Directed and starring Jackie Chan and written by Chan and Edward Tang, Police Story 2 is the sequel to the 1985 film that has a Hong Kong detective demoted to traffic duty as he eventually goes rogue to go against a gang of serial bombers who is believed to be working for a drug lord’s henchman. The film has Chan reprise the role of “Kevin” Chan Ka-kui as he deals with his unorthodox methods in taking down criminals while trying to adjust to his new role as a traffic cop and his relationship with his girlfriend May as she is reprised by Maggie Cheung. Also starring Bill Tung, Charlie Cho, Lam Kwok-Hung, and Chor Yuen reprising his role as the drug lord Chu Tao. Police Story 2 is a sprawling and gripping film from Jackie Chan.
The is set months after the events of the first film in which Chan Ka-kui has amassed a lot of heavy damage to the places he’s in during his attempted captures of the drug lord Chu Tao as he is demoted to traffic duty. Yet, it’s a film that has him torn between being a cop but also being a good boyfriend to his longtime girlfriend May just as a gang of serial bombers are creating havoc around Hong Kong and extorting a group of rich businessman through threats. Even as Chan has to lead a surveillance team that forces him to break-up with May so he can try and prevent from other bombings from happening after he and May were fortunate to escape a bombing attempt. The film’s screenplay by Jackie Chan and Edward Tang mixes ideas of comedy, romance, drama, action, and suspense as it play into Chan Ka-kui’s struggle to be a good cop yet often gets himself into trouble whether he is targeted by Tao’s right-hand man John Ko (Charlie Cho) and his goons or through these mysterious bombers who are making threats and destroying places.
Notably in the film’s second act where Chan leads the surveillance team as they also record conversations from the corporate bosses who are being extorted. It serves as a break from the action and humor as it emphasizes on suspense with Chan taking the lead and allowing his team to be more involved. Yet, it also play into this sense of discord over social classes where the unveiling of the bombers come into play for its third act as well as why they’re so mysterious. Chan and Tang do manage to put in a lot of things in the script as it relates to the personal life of Chan and his relationship with May as she questions about whether he’s fully committed as he’s often tested by his duties and those trying to intimidate him.
Chan’s direction is definitely grand in term of the set pieces he created though the opening sequence involving these moving trucks is big but it’s really a set-up for what his character is doing right now as it’s a step down from the mayhem that he created in the previous film. Yet, it does have elements of comedy as it play into the sense of humility that Chan Ka-kui has to endure but it at least makes May happy that he’s not engaged in trouble for a while as Ko tries to intimidate him after Chan learns that Tao has been released from prison due to a terminal illness he is suffering from. Shot on location in Hong Kong, the film does use many of its locations not just as characters but also to play into this growing rest of uncertainty as it relates to the serial bombers and their actions. The usage of the wide and medium shots help capture the scope of the locations as well as in some of the film’s action set pieces that include a fight in a playground between Chan and Ko’s gang. Serving as the film’s action director/choreographer, Chan ensures that there is a rhythm to the stunts and action that include a scene of three female cops interrogating the explosives supplier.
Chan’s approach to the comedy is partially physical but it also play into some elaborate set pieces where an extremely upset May chases Chan to the men’s locker room and shower as he tries to hide from her. Chan’s approach to creating set pieces that include the film’s third act where the identity of the bombers and its creator named Dummy (Benny Lai) who is also a dangerous fighter. The sequence that includes a chase sequence and Chan’s character jumping on a truck and then onto a bus and then jump into a glass pane as it is told through a tracking wide shot showcase the intricate attention to detail he puts into the stunt work. Even in the film’s climatic showdown against the bombers as the attention to detail in the fighting and in the set pieces add to the stakes of what is happening as well as providing a few comical moments in that scene. Overall, Chan crafts a riveting yet exhilarating film about a cop trying to stop a group of serial bombers from wreaking havoc in Hong Kong.
