Film Review – The Police Story Trilogy (Eureka Classics)

Jackie Chan became an icon of Chinese cinema in the mid 80’s and there was nothing that cemented his status as their top action star like Police Story. In Police Story, Chan took the director’s chair and also starred as Chan Ka-Kui, a cop faced with many dangerous situations when forced to bring down a notorious crime lord.

Jackie Chan himself has said that Police Story is the best film he ever made in terms of action and it certainly pays off. However, in bringing the best and most exciting action, most of Chan’s stunt crew were hospitalised. Although that’s the price you pay for quality entertainment and everyone involved walked away with a great story to tell.

Then due to the success of the first Police Story, Police Story 2 was released not long after, again with Chan directing as well as bringing back Chan Ka-Kui for another adventure. Demoted to traffic cop due to the mass destruction caused in the first film, he soon finds himself reinstated as detective as a building explodes, with threats of more explosions if the criminal’s demands are not met. It also looks like Chan struck gold again because Police Story 2 was just as big of a hit and gave a rare sequel which actually matched the original.

Finally, Police Story 3: Supercop was put on the big screen, but this time Chan Ka-Kui had a partner, Inspector Yang Chien-Hua (Michelle Yeoh) and they worked together to bring down an international drug ring. Although this time Jackie Chan decided not to direct the third instalment, director Stanley Tong took over and proved that with his experience in stunt work that he knew what worked and even went on to direct Rumble in The Bronx, another Jackie Chan classic.

Also, although it’s hard to believe now, but Yeoh came out of retirement for the role and thanks to that part, she became an icon of Chinese cinema alongside Jackie Chan.

Now for the first time, The Police Story Trilogy comes to 4K blu-ray and is packed with not only the best-looking versions of the films ever seen, but comes loaded with special features. Including the original Hong Kong cut of the films as well as they’re exported versions, The Police Story Trilogy features behind the scenes footage, a documentary all about Jackie Chan, a 100-page booklet all about the trilogy and much more.

Limited to 3000 copies on its first release, get the boxset soon and you won’t regret it.

Action, Comedy, Martial Arts | Hong Kong, 1985/1988/1992 | 4K Blu-ray | Eureka Entertainment | Dir.Jackie Chan / Stanley Tong | Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung, Bridgette Lin, Wah Yuen

LIMITED EDITION BOX SET CONTENTS
Hardbound Slipcase featuring new artwork by R.P. “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien | 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentations of all three films across 3 Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) | Reversible sleeve artwork for each film, featuring limited edition individual sleeve designs by R.P. “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien | 100-PAGE perfect bound collector’s book featuring essays by James Oliver on each film, as well as archival materials, imagery, and ephemera | Worldwide UHD debuts for all three films, and the first time Police Story 3: Supercop has been available on home video in the UK since the VHS era

DISC ONE – POLICE STORY (1985)
4K (2160p) UHD presentation of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut [100 mins] | 1080p HD presentation of the alternate “Police Force” export cut of the film [88 mins] | Hong Kong Version – Original Cantonese mono audio, as well as optional restored 5.1 DTS-HD MA | Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Classic English dub (original mono) | Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Brand new audio commentary with Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and F.J. DeSanto | Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Brand new audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema | Police Force Version – Option of either the classic English dub track or a rare alternate audio track featuring the original Cantonese audio mixed with the Kevin Bassinson score | Newly revised English subtitles | Archival interview with Jackie Chan [19 mins] | Alternate and Deleted Scenes | Archival “Jackie Chan Stunts” promo | Trailers, including the films’ original theatrical and export trailers | *All extras subject to change

DISC TWO – POLICE STORY 2 (1988)
4K (2160p) UHD presentation of the Extended cut of the film [121 mins] | 1080p HD presentation of the original Hong Kong theatrical version [105 mins] | 1080p HD presentation of the alternate export version [95 mins] | Extended Version – Original Cantonese mono audio, as well as optional restored 5.1 DTS-HD MA | Extended Version – English dub presented in restored 5.1 DTS-HD MA | Extended Version – Brand new audio commentary with Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and F.J. DeSanto | Extended Version – Brand new audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema | Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Original Cantonese mono audio | Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Archival audio commentary with Miles Wood and Jude Poyer | Export Version – Classic English dub track | Newly revised English subtitles | “Jackie Chan” episode of Son of the Incredibly Strange Film Show [41 mins] – documentary on Jackie Chan’s early career from cult film documentary series, presented by Jonathan Ross | Archival interview with actor and stuntman Benny Lai [15 mins] | Outtakes |Trailers, including the films’ original theatrical and export trailers | *All extras subject to change

DISC THREE – POLICE STORY 3: SUPERCOP (1992)
4K (2160p) UHD presentation of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut [96 mins] from a brand new restoration of the original film elements \ 1080p HD presentation of the alternate US version [91 mins] | Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Original Cantonese mono audio, as well as an optional alternate Cantonese audio track featuring original, unaltered, sound effects | Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Brand new Cantonese Dolby Atmos Surround Sound Audio | Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Classic English dub track | Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Brand new audio commentary with Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and F.J. DeSanto | Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Brand new audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema | US Version – “American English” dub track, including Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh voicing their own characters | US Version – Original Cantonese audio | Newly translated English subtitles | Brand new interview with Stunt Coordinator and Action Film Historian John Kreng | New featurette on rarely seen Jackie Chan video games, Kung Fu Master & Fists of Fire by Arne Venema | New featurette on the filming locations of the Police Story trilogy | Archival interview with Jackie Chan (20 mins) | Archival interview with Michelle Yeoh (23 mins) | Archival interview with director Stanley Tong (20 mins) | Archival interview with Jackie Chan’s long-time bodyguard and co-star Ken Lo (21 mins) | Outtakes (50 mins) – a huge selection of NG (“No Good”) shots from the film | Trailers | *All extras subject to change