Police Story (1985)

Police Story is the little movie that spawned a long-lasting franchise of action-packed movies starring Jackie Chan. This first one was a product of its time with violent cops and villains with little concern for civilian lives or property. There was also plenty of Jackie Chan’s patented comedy alongside the fists, kicks, bullets, and breaking glass.

Sgt. Chan Ga Kui is part of a sting operation on drug cartels having a meeting in a shanty town. They are particularly after Boss Koo and his gang. After destroying most of the squatters’ village, and a spectacular rundown of an escaping bus, Chan slaps the cuffs on Koo and becomes a local hero and is used for recruitment. Superintendent Li decides to use Koo’s secretary, Salina Fong, as a witness, which puts her life in jeopardy. Chan is ordered to be her bodyguard. From then on, the case and Chan’s life take a turn for the worse.

I enjoyed the first third of this film and the last third. The middle third dragged badly for me. There was a long “comedic” scene with his girlfriend. A painfully bad trial scene. And then another comedic scene where a woman who had been raped and a woman who was being beaten by her husband were completely ignored during a phone gag. I also had to remind myself that the beautiful and talented Maggie Cheung was paying her dues in the thankless, idiotic girlfriend role.

The stunts were phenomenal for the time. The umbrella and bus stunt, numerous fights involving sugar glass, and the final stunt with Chan in a mall sliding down a tall pole surrounded by draping lights were leaps and bounds beyond the status quo in 1985. They were also inherently dangerous. Chan was injured twice during filming. Brigitte Lin even stepped up and was thrown through a table and also a plate glass window. Few movies unless they were filmed in a glass factory would have more people shattering glass with their bodies. Proof also that movie glass is magical as no characters were badly cut despite all the bodies bouncing off the huge panes and shattered pieces of translucent blades.

Police Story broke new ground for fighting and action stunts even though the story did not. Chan’s athleticism and flexibility was a thing of wonder. My rating is based on the astonishing stunts at the beginning and ending of the film and also on my pre-1990’s grading curve.

25 March 2024

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Wow, the birth of Police Story! When I started this I honestly thought this was a rewatch, but the US of A unfortunately doesn't respect this franchise. After watching Police Story 2013 I decided to see the franchise from the beginning. As it is one of my favorites and I had thought that this one was the first time I had seen Jackie Chan and fell in love. Boy was I wrong. The copy I bought failed to add "New" in the title. Which is actually movie 5. So basically seeing the last two most recent ones I felt crest fallen that this oldie (where talking 1985) was going to be a let down. Especially as I realized movie 4 was my intro to the franchise! I have never seen movies 1 to 2 before! (I think we'll find out when I watch 2.)

After getting over the shock of the terrible action noises loved of the 80s, the stylish short hair female bob, the track suits (oh, gosh), the scaredy-cat pee (yes this was a action trope of the 80s), and some other things I fell in love. Actually that stuff didn't even bother me. Because Police Story really holds up. Sure the sound effects don't and it has that grainy quality in the film. Minor things because the cinematography is great and showcases Jackie's amazing comedic action style. In fact you'll find some of his iconic stunts here. The green bus scene with the umbrella and the pay off with the mall lights.

Sure the story can't be called brilliant. However, for an action movie of it's time it's solid. We're given the story and the pacing keeps us at the edge of our seats! This is definitely an action COMEDY. Despite some of the darker themes and stakes I spent most of the movie with a grin on my face. Whether it was Jackie dealing with his girlfriend (I'm going to call him that as his name changes from movie to movie) or trying to handle the witness. Or his iconic action comedy scenes. This makes me realize how dark the last two entries in the franchise have gone. New Police Story tried to keep it while updating. However, Police Story 2013 lost everything that I loved about the franchise.

More importantly that while the females are damsels, they get in there. Jackie's girlfriend attempts to help and does actually faithfully believe him. The witness is a female and while she spends more time being a damsel when she realizes she needs to fight, and that Jackie is her only hope, she goes in swinging for the bad guys. Even after repeatedly getting hurt!! Yeah! You don't need to be a super fighter to be a strong female character. Girl had balls of steel.

Overall this movie made me fall head of heels for Police Story. Sure it can be argued that the plot is no longer cutting edge. However, it has nuances. Whether it's the individual actors such as Jackie working in the police station. Or the opening with that small town and the transition to the industrialization of city life. This movie speaks of it's people and culture. It showcases action stunts that are so great that they are better then most of the crap they tell us are fight scenes now a days. Not to mention classic action humor that doesn't require a joke or witty banter in between fights. Jackie is amazing and seeing him with a wide range of emotions on his face is brilliant. (The theme of dark gritty movies tends to take that away.) This holds up, maybe not the sound, but I think this is the best place to start the franchise. Don't worry about how old it is. Besides this was still fresh enough to avoid being too much of a cliché.

Not only do we get the cannon behind the name of this franchise, but I saw a few jokes that are recurring. (Or at least I remember them being recurring in the other movies.) Not to mention Jackie makes wiping poop of his shoes into a hilarious dance!

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