Police Story 3: Supercop (1992)

3.5 out of 4

Starring: Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh, Yuen Wah, Kenneth Tsang, Maggie Cheung, Bill Tung

Director: Stanley Tong

Time: 95 mins

Jackie Chan afficionados all have their own picks for the best Chan film, just as James Bond fans differ in their opinions regarding the best Bond adventure. Some nominate Drunken Master 2, that supreme example of martial arts action, while others throw in Project A or Project A 2, The Armour Of God, Miracles, Dragons Forever, or the original Police Story. But my own personal favourite Jackie Chan film is Police Story 3: Supercop. Its intriguing and complex story (a rarity in Jackie's films), humour, martial arts, and jaw-dropping action scenes, especially in the spectacular climax set on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, are perfectly brought together by director Stanley Tong to create a movie that even James Bond would be proud of. The inclusion of Asian (and now international) superstar Michelle Yeoh is the icing on the cake, with what she does in the film leading many to say she is actually the "supercop" of the title.

It's not necessary to have seen the original Police Story or its inferior sequel Police Story 2 to see Police Story 3: Supercop. Jackie again plays Hong Kong policeman Chan Ka Kui, whose actions often run afoul of his girlfriend, May (Maggie Cheung), and his superior, "Uncle" Bill (Bill Tung). Whether wielding a one-man mission against a crime lord or defusing a gang responsible for bombings across the city, Chan is known as a "supercop", a man blessed with incredible skills who never lies down on the job, but sometimes goes too far in seeking justice. In this third instalment, he is recruited by Interpol to infiltrate the operations of drug lord Chaibat (Kenneth Tsang), who is about to rescue one of his imprisoned henchmen, Panther (Yuen Wah). With the help of China's own supercop, Inspector Yang (Yeoh), Jackie finds himself welcomed into Chaibat's inner circle, but also increasingly in danger as he accompanies Chaibat and his men on dangerous missions into the Golden Triangle, to negotiate on the next crop of drugs, and to Malaysia, where they plan to rescue Chaibat's wife from death row.

The complex but fast-moving story is reminiscent of a James Bond mission, but filled with the action typical of Chan's style. The action is fairly small-scale at the start, but builds with each confrontation until the fantastic finale in Kuala Lumpur. Here, in an expertly filmed chase, we have cars, motorbikes, trains and helicopters all taking part in one of the most exhilarating sequences in Jackie Chan (or, indeed, film) history. Jackie performs one of his most daring stunts, hanging onto a rope ladder while dangling from a helicopter high above the city. Even the great Michelle Yeoh gets in on the act, riding a motorbike while following a train and then leaping onto one of the moving carriages. Many people have said that Michelle actually steals the film from Jackie, and though Jackie may be reluctant to admit it, Michelle's participation certainly gives the film a lot of pep. Throw in the requisite martial arts duels, and you have a finish that would make even James Bond gasp.

Jackie is fairly subdued in this film, but when the script calls for comedy, his natural flair for physical humour comes to the forefront. There is a hilarious moment when his girlfriend May, who doesn't know of his secret mission, finds him holidaying in Kuala Lumpur, and becomes furious at the deception. The interplay between Jackie and Michelle Yeoh, who poses as his sister, also creates some humorous interludes. Michelle, who has now risen to international stardom following her roles (not coincidentally) in the 1997 Bond adventure Tomorrow Never Dies, and the current box office and critical hit, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, is very good as the Chinese agent who is supposed to keep an eye on Jackie. Similarly acclaimed Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung (Irma Vep, In The Mood For Love) is a delight as Jackie's long-suffering girlfriend, while the villains, played by veterans Tsang and Yuen Wah, are appropriately steely-eyed and nasty.

Jackie has starred in more than forty films since the late 70s, when he became anointed as the first true superstar succesor to Bruce Lee. Though some of these films are hit-and-miss, his trademark brand of stuntwork, fisticuffs, comedy, and general eagerness to entertain and put a smile on his audience's faces has stamped him as one of the most popular actors in the world today. With Police Story 3: Supercop, all these elements are perfectly combined. Other films may have had more stunts (Project A), more fights (Drunken Master 2), or more humour, but Supercop has the perfect blend. In my mind, it's Jackie's best film, and also probably his most accessible. While his two most recent US films, Rush Hour and Shanghai Noon, may have had more polish and higher production values, they don't showcase Jackie in his prime. If you haven't seen Jackie and are wondering why he's held in such high esteem around the world, then Police Story 3: Supercop is an ideal introduction.

** Footnote: Police Story 3: Supercop was released in North America under the title, Supercop, in 1996, to take advantage of the brief period of Jackie Chan fever following the success of Rumble In The Bronx. This version has a few scenes cut, is dubbed in English, and features an all-new hard rock music accompaniment that replaces the more suspenseful original soundtrack. As with Drunken Master 2, the original version is the preferred cut of the film.

(c) Joe Wong (3 March 2001)