Review of Police Story (1985) by Jake V — 23 May 2008

This is one of the more well known Jackie Chan films when he was in his prime and at superstardom in Asian cinema, where he plays a policeman who is assigned to protect a witness who has to testify against her drug dealing boss, and then has to protect himself as things go from bad to worse for the action star.

There is a quality story here for a film which predominantly has action at the fore of the movie. Chan's portrayal as the cop who starts as a hero and then framed throughout is well executed, and is actually a very funny film as most of Chan's later films are.

Still, Chan's films largely are decided by its action scenes and it's fair to say that there are some memorable ones here, from a shanty town chase at the start, including some audacious bus scenes, and the shopping mall finish, where most of the centre gets demolished, they are worth watching over and over again.

It is also worth noting that the relationship with Maggie Cheung in the film is funny as well, without being too slapstick or slushy either way.

There is some teeth-gindingly intriguing music here as well; some Japanese 80's synth-rock band doing the theme for the film definitely sticks in the mind, though to be honest I still cannot decide if that is a good or bad thing!

Downers? Well, some humour shown is a little too wierd, and it also feels dated at times, but not often in either aspect. It certainly should not put you off what is a different and humouristic action film.