THE INSPECTOR WEARS SKIRTS (1988)
Label: 88 Film s
Region Code: A, B
Duration: 95 Minutes
Rating: Unrated
Audio: Cantonese 2.0 Dual Mono, English 2.0 Dual-Mono with English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Director: Wellson Chin
Cast: Sibelle Hu, Cynthia Rothrock, Kara Wai, Regina Kent, Ellen Chan, nn Bridgewater, Sandra Kwan Yue Ng, Joanna Chan, Pei-ling Lee, Ming-Si Lai, Wai-Man Lau, Alex To, Billy Lau, Stanley Sui-Fan Fung, Michael Man-Kin Chow, Anthony Carpio, Mars, Tat-Kwong Chan, Ricky Hui
Produced by Jackie Chan for Golden Harvest the HK cop-comedy The Inspector Wears Skirts (1988) aka Top Squad, Madame Wu (Sibelle Hu, Devil Hunters) has been assigned to the Hong Kong Police Academy to train an elite squad of female cops called Banshee Squad Members. She is less than impressed with new recruits May (Kara Hui, The Brave Archer), Karen (Ann Bridgewater, Operation Pink Squad II), Amin (Lee Pooi-Ling, Police Story 2), the wise-cracking Amy (Sandra Kwan, Royal Tramp), and Betty (Regina Kent, Ghost Busting), all of whom bicker over petty differences and romantic interests, as well as the academy's male Tiger Squad members who train next door, who are lead by Inspector Kan (Shui-Fan Fung, The Ghost Snatchers), who himself is quite enamored with Wu. To get them in line Madame Wu brings in Interpol agent Inspector Madame Law (Cynthia Rothrock, Righting Wrongs) to set them straight prior to the squad first assignment, going undercover to thwart a planned heist at a big-stakes jewelry exhibition by jewel thief (Jeff Falcon, Six-String Samurai) and his gang, but of course nothing goes as planned.
This action-comedy is a film of two minds, while it opens and closes with some strong action the middle-section is a very Police Academy-esque hang-out comedy with Sandra Kwan offering most of the comic relief, and some fun training montages. I love the goofy comedy but as an action film the flick leaves a bit to be desired and the two don't blend together the best, but it's still quite an entertaining flick, even of Rothrock is criminally underused, though she gets a bad-ass introduction as she and Madame Wu kick the asses of terrorist who set out to assassinate a visiting sheikh. While not quite the Girls with Gun actioner I was hoping for I am a fan of wacky comedies and it certainly offers that, and the female cast are quite likable.
Audio/Video: The Inspector Wears Skirts (1988) arrives in region A,B Blu-ray from 88 Films, presented here in 1080p HD widescreen (1.85:1), advertised as being "2K Remaster from the Original Camera Negative". The source is in fine shape, no issues with blemished, and filmic grain is present, which can get a bit heavy during the darker scenes. Depth and clarity are quite pleasing, and colors are nicely saturated and vibrant. Audio comes by way of either post-dubbed Cantonese or English DTS-HD MA 2.0 dual-mono with optional English subtitles. The tracks are clean and well-balanced, the more action oriented sequence sound great, dialogue is never a chore to discern.
Audio/Video: The Inspector Wears Skirts (1988) arrives in region A,B Blu-ray from 88 Films, presented here in 1080p HD widescreen (1.85:1), advertised as being "2K Remaster from the Original Camera Negative". The source is in fine shape, no issues with blemished, and filmic grain is present, which can get a bit heavy during the darker scenes. Depth and clarity are quite pleasing, and colors are nicely saturated and vibrant. Audio comes by way of either post-dubbed Cantonese or English DTS-HD MA 2.0 dual-mono with optional English subtitles. The tracks are clean and well-balanced, the more action oriented sequence sound great, dialogue is never a chore to discern.
Disc extras include an Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng; the 17-min Shooting Her Shot - An Interview With Cynthia Rothrock; the 16-min The Director Wears Pants - An Interview With Director Wellson Chin; 3-min ”Top Squad” English Opening and Closing Titles; 4-min Hong Kong Trailer; 2-min English Trailer and a 2-min Stills Gallery.
The single-disc release arrives in a black keepcase with a Reversible Sleeve of Artwork featuring both a new artwork by Sean Longmore and the original HK artwork. Inside there's a Double-Sided Fold Out Poster featuring both artworks as well as a 32-Page Illustrated Booklet with the Girls with Skirts - A Look at 'The Inspector Wears Skirts' Role in the girls with Guns Genre' essay by Paul Bramhall. We also get a Limited Edition (First Pressing Only) slipcover with the cool Sean Longmore artwork.
Special Features:
- LIMITED EDITION - Slipcase with brand-new artwork from Sean Longmore
- 2K Remaster from the Original Camera Negative
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray Presentation
-2.0 Cantonese Dual Mono with English Subtitles
- 2.0 English Dual Mono
- Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng
- Shooting Her Shot - An Interview With Cynthia Rothrock (16:46)
- The Director Wears Pants - An Interview With Director Wellson Chin (19:04)
- ”Top Squad” English Opening and Closing Titles (2:46)
- Hong Kong Trailer (3:32)
- English Trailer (2:02)
- Stills Gallery (1:41)
Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3NODIA6
- LIMITED EDITION - Slipcase with brand-new artwork from Sean Longmore
- 2K Remaster from the Original Camera Negative
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray Presentation
-2.0 Cantonese Dual Mono with English Subtitles
- 2.0 English Dual Mono
- Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng
- Shooting Her Shot - An Interview With Cynthia Rothrock (16:46)
- The Director Wears Pants - An Interview With Director Wellson Chin (19:04)
- ”Top Squad” English Opening and Closing Titles (2:46)
- Hong Kong Trailer (3:32)
- English Trailer (2:02)
- Stills Gallery (1:41)
Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3NODIA6
