Original Title: Police Story IV First Strike
English Title: Police Story 4: First Strike
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Year: 1996
Sound: Dolby Digital
Country: Hong Kong, China
Genre: Comedy, Thriller, Adventure, Action
Director: Stanley Tong
Screenplay: Stanley Tong, Tang Mingji
Cinematography: Peter Pau
Action Choreography: Jackie Chan, Stanley Tong
Starring: Jackie Chan, Tony Tong, Wilson Chun, David Loh, Cecilia Wong
Production Company: Golden Harvest (Hong Kong), New Line Cinema (USA)
Language: Mandarin
Subtitles: Chinese
Synopsis:
This time, Chan Ka Kuit is entrusted by the American Central Intelligence Agency to escort a female prisoner to Russia. However, she is abducted as soon as they arrive. While tracking suspect Xu Jie, Chan witnesses their transaction and is subsequently hunted down. Fortunately, he is saved by the Russian military. Chan is then sent by Colonel Gregor to Australia to find Xu's sister Annie. Upon arriving in Chinatown, he is pursued again. Chan finally realizes that Colonel Gregor is the mastermind behind everything...
"Police Story 4: First Strike" is not only a Jackie Chan production but also marked as a Stanley Tong film, reflecting Jackie Chan's respect for Stanley Tong. This film was shot on location in Russia and Australia, aiming to give audiences another stunning visual experience. This time, Chan Ka Kuit (Jackie Chan) steps beyond Asia, originally following a suspect to Ukraine, only to uncover a nuclear trade conspiracy, thus initiating a grand chase.
In terms of production: This film resembles a Western movie more than a typical Hong Kong production, such as the snow mountain chase and underwater shark scenes.
For action scene design: The action scenes in this film are exceptionally well-designed, thanks to the efforts of martial arts choreographers Stanley Tong and Jackie Chan. One of the most impressive scenes, in my opinion, is the fight at the Golden Dragon Hall, where the environment is cleverly utilized as weapons, especially the use of ladders, making it visually pleasing. Additionally, the underwater fight and the mid-film indoor fight scenes are also thoughtfully designed.
Regarding the actors' performances, Jackie Chan gives an incredibly daring performance, earning great admiration. I particularly appreciate his dangerous stunts in a building scene, which make the audience genuinely concerned for his safety. David Loh also delivers a solid performance in his dramatic roles. As for Cecilia Wong, although her screen time seems limited, she still manages to make a notable impression.