IN THE LINE OF DUTY I - IV (1986-1989)
In the Line of Duty (皇家師姐) is a series of very loosely connected 'girls with guns' action films produced by Hong Kong movie studio D & B Films; the first two star Michelle Yeoh with the sequels starring the equally ass-kicking Cynthia Khan as Hong Kong Police Force Officers kicking crime's ass. This was not a series that was initially planned or even filmed as a connected series of films, with the third film in the series being the first to have used the 'In the Line of Duty' title, and it was only then retroactively applied to the first two Michelle Yeoh films. There are actually five more In the Line of Duty films starring Khan from the 90's, but this set from 88 Films collects the first four with some terrific extras and alternate viewing and listening options options, in addition to some killer packaging.
ROYAL WARRIORS (1986)
aka In the Line of Duty
aka Police Assassins
Label: 88 Films
Duration: 96 Minutes
Region Code: A
Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono Alternate Mix, Cantonese DTS-HD MA 2.0 Theatrical Mix English Dub DTS-HD MA 5.1, Classic English Dub DTS-HD MA 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Directors: David Chung
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Henry Sanada, Michael Wong, Pai Ying, Michael Chan, Lam Wai
In the David Chung directed Royal Warriors (1986), aka In The Line of Duty aka Police Assassins, the lovely Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once) stars as as Inspector Yip. While returning from a vacation in Japan has to kick some ass on a plane, alongside airport security guard Michael Wong (played by Michael Wong, The Vineyard), and Japanese cop Yamamoto (Henry Sanada, The Wolverine) to stop the mid-air hijacking aimed at springing a high profile Hong Kong mobster being extradited for trial. During the in-flight kung fu kerfuffle the mob boss and the would-be hijacker are killed, but the trio of cops become targeted by the mobster's blood brother who is out for revenge at any price. It's a dizzying kick-ass slice of Hong Kong action with some crazy set-pieces' we get chainsaw battles, a fantastic nightclub fight sequence, loads of shattered glass, explosions, and some seriously impactful fight sequences that dazzle. The film has no qualms about the death of innocents with loads civilian casualties of people just in the wrong place at the wrong time, even one of the main characters wives a young kid are offed in a car explosion. I love seeing Yeoh do her ass-kicking cop lady thing, she's a force to be reckoned while also being quite charming, she's certainly the star of the flick and it's no wonder this film put on the worldwide map. The film has some decent character moments that build the bond between the three law enforcement main characters, which deepens the drama when casualties start mounting, some of them quite affecting. I also love that the baddies lure the cops for a final showdown by grave robbing a dead cops corpse from the cemetery and leaving a VHS taped message for them, plus there's a late in the game arrival of an experimental armored car because why the Hell not?
Special Features:
- 2.0 Cantonese Mono Theatrical Mix
- 2.0 Cantonese Alternate Mix
- 2.0 Classic English Dub
- 5.1 New English Dub
- Newly translated English subtitles
- Audio Commentary by Hong Kong Film Expert Frank Djeng
- Missing Aeroplane Inserts (29 sec)
- Cantonese Trailer (4 min 38 sec)
- English Trailer (3 min 47 sec)
- English In the Line of Duty Titles (2 min 57 sec)
YES, MADAM! (1985)
aka In The Line of Duty 2: The Super Cops
aka Police Assassins 2
Label: 88 Films
Duration: 93 Minutes
Region Code: A
Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono Home Video Mix, Cantonese DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono Theatrical Mix, English Dub DTS-HD MA 5.1 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Directors: Corey Yuen
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, John SHum, CYnthia Rothrock, Mang Hoi, Tsui Hark, Sammo Hung
In the "sequel" directed by Corey Yuen Yes, Madam! (1985), Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) stars as Hong Kong Inspector Ng, who teams up with Scottish Investigator Carrie Morris (Cynthia Rothrock, Top Squad) to retrieve microfilm that has been unwittingly stolen by a pair of two-bit thieves Aspirin (Hoi Mang, Righting Wrongs) and Strepsil (John Sham, New Police Story) and their quirky counterfeiter associate Panadol (Tsui Hark, The Mermaid). Unbeknownst to the low-level criminals the microfiche could put a powerful triad boss in the slammer for life and he's sent a professional hitman (Dick Wei, Five Deadly Venoms) to retrieve the evidence, which ends up resulting in both the hitman as well as cops. This one is way more a comedy than the first film, while still being chock full of stunning fight choreography and dangerous stunt work, it's a wonderful combination and the fast-paced action , kick-ass kung fu and slapstick humor was delightful. This is easily my favorite of the four films here, Yeoh and Rothrock are dynamite here, the finale features some terrific fights with both, and I loved the comedy brought to the table by out trio of comic criminals
.
