VIDEO REVIEW: Police Story 2

VIDEO REVIEW: Police Story

FLICKS OF THE WEEK: September 25 - October 1, October 2 - 8

SEPTEMBER 25TH - OCTOBER 1ST

The Heroic Trio is an excellent fantasy action film that showcases three talented Asian actresses: Michelle Yeoh, Anita Mui, and Maggie Cheung. These three separate women inhabit a world where demonic forces constantly interact with the world of the living, often bringing about terrible crimes, and in the case of this film, heartless kidnappings. What's most interesting about this film, is that the three main characters are all on opposite sides of an ongoing war between malevolent spirits in the underworld and the law enforcement agents of the world above. Anita Mui's character is a vigilante hero of sorts who lives her ordinary life as a simple detective's wife, while Michelle Yeoh plays the right hand agent to the Lord of the underworld, leaving Maggie Cheung's character to straddle both sides in the role of the mercenary.

All three women cross paths in various portions of the film, often setting off extravagant fight scenes while opening up the overall depth of the storyline and intertwining their own personal stories. I really enjoyed the coming together of their little group and the inevitable bond that they eventually share between each other. The film is all kinds of fun, taking that Charlie's Angel's style plot and giving it some energy and dare I say, kick. Now I've got to hunt down the sequel.

Spiritual Kung Fu is a wonderful and obscure little film from Jackie Chan's early career, when he was still making movies under the Lo Wei Motion Picture Company banner. The film follows a trouble making young man named Yi-Lang, played by Chan, who seems to be the class clown of sorts at a Shaolin Temple. The movie starts out rather carefree, mostly focusing on Yi-Lang's antics and comedic moments, but then quickly starts to delve into more serious territory after a sacred book is stolen from the temple. The texts describe a deadly form of Kung Fu and the only way for the style to be countered is for goofy Yi-Lang to be taught by a handful of equally goofy ghosts. Yeah, you heard me right.... ghosts. And these aren't your normal kind of ghosts either, they're some kind of disturbing hybrid of nightmarish mime clowns. It you think my short description is scary, just wait until you see these creeps in motion. Dear god, I'm still having nightmares.

It's wacky and frightening as all hell, but for some reason Jackie seems to make it feel natural, fun, and believable. There's a great deal of comedy in the training segments between Yi-Lang and the ghosts, showcasing some of Jackie's expert comedic timing, while giving us a rough draft of what would come later in some of his most classic films. I really enjoyed this flick, like most of Jackie's extensive catalog of films, and I had one hell of a time with the over the top concept of having ghosts teach Mr. Chan how to kick ass. If you're a fan of the Chan, then you have to check this one out.

Supercop 2, the sequel to the amazing and classic first Supercop entry, is a wonderful action packed Hong Kong film starring the spectacular Michelle Yeoh. In this entry, Yeoh takes center stage returning as the hard as nails cop, Jessica Yang. The film opens up as a more personal portrayal of Yeoh's character from the first film, still exhibiting Michelle's expertly crafted martial arts skills yet at the same time allowing for us to see her shown in a more emotional light. We come to find that she has a tragic love story behind those fierce kicks and tenacious flare, and the added layer of her character's background adds a great deal of breadth to the film. The main story arc of the film follows Yeoh to Hong Kong, where she is assigned a mission to hunt down a group of high-tech bank robbers before they make their next big score. The real twist of this seemingly simple plot, is that Yeoh's estranged boyfriend is the leader of this gang. There are some interesting moments during the film, where Yeoh's character must struggle between the reignited feelings for her long lost love with the painstakingly real duties of being a police officer.

The entanglement between these conflicting emotions are expertly crafted by series director Stanley Tong and Yeoh handles it with all the grace that such an accomplished actress can. Not every moment in the film is as dramatic as I've described. There's one scene in particular that just seems right out of left field in its absurdity and random nature, and that would be Jackie Chan's small cameo. All you need to know is that Jackie is in drag and there's a lot of boob grabbing. I really loved the film, even with its random moments of silliness. The decision to go a more serious route with the sequel was pure genius on the filmmaker's part, allowing Yeoh to really thrive in her character and take the film on in her own way. Excellent flick.

