Police Story 4: First Strike (1996)

Oh, man I tried really hard to find the Hong Kong theatrical version. Sadly the international one is what I kept finding. Why do I want Hong Kong? Because it's got 23 more minutes of actual plot storyline and some of the action scenes. I've always wondered what was in those missing scenes? Mentions of what happened between Ka Kui (excuse me this is where they actually called him Jackie in the movie that wasn't a dubbed mistake) and May? Or other key parts to what makes this a Police Story? The ironic thing is that they wanted to make it more appeasing at 84 min, and apparently did a lot of no-no's. Such as subtitles that go when no one is speaking, because they make them speak on the dub.

The reality is that I have only ever seen the international version. (Even to this day the US companies that own the rights make it more readily available.) The plot is choppy and leaves a lot of questions up in the air. Yet, I can't stay mad. This was my very first Jackie movie, and a lot of other people's intro. Though now I totally understand why I got confused about this actually being in the Police Story franchise. With a change of name, only the chief in Hong Kong to tie in, and the title internationally being "Jackie Chan's First Strike" well things get confusing. AND in reality it wasn't initially part of the franchise despite the attempted tie ins.

That said the epic stunts for the ladder scene and skiing scene are amazing. I still hold out in saying that Police Story 3 has the best stunts ever in this franchise, and other action movies will be hard pressed to beat them.

That said I can feel the need to get world wide recognition (cough--USA recognition--cough) with this. What saddens me is that even after tailoring it for US audiences they still felt the need to edit. (Which will bring me into a whole nother rant about the US being dip-poops about letting international work be. Especially since US stuff can have much worse content, and they love to jeopardize plot and substance for the sale line.) Which makes this installment into one of the weaker entries into the franchise. Oh, I'll always think of this fondly. I know without it a key piece of Jackie's movies being introduced mainstream may have taken a longer route.

The females are left to be eye candy and damsels. (That's part of the American action movie trend.) The plot is so bastardized and needs development. As I haven't scene that 23min of missing footage I can't say if it clears it up. Still this, and yes the international release, hold a warm fuzzy spot in my heart. This is still one of the most re-run movies (kind of like Fear). It did have a lot of Jackie's great humorous action! Not to mention the legendary ladder scene. Sadly the only Police Story movie I'd say ranks lower then this one would be Police Story 2013.

(Here's the full details on the censorship: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=1809
Apparently I need to quit being cheap and just by this release.)

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