Review of Police Story (1985) by Rosco B — 09 Apr 2013

The prolific director/star/ daredevil stuntman Jackie Chan was a tad miffed by the time he made this action classic- his dabbling with Hollywood the first time round (in the "Cannonball Run" flicks as well as his feted star debut "The Protector", which bombed) had left him cold.

However, on his return to his homeland, the walloping success of this (the first proper Kung Fu Police Thriller tagged not incorrectly with "More action than you've ever seen!") brought about a creative purple patch in his career.

The choice gems from the slew of flicks to follow (including "Dragons Forever", "Armour of God" and "Wheels on Meals") represent Chan at his fun, action-packed best. The plot is typically basic stuff, as hinted at by the Ronseal "does what it says on the tin" title; with Chan playing Kevin Chan, (it's the little differences) the star cop of his precinct who is inevitably forced to play by his own rules when up against a ruthless drug lord.

But as goes without saying with Chan's best output- it's the relentless action sequences within it that everyone is there for. "Police Story" has many of them, and the opener: a ramshackle shootout-cum-carchase through a tiny hillside shanty town, is a wildly kinetic treat.

Theres barely room to make a toilet break during all the barnstorming action; in fact the movie was nicknamed "Glass Story" by the crew, who must have gone through hundreds of panes of stunt glass during shooting.

As with most Chan movies, theres a perverse thrill from watching the end credits out-take sequences, which show the man suffering for his art on a very regular basis. In this one, during the climax's spectacular leap and slide down a light-encrusted pole in a shopping mall, Chan managed to dislocate his pelvis.

Doctors didn't even know it was possible till Chan showed them otherwise. Respect. And ouch.