OCTOBER 2ND - 8TH

The Fabulous Journey to the Center of the Earth is a fabulously silly adventure film that is encumbered by its low budget, yet doesn't let that fact hold it back from being quite entertaining. The film follows a small group of assorted people as they travel into a mouth of a volcano, that just so happens to be the entrance to a whole new world that lies in the center of the earth. The movie has a great deal of outlandish locations and creatures, the most memorable being the larger then life field of tortoises, giant sea creatures, and a gigantic ape who could have been the distant cousin to the legendary King Kong.

The main core of actors do a commendable job with the material and each of them get equal screen time and their own reasons for being on this fabulous journey. The film also moves rather quickly, never settling in one location for more then a few minutes before having the entire cast flee from some monstrous being or horrible turn of events. It's a strange thing, yet once the team of adventurers arrive in the center of the earth, they don't really have any endgame for what to do. They literally just roam around aimlessly, with no particular goal in sight. I guess you don't really need a complicated plot with these kind of films, just the introduction to a world bathed in fantasy and a continuous series of set pieces that keep the viewer entertained and curious on what happens next. In the end, the film is just downright goofy fun. It never takes itself too serious and it's always willing to push on to the next otherworldly locale. I had a great time watching this group of curious adventurers go from one outlandish situation to the next. Definitely check it out if you're a fan of films like The Land That Time Forgot, The People That Time Forgot, The Lost World, and The Lost Continent.

Shaolin Wooden Men is another early Jackie Chan film that happens to feature one of his first starring roles. Chan plays a mute character who, after witnessing the murder of his father as a child, vows to become a Shaolin monk and learn martial arts to avenge his father's death by the hands of a nameless skilled assassin. After falling to the bottom of the class, Chan meets an imprisoned man on the Shaolin temple grounds, whose origins are a bit of a mystery. The man agrees to teach Chan a devastating and lost style, previously banned by the Shaolin monks, if he continues to bring food and drink to him everyday. Chan agrees and starts his training. There are a few twists and turns along the way, because unbeknownst to Chan, the imprisoned man has a long history of manipulation and murder that directly effects Chan's life, giving way to some very tense moments of realization on Chan's part.

Another aspect of the film that is very memorable is the inclusion of the Shaolin Wooden Men, which amounts to the Shaolin temple's rating system on whether you've reached true Shaolin Monk status. A person that wants to test their worth must pass through a number of corridors filled with rows upon rows of wooden dummies, all being manipulated and moved by an intricate pulley system. Only the most skilled will make it through to the end. You'll either love the concept or be put off by the test of skill, because the wooden men are rather wooden, only being able to move in certain ways. In my opinion, the mechanism of the wooden men is just brilliant, making for an impressive sequence of events that really up the creative aspect of the picture. Jackie performs masterfully in this scene, really selling the fact that this trial of strength and skill is something of a nightmare for young Shaolin pupils.

Overall the entire film is excellent, begging the question, why is this film not talked about more often? It has all the elements of Jackie Chan's earlier work and the staples and archetypes of what would be heralded in some of his most renowned films. Shaolin Wooden Men is just excellent and if you can get your hands on the Hong Kong Legends DVD edition, then do it. The film is a true classic and highly recommended for any fans of Jackie's work.

HERE'S JACKIE!: Police Story 2

Police Story 2
Director: Jackie Chan
Year 1988

Well let's keep this birthday party train going with my review of Jackie Chan's continuation of his action packed Police Story, the even more action packed Police Story 2. The story picks right up from where we last left our hero, but after his destructive display at the mall he is now been placed on traffic duty. Bummer. To make matters worse, the crime boss that he put away is out again and surprise surprise, he's vowed to make Jackie's life a living hell, again. Thugs begin harassing Jackie as he goes on a date with his girlfriend May, still played by the lovely Maggie Cheung. They even follow May back to her home and rough her up a bit. Those actions are a sure fire way to piss Jackie off and send him right over the edge again.