Cinematographers Cheung Yiu-Jo and Lee Yau-Tong do excellent work with the film’s cinematography with its straightforward look for many of the daytime exterior and interior scenes with some stylish lighting for some scenes set at night including the playground fight scene. Editors Peter Cheung Yui-Chung, Keung Chuen-Tak, and Sek Chi-Kong do amazing work with the editing with its usage of jump cuts and other rhythmic cuts to play into the action and humor that include some fluid cutting in some of the fighting with a lot of emphasis on showing what is going on. Production designer Oliver Wong does brilliant work with the design of the police station interiors including the locker room/shower as well as the interiors of the factory where the bombers hide out in the film’s third act. Costume designer Shirley Chan does fantastic work with the costumes from some of the casual clothes Chan and other characters wear to the stylish clothes that some of his members of his surveillance team wear to play undercover.
The special effects work of Ng Kwok-Wa is terrific for the creation of some of the set pieces including the explosives that are created including some big ones in a couple of key scenes. Sound recordist Shao Lung Chou and mixer John Ross do superb work with the sound in capturing some of the sound in some of the film’s locations as well as the way fists and kicks are presented. The film’s music by Michael Lai is incredible for its electronic-based score as it has some bombastic pieces for the action along with some low-key and somber pieces for the drama while the theme song with lyrics by James Wong is once again sung by Chan as it play into his character’s adventures.
The film’s wonderful cast feature some notable small roles from Isabella Wong as the secretary to Fung in Miss Wong, Shan Kwan as a corporate president leader in Fung, the quartet of Crystal Kwok, Anglie Leung Wan-Yui, Ann Mui, and Candice Tai as female undercover police officers who interrogate the explosives supplier, John Cheung as the explosives supplier known as Polar Bear, Andy Tai Chi-Wai as one of the bombers, and Benny Lai as the deaf explosive maker who is also a fierce fighter. Charlie Cho and Chor Yuen are superb in their respective roles as the thug John Ko and the crime boss Chu Tao with the former trying to make Chan’s life a living hell through intimidation while the latter is dying through an illness where he orders Ko to harass Chan. Lam Kwok-Hung is fantastic as Superintendent Raymond Li as Chan’s station boss who deals with some of the chaos as he eventually reinstate Chan to detective work while dealing with other superiors. Bill Tung is excellent as Inspector “Uncle Bill” Wong as a superior officer who often serves as mediator between Li and Chan while embarking on a comical moment in relation to bad food he ate.
Maggie Cheung is amazing as May as Chan’s longtime girlfriend who has to endure his duties while their planned vacation to Bali is cancelled where Cheung displays a lot of humor in her anger while also doing some serious stunts as it relates to the film’s climatic factory sequence as it is one of Cheung’s finest performances. Finally, there’s Jackie Chan in a phenomenal performance as Chan “Kevin” Ka-kui as a detective who is demoted to traffic duty until a series of events has him reinstated to detective as Chan displays that sense of determination in his job but also cope with the fact that is devotion to his work is troubling his relationship with May where Chan displays humor and humility into his performance while also doing some crazy stunts in some of the action as it’s another quintessential performance from Chan.
Police Story 2 is a sensational film from Jackie Chan that features an incredible supporting performance from Maggie Cheung. Along with its ensemble cast, dazzling set pieces, high-octane action, intense stunt work, a riveting music soundtrack, and its balance to blend all sorts of genres and tones into one film. It’s a film that does more than just be an action-suspense-comedy but also serves as a film that does a lot more than just be entertaining while being a study of what a cop tries to do on and off duty. In the end, Police Story 2 is a spectacular film from Jackie Chan.
Jackie Chan Films: (The Fearless Hyena) – (The Young Master) – (Dragon Lord) – (Project A) – Police Story - (Armour of God) – (Project A Part II) – (Miracles (1988 film)) – (Armour of God II: Operation Condor) – (Drunken Master) – (Who Am I?) – (Jackie Chan: My Stunts) – (1911) – (CZ12)
Related: (Supercop) – (Once A Cop) – (Crime Story) – (Police Story 4: First Strike) – (New Police Story) – (Police Story 2013)
© thevoid99 2019
Directed and starring Jackie Chan and written by Chan and Edward Tang, Police Story is the story of a detective who is tasked to protect a witness following a drug bust only for things to get complicated as it relates to corruption and bureaucracy. The film is an action-comedy that follows a detective trying to stop a drug lord while enduring all sorts of chaos in his life as a detective and in his personal life as Chan play the role of Inspector Chan Ka-Kui. Also starring Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, Bill Tung, Chor Yuen, and Charlie Cho. Police Story is an exhilarating and outlandish film from Jackie Chan.