Special Features:
- Hong Kong Cut featuring: Cantonese Original Theatrical Mix Mono & Cantonese (Home Video Mix) Mono Original Effects
5.1 New English Dub
- Export Version with classic English Dub in 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono (87 min 57 sec)
- Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng (HK Version)
- A Team Player - Cynthia Rothrock on Yes, Madam! (17 min 50 sec)
- Select Scene Commentary with Cynthia Rothrock and Frank Djeng (4 min 30 sec)
- Ladies First - Men Hoi on Yes, Madam! (13 min 46 sec)
- Archival Interview with Michelle Yeoh (15 min 5 sec)
- Archival Battling Babes Featurette (10 min 23 sec)
- Hong Kong Trailer (4 min 22 sec)
IN THE LINE OF DUTY III (1988)
aka Force of the Dragon
aka yes Madam 2
Label: 88 Films
Duration: 90 Minutes
Region Code: A
Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono, English Dub DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Directors: Arthur Wong, Brandy Yuen
Cast: Cynthia Khan, Hiroshi Fujioka, Stuart Ong, Michiko Nishiwaki, Yueh Hua, Paul Chun, Dick Wei, Melvin Wong
In the Line of Duty III loses Yeoh and Rothrock, and the comedy-bent that I loved from the last outing, but it stars Cynthia Khan (Super Lady Cop) as Hong Kong Detective Rachel Yeung, who assigned with tracking down a pair of Red Army connected terrorists (Stuart Ong, Die Another Day) & Michiko Nishiwaki (Magic Cop)) who, after a bloody Tokyo fashion show heist, have fled to Hong Kong, only to realize their silent third party has betrayed them with fake diamonds. While the comedy is toned down there's still a lot to love about this third entry. Yeung is joined in HK by Japanese detective (Hiroshi Fujioka, Ghost Warrior) who is hell-bent on revenging the death of his partner who the terrorist thief's gunned down in Tokyo, and he's quite fond of breaking the rules and getting on the wrong side of the law in order to achieve that goal. While the comedy is gone (for the most part) this entry is ultra-violent and goes for the throat, the thieves vow to track down their silent partner who double-crossed them. The emphasis her is on action and not character development, so it comes at you fast and it's pretty breathtaking the amount of violence and ass-kicking squeezed in here, just don't expect much dramatic impact, almost to the point that I was just watching this for the ass-kicking and not really paying attention to character stuff or plot. This one is quite stylish and slick looking, with some terrific set pieces that are quite entertaining, including a explosives-laden RC helicopter attack on a hospital, but it is a bit too grim and violent for it's own good at times, I missed the humor and quirky character moments from the first two entries.