Don't make Jackie angry. You won't like him when he's angry.

Of course this leads to some great fight scenes where Jackie gets to show off his talents and take on a number of thugs that have pushed him too far. The first fight occurs in a restaurant where the thugs that had previously attacked May are enjoying their lunch. Jackie storms in and starts wrecking the place, using any and all objects in his path as a weapon. After some amazing choreography and a dangerous stunt with an out of control van crashing into the restaurant, Jackie realizes that he has done it again and that his superiors are going to be furious with him that he can't control his wild rage.

Food fight!

As a director, Jackie Chan has found a great rhythm that I believe he has mastered since his humble beginnings on making The Fearless Hyena. You can see the maturity of his direction as the story becomes more fleshed out with each film that he works on. In Armour of God he had the fight scenes down packed, but the story was a little lacking due to the inexperience that Jackie had in directing epic adventure movies. Then he moved on to make Project A2 where he greatly built from his experiences on making the first Project A and ended up making a more comprehensible film from what he learned. I think the experiences that he gained through directing those two movies, allowed him to make an even better film with Police Story 2. The look and feel of the film, along with the progression of the story and the amazing set pieces, prove that he is indeed coming into his own and making more competent and daring films that push his skills as both a director and actor.

Look at all the pretty lights.

He's also improved on setting up his comedy moments. In this film, they are more free formed and seem to feel more natural as it spontaneously pops up within the scene. One of these moments is when Jackie is in a crowded elevator with his superior Bill Wong played by Bill Tung. They are in the middle of a bunch of people and Bill Wong lets some gas escape from his derriere. All of the people begin holding their nose and as soon as the doors open everyone gets out including Mr. Tung. He points back at Jackie's character and basically blames it all on him. The doors shut and Jackie must ride up to the top floor of the building by himself. It's a fart joke, and usually something reserved for an american audience, but the timing and situation that this scene presents itself is quite unexpected and it works as Jackie is always on the receiving end of most of the jokes. It's a silly scene and helps to lighten the dark tone that the film dips into from time to time.

He who smelt it dealt it.

Throughout the film we are treated to scenes of the thugs messing with Jackie and at critical points Jackie fights back starting an avalanche of kicks and punches that culminate into a full blown fight. One of the most memorable fight scenes in this film happens at a playground at night and Jackie uses the environment to his full advantage, breaking noses and taking names.

You cannot contain Jackie Chan's fury!

He throws advisories into slides and narrowly escapes blows by diving through monkey bars and climbing over various metal structures. It's amazing to see it all in motion and at such a frenzied tempo. It is almost like a violent ballet, where all the moves are choreographed to perfection as the entire cast collects their bumps and bruises. The style of fighting that Jackie has improved on throughout his career is so engaging and never leaves a boring moment in its wake as it plunges forward, that it proves that he is a true master in his field.

The children! My god won't someone think of the children!

This playground fight even spills out into the surrounding areas as Jackie attempts to flee from the chaos. He rushes down an alley only to find that it is a dead end. Two of the thugs corner him as they drive their car down the alley. They slam on the gas and hurdle towards Jackie at a tremendous speed. Jackie runs as fast as is fantastic feet can take him and narrowly escapes by jumping up the dead end wall and letting the car smash into it at full force. Jackie lands safely on the hood and proceeds to bash in the windshield with a drop kick, knocking out his would be attackers and remaining the bad-ass that he is. This scene is fabulous in portraying the creative ways that Jackie comes up with to choreograph a fight scene that you've never seen before and that no one had the guts to try to accomplish.

Jackie! Look out!

