Image Courtesy of Amazon.com
Director:
Benny Chan
Cast:
Jackie Chan……….Wing
Nicholas Tse……….Fung
Charlie Yeung……….Ho Yee
Charlene Choi ……….Sa Sa
Daniel Wu……….Joe
Dave Wong……….Sam
Andy On……….Tin Tin
Terence Yin……….Fire
Hayama Go……….Max
Coco Chiang……….Sue
The Movie
If there’s one disservice in American cinema it’s that Jackie Chan only has wildly popular films when he’s partnered with someone else. Rush Hour and its sequel featured him sharing the bull with the rather unremarkable Chris Tucker. Shanghai Noon and Shanghai Knights paired him with Owen Wilson, who has often been compared to the Aryan version of Tucker. And for all the successes Chan’s made in the U.S, his movies still fail to draw beyond the cult audience who found his films on video.
Chan stars as inspector Wing in New Police Story, a straight to DVD (at least in the US) release. After dealing with a gang that takes out his men (including his future brother-in-law), Led by the criminal Joe (Daniel Wu), Wing is on a mission of revenge against them in an explosion and gunfire fueled action movie on par with the sort of 1980s American action style that has gone out of vogue with American audiences in the last five years. Wing has to redeem himself from the bottle and bring some usual action style goodness in some revenge-minded goodness on Joe and his mask-wearing gang. Thing is, the film isn’t very new for Chan.
It can be argued that Jackie Chan doesn’t really do much than follow the same sort of formula in most of his films. He’s always a police officer or other do-gooder trying to save the day. In many ways he’s a lot like Bruce Willis for the Hong Kong action scene as a man nearing his geriatric years still trying to prove he can hang with a newer crowd of action stars. Still doing his own stunts, it’s a different look at Chan as he seems to be trying to craft his decades as Hong Kong’s top action star in a new direction much like Willis has taken his “anti-hero” persona.
Benny Chan seems to understand this as well, crafted the story to take advantage of Chan’s new, evolving action persona. He is sympathetic to Wing but at the same time doesn’t pander to him or let him wallow in a light that makes him look pitiful. Chan has never been known for his acting ability, but he’s competent enough in the role to give it some depth.
The film has the usual sort of action movie plot-devices and machinations that keep it from being anything more than the Hong Kong version of The Last Boy Scout, but it’s entertaining enough to make it well worth the time.
Score : 8 / 10
The Video
Presented in a 16×9 widescreen format, the film has a great transfer. This is a Hong Kong action film, so there’s lots of color and permutations. This is a gorgeous looking film, as there’s a lot to see and stare at.
The Audio
Presented in a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound in both Cantonese and English, the film sounds great. This is a release that definitely takes full advantage of the film’s audio content no matter which language one chooses to listen to it.
The Extras
Jackie Chan DVD Introduction is a brief introduction by the star of the film that lasts a shade over 10 seconds. Nothing of note is said.
Scene Commentaries with Jackie Chan are commentaries by Chan for the “Bus Sequence” as well as the “Convention Center Rooftop Sequence.” With an inset, picture-in-picture style of commentary, Chan talks in general about filming the movie as he used a lot of the same production and crew people because they’re familiar with how he likes to work. He also discusses the scenes in particular; on the “Bus Sequence” he had to build a lot of what eventually gets destroyed as no one would allow him to trash the designated parts of the city and then rebuild it. On “Convention Center Rooftop Sequence” he talks about aspects of shooting on the rooftop an how he did all his own stunts without a blue screen; while his trademark, it’s fascinating to hear him talk about how it makes him a better actor because he doesn’t have to act scared, being in danger is both scary and a heavy adrenaline rush.
The Making of New Police Story, set to a Hong Kong techno beat, is an EPK making of featurette about the film. Running around 16 minutes and with English subtitles, nothing really of note is said. Even halfway around the world, it figures, that the motif of “everything is wonderful” resonates behind the scenes.
English Dubbing with Jackie is a short feature that focuses on Jackie Chan dubbing his lines into English running around eight minutes. It’s interesting to see Chan working on his English for a film, as normally it’s highlighted in his American releases for comedic purposes. It’s interesting to see him totally in character, doing dialogue and action sequences while watching the film version to try and simulate the acting process of being on set.
Jackie’s Personal Piracy PSA
Trailers for Black Mask, Nowhere to Hide, Kickboxer, Replicant, the Ultimate Edition Box Set of the Rambo trilogy, Lord of War and See No Evil.
Score : 6.5 / 10
