Police Story 2013

Cast & Crew

Jackie Chan

Zhong Wen

Ye Liu

Wu Jiang

Jing Tian

Miao Miao

Tao Yin

Lan Lan

Guli Nazha

Xiao Wei

Na Wei

Na Na

Liu Yiwei

General Manager Niu

Liu Hailong

Pi Song

Zhou Xiao'ou

Wei Xiao Fu

Yu Rong-Guang

Captain Wu

Yue Wu

A Yue

Peiqi Liu

Chief Zhang

Sheng Ding

Director

Sheng Ding

Screenwriter

Jackie Chan

Producer

Ding Yu

Cinematographer

Lao Zai

Original Music

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Critic Reviews for Police Story 2013

Audience Reviews for Police Story 2013

• Nov 10, 2015

  This is my first Police Story movie that I've seen, though I own the first one, I believe, on DVD and let's just say that it wasn't anything that you need to go out of your way to see. Jackie Chan, at as of today, November 10, 2015, is a 61-year-old man. It's obvious that this film isn't gonna see him do the crazy stunts that he would've done for the first Police Story, for example. The days of doing super crazy shit are behind Jackie and, honestly, it's for the best, because this guy has put himself through hell for our entertainment. But, even with that, there was something missing from this movie. Even later period Jackie films usually had him being a goof, going around and trying to at least entertain you with more comedic elements, if he couldn't thrill you with his stunts and his fighting skills. This movie, however, strips every that Jackie has been known for away and you get a more serious and gritty side of him. I suppose the idea is the that he wants to do something different and 'stretch' his dramatic muscles, so to speak. But I genuinely don't think there's anything longtime Jackie fans will find to like here. I mean, it's not a terrible film in the slightest, it's below average at best. It's just there's no action, there's no goofiness, there's nothing here. It's a film that exists for the sake of existing. The story itself, with the 'villain' trying to figure out who was responsible for his sister's death, going all over the place. The pacing is absolutely terrible. It combines various elements without really sticking strongly to one of them. It's a hostage/action/crime drama with some elements of Rashomon, several people telling very different accounts of the same event. But there's just nothing of importance really going on here. The exposition is just really poorly written. There's no reason given to care about any of the main characters of the film. I don't even know how to describe the story, just know that you will not care one bit and none of it will flow naturally, these tonal shifts pretty much destroy the movie. Like I said, it tries to be too many things at once without ever being good at any of them. The best part of the film, or at least the most fun part, are the outtakes that play during the credits. I realize that this has been a Chan trademark for the longest time now, but it feels so out of a place in a film that's going out of its way to tell a 'darker' story. So it, honestly, feels completely out of place. But it's still the most fun you'll have watching this movie. This just isn't very good and it really won't appeal to Chan's longtime fans or anyone else for that matter. Nothing special, but not terrible, I just don't think it's something that's worth watching. So, clearly, I can't recommend it.

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  jesse o Super Reviewer
• Jun 05, 2015

  Pretty solid. I thought this was going to be horrible, and although a lot of the plot development is convoluted, this ended up being a pretty solid film. I like how the film has somewhat of a frame narrative in attempt to add suspense to the story. At first, you're not sure why any of the hostages were selected, but by the end of the film, you know for sure. I feel that the Police Story films are some of Jackie Chan's best.

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  Stephen S Super Reviewer
• Feb 04, 2014

  The "Police Story" franchise hasn't always been consistent with it star playing different protagonists and the tone of the series changing, but each installment has parallel star Jackie Chan goal as an actor. Making it hard to believe a film series that's known for stunt work becomes obsolete with a focus on drama in this installment. It's a departure for the "Police Story" series and Jackie Chan as an actor as he puts forth into going into a new direction. "Police Story 2013" is not the series entry fans would expect, but demonstrates Chan experimentation as an actor isn't afraid to take risks. Police Story 2013 is about a criminal looking for the release of a long-time prisoner taking a police officer, his daughter, and a group of strangers hostage. The plot is "Die Hard"-esque taking place entirely in one location and just like its last two predecessor this entry follows a different character. Unfortunately what it doesn't borrow from "Die Hard" is intelligence. The main character, Zhong Wen, will usually attempt to imagine what will happen in a given scenario. This plot device comes with mixed results showing Zhong Wen is looking at all the possibilities, but in context it also means if something exciting happens it holds no bearing on the plot. That also applies to Zhong Wen flashbacks when he's figuring out who the villain is and his motivation for holding certain people hostage. Just like Wen's imagination the flashbacks come with mixed results as most of the action scenes are in flashbacks usually with no relevance to the main plot. Although the major gripe towards this film has be the severe lack of henchmen. Now the film setting is a old factory turned nightclub which from what we seen is huge. Our villain of the film appeared to have only brought four henchmen working for him to secured the area, keep an eye on the hostages, look for Zhong Wen, make bombs, and other activity is understaffed. Of course in any action movie we expect the hero will overcome the odds a role that is reverse in this. It doesn't work because the few henchman know only to do one thing leaving the audience to wait for the inevitable to occur. On a positive note Zhong Wen is well developed as a flawed hero with his actions resulting in some sort of casualty on himself. Going up against a villain who's not only just as calculating, but pushes him morally drawing the line between being a good father and being a good officer. The film villain, Wu Jiang, is an entirely different story. Wu Jiang motivation somewhat parallels Wen as a character as both lost someone important to them effecting them drastically. Both characters are very human, but the villain scheme is out of place. It's requires you to disbelief reality once his plan get started. Only occurring and working as well as it did through sheer luck and coincidence. Supporting characters while not as defined do play a role in the plot once the mystery becomes clearer. Fitting it's main motif of spider webs seeing how seemingly unrelated events are connected. Doing just enough in it limited setting to keep things interesting even if it doesn't reach the emotional height it aimed for. Jackie Chan plays a more grounded, vulnerable, and flawed hero. The role demands Chan to carry the film solely on his acting. Relying little on humor Chan is serious all the way through. Coming off as man who's out of his own league burdened by his troubled personal life. Getting across his job has taken a serious told on Chan as throughout the film Chan is always suspicious of other people. Keeping his emotions restricted from doing his job even when interacting to others. His trust on characters will determine how he comes across towards other. Anyone going into this solely to see Jackie Chan in action mode will be disappointed. What little fight scenes there are don't last long. This is a role that demands Chan the actor to take center stage over acrobatics and martial artist Chan. For a man whose 59 he's still fast in his fights and while his dangerous stunts are absent Chan himself isn't. Yu Liu who plays Wu Jiang stays one note hardly changing his facial expressions. His line delivery on the other hand are more varied in invoking emotions. Tian Jing whatever screen time she has performs well having solid chemistry with Chan. Director Sheng Ding did a fine job as a director, but as an editor is sloppy when it comes to the action. What little action there is rapidly cut, shaking, and distorted making action scenes a series of jigsaw pieces that don't fit. Police Story 2013 is a huge departure both for the series and star Jackie Chan focusing heavily on drama and spending little on action. Chan demonstrates strength in his acting abilities widening his range as an actor than just being a man of action. It's a film that will differentiate the true Chan fans that like the actor for his risks over the non fans who just want action film escapism. Anyone expecting the typical "Police Story" or Jackie Chan film will leave disappointed, but anyone interesting in seeing the series and star experiment will find a decent movie.

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  Super Reviewer
• Jan 17, 2014

  EPIC FAIL. Don't bother.

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  Super Reviewer