Now back to the comedy. As our film progresses, Jackie's superiors are trying to get him to help them out on a case where a terrorist bomber is threatening to blow up a group of building owners if they don't send them 10 million in cash. They send Jackie into the fray and he goes undercover in the most ridiculous disguise that he could come up with. Who am I kidding? I love the disguise. So just as another action set piece comes to an end, we are treated with a comedic scene to pull the reigns of the film back, so to speak. It really is entertaining to see Jackie ham it up in his disguise.

Holy Hell! I didn't know that Tom Selleck was in this flick!

Naturally, as Jackie gets closer to finding out the identity of the bombers, they begin to mess with him in turn, until they eventually kidnap May in order to bait him in. The desperation on the face of Jackie as he tries to find out what happened to May is an interesting side of Jackie who is usually sure who the enemy is. This unknown villain really flabbergasts him and it kills him that he doesn't know where they are or where they are keeping May.

Bomber: So what are you wearing?

Jackie: A tan suit.

Bomber: Oh. Sexy.

Jackie is eventually captured by this unknown threat and is tortured and then forced to strap on a vest with a bomb attached. It's safe to say that this film ramps up the danger and gives Jackie a little more consequences for his actions, grounding him in a more thriller like territory. This still doesn't cool his demeanor though as he proceeds to go ape shit all over the place, warning people about the bomb and causing all sorts of panic as he reaches the building to pick up the ransom money.

Not the best way to keep people calm when

you tell them about the bomb strapped to you.

The sequences after Jackie obtains the money are great as he figures a way out of the bomb vest and then tracks down the bastards that put him in it. There's a great sequence that has Jackie jumping from the roof of one truck to the roof of another, just before he dives headlong into a glass window to get into a building that sits across the street. It's a really breathtaking stunt and one that was pulled off with meticulous planning and expert timing. There's one thing that you can say about Jackie and that's he really makes it look easy. One look at this stunt and you'll wanna go all Teen Wolf on your van and go car surfing.

Once again Jackie opts to not travel like the rest of civilized society.

Just buy a ticket like the rest of us man.

Once the bad guys are cornered, we are given an outstanding final fight between the bomb maker and his cronies versus Jackie and his swift moves. There are so many falls that make you go, damn that's gotta hurt, but the falls just keep progressing until you have people just dropping from two story buildings. It's out of control and the fact that these stuntmen survive is beyond comprehension. They must have a very different build over there in China, cause if I fell like that I'd be paralyzed for the rest of my life. Either way, Jackie continues to bring the pain and save the day.

Do you understand the gun that is pointing at your face?

As the day is saved and all is right with the world, the movie ends with a bang as the fireworks factory where the fight took place begins to erupt. Jackie dashes from the blaze in stylistic super slow motion, putting another chaotic end to a case now closed. Is there anyway that Jackie can end a case without destroying something? The world may never know and I for one don't want to live in a world like that anyway. Give me the reckless Chan any day.

Well the fireworks were for everyone to enjoy so we all lose.

Police Story 2 is just as great as the first film, delivering amazing choreographed fights, silly situations, and enough stunts to shake a stick at. Jackie does an expert job with the direction and really seems to have grown over the course of the last few films he's been involved with. There are so many impressive moments that are beyond belief and they are all pulled off with a practical eye and proficient skill by Jackie himself. If there were any awards for a film that accomplishes everything its predecessor accomplished, but built up from its already perfect foundation, then this film would earn it with no contest.

Police Story 2 is living and breathing proof that a sequel doesn't have to suck and magic can be captured again as long as you have a team that can put their heart and soul into a film and not mind the bumps and bruises that come along with completing such an immense task. This film is highly recommended for Jackie Chan fans and anyone that likes to see beautifully choreographed fights that surpass expectations.

5 out of 5 stars     A Sequel of Stupendous Quality and Action.

