POLICE STORY 2 (1988)

Directed By: Jackie Chan

Written By: Jackie Chan & Edward Tang, Paul E. Clay

Cinematography: Yiu-Tsou Cheung and Yu-Tang Li

Editor: Peter Cheung 

Cast: Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung, Yuen Chor, Bill Tung, Kwok-Hung Lam, Charlie Cho, Keung-Kuen Lai, John Cheung, Ben Lam, Chi-fai Chan

Despite his success at apprehending criminals, Kevin Chan’s unorthodox approach to his work as a police officer sees him demoted to the traffic branch. Despite this, the man he put behind bars is now out of prison, and has vowed to make his life a misery. While this crime boss is harassing Kevin and his girlfriend, the police are contemplating reinstating Kevin to help them fight a group of bombers attempting to extort $10 million from building owners.


I will admit this film had some big shoes to fill. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite rise to the challenge.

The film comes off as bigger, and it takes a little longer to get started, which might be why this is a longer movie. The film feels a bit bloated.

The stunts try to be bigger, heavier, and longer with a bigger budget, but in actuality, they feel like there are fewer of them or not a special, not as deifying, except for the final fight in the third act.

The film begins by bringing the audience up to speed with highlights from the first film. As there will be returning characters.

The action takes a while at the beginning between action scenes, though the fight scenes are bigger, to a degree. The film lives off of a building up to them. Unfortunately, they don’t quite measure up. 

Jackie Chan sports a better wardrobe, and this time around gives the returning cast more to do even as his character ultimately feels less comedic and more serious.

Though he still maintains being the center of attention, he lets others do some of the work.

This film at least has more of a story and its crime syndicate tail. Even the more minor moves feel dangerous and impressive at times.

Ultimately, this film feels like a disappointment

Grade: C 

POLICE STORY (1985)

Directed By: Jackie Chan and Chi-Hwa Chen

Written By: Jackie Chan & Edward Tang

Cinematography: Yiu-Tsou Cheung

Editor: Peter Cheung

Cast: Jackie Chan, Brigette Lin, Maggie Cheung, Yuen Chor, Bill Tung, Chun-Yip Tong, Kwok-Hung Lam, Chi-Wing Lau, Charlie Cho, Hung-You Ham 

Kevin Chan is a Hong Kong cop, who scores his first big hit by virtually single-handedly capturing and arresting a big drug- lord. Of course, the drug lord isn’t too happy about this and frames Kevin with the murder of another cop. Kevin has to clear his name, whilst keeping himself from getting killed or arrested and keeping his girlfriend from leaving him.


One of the joys of watching early Jackie Chan movies is watching him in his element. like classic silent movie, comedians. That is hard to mimic, and all managed to have their own signature style. where his appeal is all about his physicality here he does his own stunts as usual, but also manages to add into that element badass fights.

So he is dangerous, as well as silly instead of as in his leader films, more silly than dangerous. it’s an element missing from his Hollywood American movies, as the action is not as impressive in those it was more about the stunts, as he was still doing them himself, but usually paired with an up star or comedic star for a comedy, and then, even in the fight scenes, not usually working with his team the fights are stuntman looked like in a musical obvious and waiting for their turn in the spotlight and making it look obvious staged, except for THE FOREIGNER that film is totally balls to the wall, it’s not a comedy

The choreography of the fight scenes is so impressive that he even has a moment in this film to work in a moonwalk scene because it was popular at the time

Part of his fandom is the fact of how hard he works, and that he is willing to put his life and body on the line, not only to get the right shot but to entertain his audience. To impress even being a perfectionist on smaller details at times.

What is the reason this film is considered a classic is that it showcases his appeal and comedy and action and a perfect mix. funny, but the sequences and situations are enough to cause worry while being amazed at the stunts and his physical skills, physically. He truly is in control and comes into his own here. (which is why the film has many sequels.)

He has a lot of purely comedic scenes to himself to show off his comedy skills physically will say he is more impressive with a dance partner, so to speak. As when he uses props the film has weapons, but they’re never truly used. Usually, they are only as threats or for use by others by the villains.

The hand-in-hand combat, at least reminds you of classic kung fu movies, only more modern and crime rate and visual comedy.

No, he doesn’t really allow anyone else to shine in this film just join in the festivities as they are needed. 

The film doesn’t offer anything new to add story though I love interest is there the film offers no love story, but pretty distractions. There are the usual cops and criminals and double-crosses.

The car chase scene through a shantytown seems to have inspired an action sequence from Director Michael Bay’s BAD BOYS 2. 

One scene to show off the impression a stunt near the end has him show it three times at different angles, though then it just ends suddenly after beating up the villain.

Believe the hype, check it out as soon as you can

Grade: B+