The film follows a police detective who successfully captures a drug lord as he is later tasked to protect the drug lord’s secretary as a potential witness who might have information to bring the drug syndicate down. It’s a film with a simple premise as writers Jackie Chan and Edward Tang play into the world of a Hong Kong detective who took part in an undercover sting operation as he would become the police force’s poster boy much to the dismay of the drug lord Chu Tao (Chor Yuen) who tries to avoid a prison sentence and salvage his drug operating business. Much of the film’s narrative emphasizes on Inspector Chan Ka-Kui being tasked to protect Tao’s secretary Selina Fong (Brigitte Lin) who is reluctant to become a witness against Tao but a series of unfortunate events makes her question her loyalty to Tao while she would also endure some awkward moments with Chan’s girlfriend May (Maggie Cheung) who believes Chan is cheating on her.
It’s among some of the funny storylines in the film yet it does play largely into Chan’s discovery about the corruption within the police force and their ties to Tao as well as how bureaucratic ideals from the police’s superintendent Raymond Li (Lam Kwok-Hung) is trying to do things by the book much to dismay of some of the cops. Even as Chan has an ally in Inspector Chou/”Uncle” Bill Wong (Bill Tung) who is more about instinct than doing things by the book. The film’s third act doesn’t just play into Tao’s corruptive influence but also how far he is willing to go to protect his empire with Chan being the key target.
Chan’s direction is definitely grand in terms of some of the action set pieces he creates but he also balances it with smaller moments that allow him to display his approach to physical comedy. Shot on location in Hong Kong, the direction allows Chan to use the city as a key character in the film as well as help play into some of the film’s grand set pieces such as the opening sequence at the shanty town where Chan’s character is part of a task force where everyone is undercover and trying not to be seen. Chan’s attention to detail in the wide and medium shots of the locations add to the suspense as well as the close-ups where Chan makes sure that these little details add to what is to come in this extravagant and massive action sequence involving a car trying to chase another through the shanty town that is later followed by Chan’s character chasing a double-decker bus by using an umbrella to hold on to it and later walk down a hill to get in front of it. While Chan knows how to set-up and create these intricate and lavish action sequences, he knows when to break away from the action in order to explore his character and his duties that has him playing up some humor that includes a sequence of his character watching over a small station as he’s trying to cook some ramen and answer the phone numerous times as it’s a comical moment that showcases his mastery in physical comedy.
Chan’s direction also play into intimate and touching moments that has his characters interacting with other characters where he knows how to play up the humor as well as moments that has his character trying to reason with May or Selina where it would involve some comical stunt work. Yet, the film does remain this action-comedy with elements of suspense that includes the climatic mall sequence where Selina uncover files from Tao as his goons try to go after her with Chan’s character trying to protect her. The physicality of the action as well as how each shot is presented has an element where Chan can give the audience an idea of what will happen next in the upcoming shot but also allow so much attention to detail in the action. He also isn’t afraid to repeat a certain stunt but show it in different perspectives as it adds to the stakes of what his character is trying to do. Serving as the film’s action choreographer, Chan maintains a certain rhythm where he and others doing the stunts including his actors get a sense of what is happening as well as play into the dangerous physicality they endure. Overall, Chan crafts a majestic and astonishing film about a Hong Kong detective trying to take down a drug lord.
Cinematographer Cheung Yiu-Jo does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography as it play into some of the natural look for some of the exterior scenes in the day along with stylish usage of lights for some interior/exterior scenes at night to get an idea of what is happening. Editor Peter Cheung Yui-Chung does phenomenal work with the editing as it is an immense highlight of the film largely due to its usage of rhythmic cuts, slow-motion cutting, and other stylish cuts to create long sequences for some of the humor but also a rhythm in the action where the editing does a lot to establish what is going on and know when it’s time to cut as there is a poetic element to the editing which is crucial to the film’s presentation. Production designer Oliver Wong does amazing work with the look of the police station base as well as a smaller one and Chan’s apartment as well as Tao’s office in the mall.
