Police Story Review
Not the best quality, but old school
Background Info
After a very negative experience in the US (filming the Protector) Jackie decided to push himself to the limit and show the world what a real police film could look like. Jackie starred in and directed the film, making sure that every aspect met his exact needs and demands. Would Jackie’s youth, motivation, and experience be enough to impress audiences?
Police Story Trailer (Again, not the best quality, but original)
Story/Characters
There are a lot of things to consider when talking about the story. Given the fact that it is dated, it’s not as deep as other films that have come out after it. However, Police Story doesn’t just focus on the action aspect of a movie, it lets you see the personal interactions that each character has. May is the best example of this, she has doubts and doesn’t just stay by Ka Kui’s side no matter what. Nothing feels like it was put in the story to lead to an action sequence, and I think that the story is what ties it all together.
Kau Kui is probably the deepest character in Police Story, and I’m fine with that. You get to see almost every aspect of his life, and you understand when he gets frustrated or angry. Like any other person, he makes mistakes, and that’s what makes him human. I wish more was done with the villains in the film, as they just feel like “the bad guys.” Overall, I think the characters provided the right amount of balance so that the film could be enjoyed without any distractions.
Action/Choreography
Do I really need to talk about this? Yeah, I guess I do. The action is insanely good. Nothing is every perfect, but this is darn well close to it. The stunts are very high risk, the choreography is fast and creative, and each sequence tops the one before it. I guess you could complain that a lot of glass is broken, but that’s the best complaint I got. If you still don’t believe me, check out one of the more “tame” action sequences from the film.
Own it, Watch it, or Skip it
Police Story is one of those movies that you just have to see. If you want to know what Jackie Chan is capable of, this movie does a very good job of showing you. While there will be some debate as to whether this is his best work, it’s easily in the top 5. There are countless movies that copied from this film (seriously, too many to list here) and it still sets the bar as to what an action movie is capable of. If you’ve never seen this movie, you might as well buy it because you’ll be showing it to anybody and everybody who will listen to you. This is a must have for any action junkie.
Own it
