwoven into the story well, making you wonder what the main objective of this movie's story is. Some butt-kicking and gut-totting action do not take place until the end of the film.

So, if you are a fan of slapstick comedy, give this film a watch. If you are a fan of action movies only, watch the beginning, than forward to the end.

Grade C-