Review of Police Story

Introduction

Most modern audiences will probably have encountered Jackie Chan in films like Rush Hour and Shanghai Noon. After many years of trying, he is now quite deservedly reaping the rewards of the lucrative Western market. However, it must be said that Hollywood doesn`t quite know what to do with Jackie Chan`s talent, and invariably he`s cast in comedies and teamed up with a wisecracking Hollywood actor to supply a few witticisms to balance his physicality. It`s shame that some will only know Jackie Chan from his Hollywood career, and will have little idea of his extensive Hong Kong film output, films that show off his talent to best effect. One of his best-known Hong Kong films is Police Story, made in 1985. Hong Kong Legends released it with a remastered picture in a Collector`s Edition in 2001.

The Hong Kong police achieve a coup by busting a drugs deal, during which officer Chan Ka Kui (Jackie Chan) is instrumental in apprehending the leader Chu Tu. Also arrested is Chu`s secretary Salina Fong, but rather than charge her, the police decide to use her as a star witness in the trial. This naturally makes her a target, and it`s down to the police`s new poster boy Ka Kui to take her into protective custody. However Chu Tu`s reach is long, and courtesy of an expensive lawyer he soon walks free. Pretty soon Ka Kui is a fugitive himself, framed for the murder of a fellow police officer. He`ll have to take the law into his own hands to clear his name.

Video

The picture is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer. Police Story probably hasn`t looked this good before, the print is clear and colourful and detail levels are good. That said there is some grain prevalent as well as some minor print damage in the form of vertical white lines on some frames. The layer change could have been better placed.

Audio

The sound on the other hand is a distinct disappointment. You have a choice of DD 5.1 Cantonese or dubbed English soundtracks. For preference I watched the film in the original Cantonese. The dialogue sounds very flat and dull, betraying its mono roots. The sound itself lacks dynamism, with only the occasional spot effect really making use of the surrounds. Other than that it`s a decidedly front-focussed affair. The only element to really benefit from the 5.1 spruce up is the music, which sounds crisp and punchy. There were a few moments of hiss as well. I had a brief listen to the English dub, and while the dialogue is a tad clearer, there is little else to separate the two soundtracks. Subtitles are available in English and Dutch.

Features

Hong Kong Legends create another feature packed disc with their customary élan. The menus are nicely animated, with plenty of images from the film.

The animated biography lasts some 37 minutes, and has a narration relating the significant events in Jackie Chan`s career over a montage of his films. The on screen action doesn`t always coincide with the film being discussed.

There is a photo gallery with 33 pictures and stills from the film. They are good in that they make significant use of the screen size, but are marred by the menu being overlaid on them.

There are trailers for Police Story, Armour of God, City Hunter, Battle Creek Brawl and Miracles.

There is an interview with the man himself that lasts some 20 minutes. He describes the process of making a film, how he begins with the stunt sequences and then builds a script around them. He also describes the level of teamwork involved in his films and describes what motivates him to keep working. Of particular interest is the return to the shopping mall where the climax of Police Story was shot.

The Outtake Montage features the extended ending of the film and the alternative outtake montage from the Japanese Laserdisc version of the film.

This being HKL, you`ll be able to find trailers for 10 other films on the disc somewhere.

Naturally this disc wouldn`t be complete without an audio commentary from Bey Logan. He talks about the film with his customary zeal and eloquence and as usual imparts an encyclopaedia of knowledge in the process.

Conclusion

Police Story isn`t my favourite Jackie Chan movie. That would be Wheels On Meals, closely followed by Project A. However the latter two are pure comedy vehicles, whereas Police Story has a slightly darker outlook. Police Story is more of a drama, with the Hong Kong police in the thick of things battling drug dealers. It wouldn`t be a Jackie Chan film without comedy of course, but it`s carefully interleaved with the story and never overwhelms the dramatic intent of the narrative.

The story isn`t necessarily complex, but stories in these films seldom are, constructed as they are around the action sequences. The action is something special indeed in Police Story, from the stunning destruction of a hillside slum as cars tear through the shantytown, to the amazing climax in a shopping mall, where Ka Kui finally confronts the bad guys. The fight sequences are stunning with Ka Kui having to face multiple opponents in several scenes. The sheer amount of glass shattered in this film resulted in several lacerated stuntmen and actors, as well as the film being called Glass Story on set.

Jackie Chan is the perfect everyman, and it`s easy for audiences to root for him, similarly his penchant for putting himself where stuntmen fear to go results in some amazing and unforgettable cinema. Whether he is hanging precariously from the back of a bus, or leaping to grab a pole 30 feet above the ground, a Jackie Chan film always delivers full value. In Police Story he also gives a good performance as a policeman on the edge, as he is framed and becomes a fugitive fleeing from justice.

Police Story is a great mix of action, drama and comedy. The fight sequences are spell binding, the stunts are awe-inspiring and the entertainment is relentless. The Collector`s Edition from HKL is getting a little long in the tooth though, and the sound is below par. Time for an updated release methinks.