HERE'S JACKIE!: Police Story

Police Story
Director: Jackie Chan
Year 1985

Well everyone, it's Jackie Chan's birthday today and in honor of him turning 56, I've got two reviews of the first two entries in his acclaimed Police Story Saga. The first film is Police Story and what an entrance into this kick-ass series of films.

Jackie plays a Hong-Kong cop named Chan Ka Kui, who gets his first big bust during the opening action packed scene that takes place in a shanty town on the side of a hill. A drug lord and his gang are having a meeting at this shady location and the Hong-Kong police bust up the party with a hail of gunfire.

The location for the action packed beginning.

This town's about to get wrecked.

The shootouts are fierce during this opening set piece and there are dramatic moments at every turn. There's even a rookie cop that proceeds to piss his pants once he's shot upon by the gangsters. Jackie proves to be every bit as daring and charismatic as he was in his previous roles like in his period piece Project A, the heart felt drama Heart of Dragon, and his underrated US effort The Protector. Everyone of these films are masterpieces in their own rights, but none of them had the balls to the wall gritty reality of Police Story. Jackie went a darker route for this film, though in his own unique way he infused so much comedy into the scenes between the action that he really made a movie in the true Jackie Chan style. The films a hybrid and displays the trademark execution of Jackie Chan's stunts, fighting, and comedy.

Jackie Chan as he gets ready to bust a cap in someone's ass.

There are so many stunts in this film that really helped cement his status as a true action star. The entire film plays out like a highlight reel as he drives a car through the shanty town causing explosions that engulf the small village to his strenuous ride on the back of a double decker bus as he clings on with only an umbrella. These scenes are all amazing and Jackie keeps the editing to a minimum and really lets us marvel in his reckless abandon as he puts his very life in harms way.

The cheap way to ride the bus.

Jackie just pay for a ticket you cheap ass.

There's also another scene that was mostly more dangerous for his stuntmen then for him, but the scene is so great and really establishes Chan's character in the film as a tough as nails cop. Jackie stares down an oncoming bus as it barrels towards him with the mob bosses' henchmen in the driver's seat. Jackie fires one shot in the air and then aims for the driver. The driver chickens out and slams on the breaks, sending him and another thug to flying out through the window and crashing to the pavement below. Now, this stunt was supposed to have the two stuntmen, who fly through the windshield, land on a car that rested just behind Jackie. The bus accidently stops short of its marker and instead of the stuntmen landing on a pre collapsable stunt car, the two crash to the pavement landing on their heads. Their heads for christ sake! Needless to say the scene looks cool, but at the expense of some sore noggins. That is just how cool the Jackie Chan stunt team is. They take so much abuse and so many falls that you really don't believe that these guys are human.

Jackie, the Man, stares down the oncoming bus.

I mentioned the comedy aspects of this film earlier and that is one of the main interesting things about a Jackie Chan film. He loves to bring comedy into every story that he is telling no matter if it's a dark crime thriller or a fantasy epic. He was greatly influenced by the comedic stylings of Buster Keaton and he often brings that flavor into his films as a way to pay homage to an actor he looked up to. From his first directorial debut, The Fearless Hyena, he has brought that sense of fun and creativity that has been imbedded in every film that he has made since.

Look out it's the ghost of Jackie!

The main part of the story is that Jackie has attempted to put away a major crime lord, but because of the man's influence, he is able to get off scott free and vows to make Jackie's life a living hell. A former employee of the crime boss is a witness to some of his shady dealings and Jackie is assigned to watch over her and protect her until the trial can begin. This leads to a lot of difficult moments as Jackie tries to balance his life as a cop and his life as a good boyfriend with entertaining effect. This is where a lot of the comedic moments come into play, as he struggles to keep both sides happy all the while fighting off the never ending string of attackers trying to take the witness out.

This fight scene is so bad-ass, that I

can only show you this one screenshot.

