Jackie Chan/Hong Kong/1985; R4 (SE)
HK Legends (Universal), NZ$29.95 | Reviewed by Tim Wong

THERE ARE moments in Police Story that simply defy logic, if not the ordinariness of the title. And as deceptively straightforward as this film sounds, nothing can quite prepare you for the chaos that lies ahead. This is, of course, none other than a work of Jackie Chan – both in front and behind the camera – and is every bit as manic as his array of late 80's stunt spectacles. Lately Mr. Chan has, one feels, succumbed somewhat to the effects of aging and common sense, so a film such as this is at once both a remarkable feat and an object of nostalgia. It is also deeply irresponsible.

Following the opening sequence involving a car pursuit through the middle of a shantytown (as stolen by Bad Boys II), Jackie chases down a drug lord by using life, limb and a reinforced umbrella to catch a fleeing double-decker bus (again, rehashed in Tango & Cash). The madness ceases (momentarily) when Jackie blocks the road ahead; the bus screeches to a halt, propelling several stuntmen through the upper level windscreen, falling, and onto real concrete. Jackie, the professional that he is, continues to play out the remainder of the scene, despite the broken bodies that surround him.

Recklessness is very much the tone of the film, and the cast willingly submit themselves – unlike their fragile Hollywood opposites – to Chan's devices, one after another, until it builds to what is the most-mental-action-finale-ever-conceived. With an entire shopping mall at his disposal, Chan proceeds to leap over moving escalators, hurl the lovely Brigitte Lin through various glass furnishings, obliterate an entire department store and, in the piece de résistance, jump from the top level of the multi-storey atrium to the ground floor with nothing other than a 2-inch metal strut to hang on too. Needless to say, the film is so charged at this point that Chan can be forgiven for instant replaying the stunt 3 times in a row. Sure, it's all terribly excessive in the end, but isn't that just the point?


BOASTING a lusty 2.35:1 widescreen transfer – a common look for Hong Kong movies of this era, one which dramatically framed action through to exaggerating a fondness for wide-angle lens – the image appears as refined as it probably ever will. There is a slight "80's" tinge to picture, which can be attributed to aging and a general graininess evident in movies of the same cloth, but remains a vast improvement on existing transfers otherwise.

Western audiences will probably have experienced a Jackie Chan movie dubbed into English one way or another, and the essential inclusion here is the original Cantonese soundtrack with additional, note-perfect subtitles. Also provided is an English dub for the illiterate, plain lazy or culturally ignorant viewer.

The weight of the disc's special features rests firmly on the audio commentary by Hong Kong Cinema expert Bey Logan, who has written several books and does a lot of this kind of stuff. Apart from being a talking encyclopedia, his infallible knowledge offers rare insights into the background (and often, insurance-pending mistakes) behind many of the film's key stunts, as well as an obvious infatuation with Brigitte Lin (although he's hardly alone there). Educational, compelling and rarely, if ever, boring, this is a perfect model for all DVD commentaries.

In addition, a 20 minute interview with Jackie Chan; a 36 minute biographical montage, splicing together a brief history of Jackie Chan fight/stunt sequences backed by an informative narration; photo gallery with movie stills and lobby cards; an original trailer + promo trailers for other HK Legends releases.

Lastly, an extended ending which concludes the film on a more pensive note, plus an all important extended outtakes sequences. A trademark of Jackie Chan films, this extra outtakes footage allows viewers to indulge in more grievous bodily harm, as well as the sight of an ecstatic, pumped-up Chan emerging victorious from his mall-leaping feat – on account of having not killed himself.