Police Story (1985)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Police Story (1985) – J. Chan

In America in the early 90s, Jackie Chan was an underground cult figure.  His 1970s movies were available in badly dubbed, incomprehensibly edited versions that nevertheless retained some charm and great kung fu skills (especially Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow or Drunken Master).  But Jackie was changing, directing his own movies and continuing to do his own stunts even as they became more dangerous and spectacular.  In the 80s, with Project A (a period pirate movie) and this film, a modern crime thriller, Jackie reached a new level integrating his comedy and action into blockbusters.  And he never looked back.  Of course, Police Story is far from slick and the comedy is pretty low-rent.  But the editing is pretty great and shows an understanding of the pacing needed for action.  The set-piece stunts include cars driving through a shanty town and Jackie sliding down a pole strewn with lights through a three-story shopping mall.  However, the small scale action and Jackie’s little touches (which display incredible acrobat skill) make the movie.  Here, he is a cop protecting a secret witness before the trial of a gang boss; he gets framed, kicked off the force, and then single-handedly gets the bad guys. As if, the plot mattered!