Following on from the events in POLICE STORY 3, this typical action movie instead focuses on the returning character of Michelle Yeoh, here cast as the butt-kicking female lead instead of Jackie Chan. However, producers convinced Chan to show up for a cameo appearance, so that they could advertise this as a Jackie Chan movie and get more viewers by cheating the prospective audience. The cameo itself is utterly bizarre; Chan is in drag, dressed the same as Eric Tsang, and helps foil a jewellery store robbery. Don't ask. It's best to ignore this rather cringe-worthy moment and concentrate on the decent storyline instead. The film never really breaks any new boundaries but proves to be a worthwhile Hong Kong action film, packed with set-pieces, explosions, gunplay, and some fantastic martial arts. The result isn't always compelling but it makes for an easy, pleasurable viewing experience.
Director Stanley Tong – fast becoming one of the most reliable directors of martial arts action in my mind, seeing as how he hasn't made a film I haven't liked as yet – handles the events well and spins a fairly complex story around a bunch of villains who are getting ready to break into a major bank and pull off a heist. The usual elements are here, from the burly American muscle to the dodgily-accented European villains and the heroic Chinese cops. The story spins from one explosive set-piece to another with little in the way to dull the story. One interesting aspect is that Michelle Yeoh's character is a former lover of the chief villain, however fans waiting for a showdown between the two martial arts superpowers will be disappointed as the finale screws this up.
Otherwise the last twenty minutes of the film is just fine, a mini re-run of DIE HARD as Yeoh and her partner infiltrate a bank held hostage by a dozen bad guys and partake in some great martial arts fights with them. In particular the sequence in which Yeoh squares off against a guy easily twice her size is amazing stuff. Yeoh is on top form in the movie and gets to take part in some great stunts – usually involving major jumps from buildings – and strenuous fights. The supporting cast is generally impressive, with all major players putting in solid turns and a nice performance from Rongguang Yu as the two-faced villain and Dick Wei as a super-strong henchman. Bill Tung makes a cameo appearance again, the bad guys are suitably villainous and there's even time for a short car chase for the fans. Not a lot else needs to be said; this isn't brilliant viewing but it is very good and it certainly beats the heck out of similar American competition from the same year (ROBOCOP 3 anyone?).
Director Stanley Tong – fast becoming one of the most reliable directors of martial arts action in my mind, seeing as how he hasn't made a film I haven't liked as yet – handles the events well and spins a fairly complex story around a bunch of villains who are getting ready to break into a major bank and pull off a heist. The usual elements are here, from the burly American muscle to the dodgily-accented European villains and the heroic Chinese cops. The story spins from one explosive set-piece to another with little in the way to dull the story. One interesting aspect is that Michelle Yeoh's character is a former lover of the chief villain, however fans waiting for a showdown between the two martial arts superpowers will be disappointed as the finale screws this up.
Otherwise the last twenty minutes of the film is just fine, a mini re-run of DIE HARD as Yeoh and her partner infiltrate a bank held hostage by a dozen bad guys and partake in some great martial arts fights with them. In particular the sequence in which Yeoh squares off against a guy easily twice her size is amazing stuff. Yeoh is on top form in the movie and gets to take part in some great stunts – usually involving major jumps from buildings – and strenuous fights. The supporting cast is generally impressive, with all major players putting in solid turns and a nice performance from Rongguang Yu as the two-faced villain and Dick Wei as a super-strong henchman. Bill Tung makes a cameo appearance again, the bad guys are suitably villainous and there's even time for a short car chase for the fans. Not a lot else needs to be said; this isn't brilliant viewing but it is very good and it certainly beats the heck out of similar American competition from the same year (ROBOCOP 3 anyone?).