Police Story (Review)

Bland translation. Great movie.

Jackie’s first attempt at a cop flick starts and ends spectacularly, and if it weren’t for a dead patch mid-film this would be in the discussion for inclusion on his All-Time best list.

As it stands it is simply a really good film featuring two of the more awesome sequences that have been committed to film.

Jackie is Ka Kui (depending on which version you rent), a member of the Hong Kong police. At the start of the film they are planning a sting on crime boss Chu and his gang.

When the cover is blown a chase ensues that starts by charging headlong through (Not around. Through.) a shanty town on the hillside, complete with dozens of extras diving this way and that as cars just emerge from and over buildings. Jackie then continues on foot, eventually catches the bus and holds on using only an umbrella as the bus veers all over the road and around bends, and then finally stops the bus by heading them off at the pass.

16 minutes of action packed goodness. This scene alone is reason enough to hunt down Police Story.

The rest of the film has Ka Kui charged with looking after a witness named Miss Fong. Once Chu evades imprisonment in a shonky court case that could only exist in a Jackie Chan movie he sets about killing Miss Fong and Ka Kui.

Ka Kui obviously gets pissed and decides to fix this for himself.

The closing sequence is also brilliant. Set in a mall the fight starts off well enough, then builds the pace towards the last few minutes where one by one the attackers are dispatched in brutal fashion. (On set apparently the movie was dubbed “Glass Story” because of the number of stunts featuring sugar-glass in the finale.)

1/ Are there any “WOW!” fights?

Hell yeah, the finale is only one of many.

2/ Are there any “WOW!” stunts?

My word yes. The cars down the hill, and various other near misses. That’s before the showdown in the mall where almost everyone ends up being thrown through windows.

3/ Which Jackie is it? Serious / Whimsical / Cocky etc…

Serious, then amorous, then pissed.

4/ Does he get to use Jackie-exclusive toys?

Mitsubishi features prominently, but Jackie wasn’t quite famous enough to demand his toys yet.

5/ Do stolen relics come up?

No.

6/ Are there hot chicks (that usually can’t act)?

I wouldn’t say Miss Fong nor Ka Kui’s GF May would qualify under standard hotness provisions.

7/ Is there a blooper reel over the credits?

Yep. One of the best.

8/ Were there injuries on the shoot? Severity?

You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. Various injuries and Jackie burned his hands sliding down an electrified pole. (Wasn’t supposed to be electrified.)

9/ Has he still got it?

A thousand times yes.

10/ Is it a “Jackie Chan” film, or just one he is in?

One of the first “Jackie Chan” films.

Final Rating – 8.5 / 10. A great film bookended by two classic sequences, only let down a little by a plodding middle sequence.

About OGR

While I try to throw a joke or two into proceedings when I can all of the opinions presented in my reviews are genuine. I don't expect that all will agree with my thoughts at all times nor would it be any fun if you did, so don't be shy in telling me where you think I went wrong... and hopefully if you think I got it right for once. Don't be shy, half the fun is in the conversation after the movie.
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