Police Story (Ging chaat goo si) (Police Force)

Critics Consensus

Blending brilliant physical comedy with thrillingly choreographed set pieces, Police Story makes a persuasive case for Jackie Chan as one of the all-time genre greats.

Police Story (Ging chaat goo si) (Police Force) Photos

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Movie Info

This was internationally famous Jackie Chan's breakthrough action film, the work that got him past the ethnic boundaries of Hong Kong and into competition at the New York Film Festival in 1986. It also got him into the hospital after performing a stunt in which he fell through a glass canopy -- and stopped breathing. The story itself is not particularly profound. Kevin (Ga-kui) (Chan) is an honest, self-effacing cop who manages to capture drug lord Cho (Cho Leung) almost single-handedly. A reluctant Kevin is then assigned the job of protecting Cho's secretary Selena (Brigitte Lin) who is going to testify against him. Sure enough, the trial date comes, and Selena disappears, while Cho has to be set free for lack of evidence. The next thing he knows, Kevin is framed by Cho for the murder of a fellow (dirty) cop and is running like heck from the bad guys as well as the police. Some incredible stunts in this film include Chan being dragged behind a double-decker bus. One of Jackie Chan's trademarks are hilarious outtakes shown during the end credits, and they are among the best here. This feature is repeated to great advantage at the end of his 1998 hit Rush Hour as well. Police Story picked up "Best Picture" and "Best Action Choreography" at the 1986 Hong Kong Film Festival and was nominated for several other awards that year. Sequel after sequel followed.

Rating:

PG-13
Genre:

Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Comedy
Directed By:

Jackie Chan
Written By:

Jackie Chan
In Theaters:

Dec 14, 1985 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Nov 14, 2006
Runtime:

90 minutes
Studio:

Shout! Factory

Watch it now

iTunes

Vudu

Cast

Jackie Chan
as Chan KA Kui

Bridget Lin
as Selina Fong

Maggie Cheung
as May

Cho Yuen

Yuen Chor
as Mr. Chu Tao

Bill Tung
as Inspector Bill Wong

Lam Kwok Hung
as Superintendent Lee

Brigitte Lin

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Critic Reviews for Police Story (Ging chaat goo si) (Police Force)

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (5) | DVD (5)

It's the joy of watching Chan, a Buster Keaton of kickboxing, hurling himself into every stunt with total commitment, astounding athleticism and oddly unflappable, shaggy-haired grace.

Mar 6, 2019 | Full Review…

Justin Chang
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic
Chan seems to do everything he can think of to ingratiate himself with viewers.

Mar 6, 2018 | Full Review…

Simon Abrams
Village Voice
Top Critic
One of the great 1980s action films. It's also one of the most 1980s action films.

Mar 6, 2018 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

Matt Zoller Seitz
RogerEbert.com
Top Critic
The likeable and graceful Chan directs, sings and performs jaw-dropping stunts. Few of his American or Austrian rivals attempt a fraction of that.

Jun 24, 2006 | Full Review…

Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic
In the course of the story, about drug traffickers, Mr. Chan gets three separate birthday cakes thrown into his face, and participates in several elaborately staged gun fights and car chases.

Aug 30, 2004 | Rating: 3/4

Vincent Canby
New York Times
Top Critic
...a bona fide masterpiece of action cinema.

Jun 2, 2019 | Rating: 10/10 | Full Review…

Nathanael Hood
The Retro Set
As writer/director/star/stunt coordinator, Chan secured legend status right here before our very eyes with Police Story.

May 7, 2019 | Full Review…

Ed Travis
Cinapse
a goofy action comedy that redefined the boundaries of the martial arts film by incorporating kung-fu theatrics into a modern police procedural

May 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk
Chan shows off his formidable physical agility and winsome personality.

May 4, 2019 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Arresting fight scenes well orchestrated. Whatever area the fights take place in, everything in the vicinity will be used to fight with; whether it's a shoe, two small steps, or a sock - Chan will find a way to use them creatively during the fight.

May 2, 2019 | Full Review…

Chase Whale
The Digital Bits
In Police Story, Chan is able to highlight all of his gifts as an action star, a comedic star, and as a director balancing the two.

Jan 31, 2019 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…

Sean Mulvihill
FanboyNation.com
...[shows] writer-director-star Jackie Chan in his finest fighting style -- along with his usual over mugging for the camera.

Jan 31, 2019 | Full Review…

Chris Barsanti
PopMatters

View All Critic Reviews (25)

Audience Reviews for Police Story (Ging chaat goo si) (Police Force)

Jul 26, 2014

With enough humor and solidity in its story, Jackie Chan's Police Story is an authentic Chinese cinematic product. With its groundbreaking action and naturally-performed stunts from the superstar martial artist himself, the film was a step ahead of its time and made for an outstanding performance. 4/5

Eugene B Super Reviewer
May 17, 2014

The opening action scene is clever and eventful, full of impressive stunts and explosives. I had always put off watching this for no good reason, Jackie Chan is well cast and gives everything to the role.

Brendan N Super Reviewer
Nov 06, 2013

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Directors C Super Reviewer
Sep 18, 2012

Very few action films can stand the test of times and even less can compete with contemporary actions films with the used of CGI to showcase bigger action set pieces. The action genre is no doubt not what it used to be with more of them being influenced by comic books (a hero can't simply good guy anymore in this genre), a lack of any new action heroes, and even sequels that often aren't as good as the original. Police Story on the other hand remains as the genre finest example of a action movie done right. Police Story follows a virtuous Hong Kong police officer who must clear his good name when the drug lords he is after frames him for the murder of a dirty cop. The plot is as simple as a Chan movie can get, but with an added Chan signature sense of humor on top of the great crime story. It effectively balances between its comedic moments and gritty plot to make this one of the more enjoyable outing in not just the Police Story series but in the action genre in general. While the plot does thrills, it does have its slow part as some of the comedic scene feel padded out. Plus, I think you wouldn't miss much if didn't see Jackie Chan do the moonwalk in one scene. The plot does have a nice balance of story and violence, you'll feel like you enough plot and will be satisfy with what this movie has to offer in terms of action. It contains of the best actions scenes ever recorded in any movie, a personal favorite of mine is when Chan chases down a drug lord who's escaping on a bus and Chan chases it down with an umbrella (which he actually did). The other action scenes will make your jaw drop, especially the climax in the mall where Chan does some of his most impressive fight choreography. What ultimately makes Police Story stand the test of time is Jackie Chan. Not only does he perform his own stunt in the movie, but also plays his role as an actor very well. He's not your typical hero like Stallone or Schwarzenegger where you know the outcome, Chan plays an every man here making him more vulnerable and more relatable to the average person. Everything else here is bonus, the supporting cast are just as good as our main man, Chan direction is perfect for the action genre and knows how to the entertain his audience. Police Story might not be hailed as one of the best in its genre, but it should be for being fun and having jaw dropping action that's still impressive even with the possibilities of CGI. If you haven't seen Police Story or any action movie in a while, go checkout Jackie Chan Police Story as a prime example of the genre it most entertaining.

Caesar M Super Reviewer