His girlfriend May, played by the spectacular Maggie Cheung, does an excellent job of playing the lonely girl that is always forgotten by our main character as he is called to duty. She plays out her comedic parts with great effect and she even gets down and dirty towards the end of the film as she's booted down a flight of stairs, not only once but twice. This was her first film with Jackie, but they will work together again in a number of films including Project A2, Police Story 2, Twin Dragons, and Supercop. Her career outside of the Jackie Chan realm is also quite impressive as she has some rememberable and remarkable roles in The Iceman Cometh, Days of Being Wild, In the Mood For Love, Hero, and 2046. Maggie makes this role her own in Police Story and she returns as her character May in the next two films of the series.

Jackie got the base model that didn't include breaks.

The movie really heats up when Jackie is framed by the crime boss of killing a fellow police officer. Jackie must use some drastic measures to prove his innocence and this is the time that we really see him as a loose cannon, a sight that we will see often throughout the Police Story series. The intensity in his eyes in some of these scenes is like watching a wild man as he prepares to blow his top at the slightest sign of danger. He truly is crazy in these scenes and I love it.

Go Jackie go, you crazy son of a bitch!

Jackie's crazy antics leads him to a neon filled multiple storied mall where he battles the mob boss and his minions all for the delight of the audience. There are so many frantic scenes of ass kicking at this location that it confounds the mind. Jackie is put through such punishment and gives out an equal share, that it really is exhausting to see all who were involved put their bodies on the line. No one was spared like in a hollywood production. All the actors were their own stuntman and they went all out in their attempt at putting something worth while on the screen and the results are amazing.

Let the ass kicking begin!

You feel every hit as a man's body is flung into the air, performing a full 360 degree spin, until he is finally and violently sent crashing to the floor or through a pain of glass. This is what hardcore asian action is all about and Jackie and his team bring it in spades. The agility that Jackie displays at age 31 is outstanding. I found it almost impossible to capture an action shot of this guy when I went to collect my screen grabs. He is one quick little bastard and this film showcases his abilities in the greatest of light. Go Jackie go!

This movie is like a kick to the head.

Ask this poor sap and he'll tell you the same thing.

The finale converges into one last glorious stunt that literally is electric in its execution. Jackie, crouched on a railing six stories high and out of his bat shit crazy mind, jumps onto a metal pole and plummets the entire height of the mall crashing down through strings of christmas lights as they proceed to shock the living hell out of him. This stunt is so impressive that they decide to show it a number of times from different angles and if you watch the behind the scenes videos of this stunt, Jackie really did get electrocuted during his entire descent. He absolutely does put his whole self into this movie and you can't help but commend the guy for going all out as this living legend defies death before our very eyes.

Jesus Jackie, there had to be a better

way to get to the ground floor of the mall.

Of course the film concludes with the mob boss getting an ass beating of a lifetime at the hands of an enraged Jackie. Jackie is so out of control in this last scene that you could have sworn that they just gave the man some speed and was just let loose. God help anyone who gets in Jackie's way when he's in this wild state and damned if this isn't the most entertaining end to a Jackie Chan film that I've ever seen. The man knows how to make an exit. All in all, this movie delivers the goods from beginning to end.

How about a nice Hawaiian Punch?!?!

Jackie Chan has directed a violent asian cinema masterpiece of gargantuan proportions. The fact that he directed, starred, and performed his own insane stunts in this film makes him that much more of a creditable filmmaker. The film soars with every action set piece and entertains with every comedic performance, never leaving the viewer wishing he was watching something else. Police Story is so much fun to view and is such a rip roaring good time that you really appreciate all that Jackie has put into his ever expanding list of highly acclaimed films and everything that he has dedicated his life too, all in the name of cinema. You must watch this if you have any love for the great Hong-Kong action films of this era or just want to see what a Jackie Chan film was like at the apex of his ability. This is a must watch.

5 out of 5 stars     A Balls to the Wall Asian Action Film By the Legendary Jackie Chan!