Special Features:
- 2.0 Cantonese Mono with English Subtitles
- 2.0 English Mono
- Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng and Michael Worth
- Interview with John Sham by Frederic Ambroisine (25 min 41 sec min)
- Hong Kong Trailer (3 min 12 sec)
- English Trailer 1 (3 min 10 sec)
- English Trailer 2 (3 min 27 sec)
- English Credits (2 min 20 sec)
IN THE LINE OF DUTY IV (`1989)
aka In the Line of Duty
aka Yes Madam 4
aka Witness
Label: 88 Films
Duration: 95 Minutes 24 Seconds
Region Code: A
Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono, English Dub DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Directors: Woo-Ping Yuen
Cast: Cynthia Khan, Donnie Yen, Michael Wong, Yat Chor Yuen, Lisa Chiao, Liu Kai-chi
In the Line of Duty IV (1989), directed by Woo-Ping Yuen (Drunken Master), again stars Cynthia Kahn, this time as Seattle-based Detective Yeung, who's hot on the trail on a drug dealer, with the help of Inspectors Yan (Donnie Yen, Ip Man) and Inspector Wong (Michael Wong) she infiltrates the port where the cocaine is being unloaded, where she encounter Chinese immigrant dock work Luk Wan-ting (Yat Chor Yuen, Tiger Cage). When she is discovered by the dealer Luk Wang-ting provides her with an alibi, and later she helps defend the dock workers brother Ming (Liu Kai-chi, Infernal Affairs II) from this he owes a large sum of money two. Afterward Luk witnesses a corrupt CIA agent gin down the coke dealer at a warehouse and becomes entangled in Yeung's case when the dying cop gives him a roll of undeveloped film that would incriminate the CIA agent. Through a series of unlucky events Luk is taken into custody but escapes and returns to Honk Kong, with Kahn, Yan and Wong following him. There while attempting to apprehend Luk Wan-ting the cops become entangled in a web of corrupt cops, drug dealers and a group of ex-military baddies that make for an action-packed watch with more heart and character that the third film but still chock full of top-notch action. My favorite parts of this film actually revolve around the dock worker played by Yat Chor Yuen, his comic but spry ass-kicking presence was quite entertaining, the perfect foil to the cops and for me is the heart of the film.
Special Features:
- 2.0 Cantonese Mono with English Subtitles
- 2.0 English Mono
- Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng and Michael Worth
- Interview with John Sham by Frederic Ambroisine
- Hong Kong cut, featuring Cantonese or Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles
- Export Version of the film featuring the Classic English Dub (Dolby Digital) 2.0 (95 min 3 sec) HD
- Audio Commentary with Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto (HK Cut)
- Archive Interview with Donnie Yen (29 min 20 sec)
- Hong Kong Trailer (4 min 26 sec)
- English Trailer (5 min 30 sec)
Audio/Video: All four film are advertised as being "stunning new 2K restorations" presented in 1080p HD widescreen framed in 1.85:1. from 88 Films. I thought they all looked quite nice with good color and skin tones, and the sources material is in great shape. Audio for all four films features both English dub and Cantonese, some with alternate home video and theatrical mixes.
Extras include Audio Commentaries by Hong Kong Film Expert Frank Djeng and associates on all four films, plus both Hong Kong and Export versions of the second and fourth films, hours of new and archival interviews and featurettes, and loads of trailers.
The 4-film set arrives in a gorgeous side-loading slipbox adorned with eye catching artwork by Sean Longmore on the front and back, inside the 4-films are housed in individual black keepcases, each with reversible sleeves of artwork featuring both the original Hong Kong artworks plus new Sean Longmore illustrations. The discs inside feature unique artworks by Longmore. That's not all, we also get a 100-page illustrated book by Matthew Edwards featuring interviews with Shan Tam, Michael Parker, Stephan Berwick & Michael Woods, plus tons of artwork, and cast & crew information, plus a pair of double-sided fold-out posters featuring both the original Hong Kong and Longmore artworks.
These Hong Kong 'girls with guns flicks' were all first time watches for me, and they absolutely kicked ass on all fronts. 88 Films offers a terrific 4-film set with desirable limited edition packaging, solid A/V presentations and a nice array of audio options, alternate cuts, multiple languages and bountiful extras.
