Police Story

Police Story is considered an essential example of Hong Kong action cinema, but it is forgotten that this film established the genre’s enduring form. Jackie Chan, who worked on the film as the lead actor and stuntman, as well as the choreographer of the action scenes, screenwriter and director, already had a stellar career in Hong Kong at the time thanks to his acrobatically imaginative kung-fu comedies, though he had also made two failed attempts to break into the American market. Police Story was his spectacular comeback, with which he proved that he could surpass American productions many times over in the domestic environment. Chan thus combined the attractions of stunt action (imported to Hong Kong a few years earlier by the first instalment of the box-office mega-hit Aces Go Places) and martial arts with the urban police-thriller genre, while maintaining his popular image as a good-hearted hero and purveyor of acrobatic slapstick humour. The resulting film, in which a principled cop goes after an unscrupulous tycoon despite punches, bullets and bureaucracy, became a domestic and international sensation. It also established Jackie Chan as Hong Kong’s biggest living star and remains his most ambitious work to this day. (14.03.2021)

Jackie Chan is simply an incredible stuntman, which he proves fully in this case. His bus ride is incredibly unbelievable. I literally longed for the classic stunt tricks that you don't see much anymore. And if you do see them, someone else is usually in the lead role, not the actor himself. Jackie is absolutely captivating and unique in this regard, and in addition, he has a good and entertaining story in this case. (01.08.2014)