Costume designer Ginger Fung does nice work with the costumes from the stylish and posh clothes that Selina wears early in the film to the more casual look that Chan wears. The special effects work of Ng Kwok-Wa does fantastic work with the special effects in helping to create some of the set pieces and in some of the stunts that are created. Sound recordist Shao Lung Chou do superb work with the sound in capturing the atmosphere of the locations as well as the realism of the way fists and kicks are presented during some of the fight scenes. The film’s music by Michael Lai is excellent for its mixture of bombastic orchestral music for the action as well as some woodwind-inspired themes for some of the comedy as it also has bits of rock and electronic while Lai co-writes the theme song with lyrics by James Wong which is sung by Chan.
The film’s wonderful cast feature some notable small roles from Tai Po and Wan Fat as a couple of goons working for Tao, Lau Chi-wing as a prosecutor, Kent Tong as a rookie detective in Tak who is frightened by his first assignment in the attempted bust on Tao, Kam Hing Yin as a police inspector Chan doesn’t get along with, Charlie Cho as a gangster named John Ko, and Fung Hark-On as Tao’s lead henchman Danny Chu Ko who tries to stop Chan from going after Tao and leads the attempted attacks on Selina. Lam Kwok-Hung is terrific as superintendent Raymond Li as a police official who runs the Hong Kong police force as he is someone by the book that is trying to make sure things go right as he has to answer to superiors who expect a lot from him. Bill Tung is superb as Inspector Chou/Uncle Bill as a top police official who is an opposite of sorts for Li as he is more about instinct and action yet also knows how to get things done as he acts a mediator between the police and Li.
Chor Yuen is fantastic as the drug lord Chu Tao as a man trying to run an empire in Hong Kong as he hopes to expand and gain power yet finds himself in trouble as he has to deal with Chan as well as Selina whom he believes he can no longer trust after she got arrested. Maggie Cheung is excellent as Chan’s girlfriend May as a young woman who puts herself in moments that are awkward as she thinks Chan is cheating on her while she would also later help him trying to find Selina and to stop Tao as she also does some unique stunt work. Brigitte Lin is brilliant as Selina Fong as Tao’s secretary who reluctantly becomes a witness against him as she tries to continue working for Tao until she realizes that she is in greater danger where she decides to help Chan in getting Chao arrested for good as she also endure some intense stunt work.
Finally, there’s Jackie Chan in an incredible performance as Sgt. “Kevin” Chan Ka-Kui as it’s a performance filled with charisma, intensity, and humility as it has Chan displaying his many gifts for combining action and comedy where he can put himself in funny and dangerous situations while also prove that his character is someone that is trying not to get into fights but is forced to defend himself and win. It is a quintessential performance from Chan who provides the archetype of what an action hero should be but also one that can do comedy that owes a lot to the silent film stars of the past and make something new out of it as it is a performance for the ages.
Police Story is a magnificent film from Jackie Chan. Featuring a great ensemble cast, dazzling visuals, top-notch set pieces and stunt work, incredible editing from Peter Cheung Yui-Chung, an engrossing music soundtrack, and Chan himself doing all sorts of crazy stunts and comedic moments. The film isn’t just a standard bearer of what action-comedy should be but also a film that never takes itself seriously while being a showcase for one of cinema’s great film stars in Jackie Chan. In the end, Police Story is an outstanding film from Jackie Chan.
Jackie Chan Films: (The Fearless Hyena) – (The Young Master) – (Dragon Lord) – (Project A) – (Armour of God) – (Project A Part II) – Police Story 2 – (Miracles (1988 film)) – (Armour of God II: Operation Condor) – (Drunken Master) – (Who Am I?) – (Jackie Chan: My Stunts) – (1911) – (CZ12)
Related: (Supercop) – (Once A Cop) – (Crime Story) – (Police Story 4: First Strike) – (New Police Story) – (Police Story 2013)
© thevoid99 2019