New Police Story

Beer · Post by **Beer** » 24 Feb 2005, 07:49

Well, I finally saw NPS yesterday... what a terrible disappointment! I like the choice of a more mature Jackie, with a serious approach, but the plot is ridiculous (the criminals are a parody of those of Point Break) and the screenplay lacks any depth or finesse. And Jackie has very few scenes to show off his athletic ability.

Quite a boring movie, if I may say so. I might even be tempted to say that I prefer silly but fun stuff like Shanghai Knights to this "comeback to HK"... (flame on!)

The DVD is superb, though.

Ricochan38 · Post by **Ricochan38** » 24 Feb 2005, 08:40

I really enjoyed it, i am glad jackie has gone back to HK

His US house is for sale now also for 6.5 million dollar... if anyone is interested

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 24 Feb 2005, 10:14

Beer wrote:And Jackie has very few scenes to show off his athletic ability.

You mean apart from the first fight scene, the stunts during the chase sequence (sliding down from a skyscraper, jumping onto, into and down from a bus), fight scenes throughout the film (the bar brawl) and the final fight (especially in the Lego store)...? Yeah, true.

How dare this almost 51-years-old man to shoot so few action scenes?

Beer · Post by **Beer** » 24 Feb 2005, 10:47

thelostdragon wrote:You mean apart from the first fight scene, the stunts during the chase sequence (sliding down from a skyscraper, jumping onto, into and down from a bus), fight scenes throughout the film (the bar brawl) and the final fight (especially in the Lego store)...? Yeah, true. How dare this almost 51-years-old man to shoot so few action scenes?

Brief scenes, and nowhere as energetic, acrobatic and exhilarating as his old classics, IMHO... (or simply Who am I?)

I understand he's getting old, but this doesn't make the movie less disappointing...

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 24 Feb 2005, 11:17

That's true. His newer films are by no means as acrobatic as his old classic films.

This might sound a lil' smartassish now, lol-
I don't know how long you have been a fan of Jackie, but as I have experienced, people who just got all of his films, like his old films better than the new ones, while long-time fans who have anticipated his films getting released since the 80's or even earlier, tend more to go with the flow of time and say, "Cool! I like seeing Jackie trying something new".

I think the style of action in "New Police Story" suits our time best. In the 80's and 90's it was ok to have over the top acrobatics in modern day films, but is it now? Hence, I am always wondering whether Jackie has stopped the acrobatics due to his age, or due to the reason that it doesn't really fit into type of films he shoots nowadays. What if he shot a new "Drunken Master"? Do you think he'd do acrobatics? Personally, I don't know, but I am sure if it took place in the old days where you would not survive without striking an iron palm every now and then, then he'd probably do acrobatics again.

But of course that's just speculation.

Beer · Post by **Beer** » 24 Feb 2005, 11:31

thelostdragon wrote:I don't know how long you have been a fan of Jackie, but as I have experienced, people who just got all of his films, like his old films better than the new ones, while long-time fans who have anticipated his films getting released since the 80's or even earlier, tend more to go with the flow of time and say, "Cool! I like seeing Jackie trying something new".

Well, I am a fan since 2001 only, but I own on DVD almost all of his movies post-1978. My favorites include Drunken Master 1-2, Project A, Police Story 3, Armour of God 1-2, City Hunter, Who am I, Twin Dragons, Wheels on Meals... Hey, even Gorgeous was fun, though there was little action!

I am not a fan who says that all old stuff from Jackie is great (he has made his share of weak movies in the '80s too, but even in the worst movies there were some great action scenes), but I have found nothing of his usual charm in New Police Story.

The plot and the young villains were particularly irritating. I welcome the dark, serious side of Jackie (and he was quite good in acting serious, too), but this movie does not support him with a screenplay with enough depth or character development, IMHO...

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 24 Feb 2005, 11:55

The only problem I had with "New Police Story" was that he overdid it in some of his crying scenes.

Also did he cry too often in my opinion. The constant whining went on my nerves after a while.

But I liked the action, I liked the bad guys, too. What do you mean by irritating. Could you please explain further? In what way did they irritate you?

Beer · Post by **Beer** » 24 Feb 2005, 12:34

thelostdragon wrote: But I liked the action, I liked the bad guys, too. What do you mean by irritating. Could you please explain further? In what way did they irritate you?

Dunno... just a skin feeling... I am not a fan of these young pop-idols who appear in HK movies just to attract younger audiences...

I found these villains very cartoonish, over-the-top, definitely unrealistic in terms of style and actions. Just a band of street punks with no real menacing presence or grandeur.

For example, I LOVE the villains of the Infernal Affairs trilogy... much more believable.

You CAN have over-the-top villains (Richard Norton comes to mind), of course, but NOT in a movie which tries to be more serious and realistic. And anyway they have to be over-the-top and ridiculous with style and charisma, qualities I find missing in the brats from NPS.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 24 Feb 2005, 12:57

Daniel Wu is by no means a pop-idol and if given the right project he is a very good actor in my opinion. Andy On isn't a pop idol either. Kenny Kwan is also not a singer.

In fact, I think the only singers in this film are Jackie, Nicholas and Charlene, none of whom played bad guys.

I have to admit that when I watched the trailer for the film, that I was really put off by the masks these guys are using. But when I watched the film, I thought that it fitted these villains who in their other life are computer game junkies.

I also think that you can't compare the villains from "Infernal Affairs" to the ones that were written for "New Ploice Story".

You are right, though about over-the-top villains in a serious film. I also think that Jackie has failed combining his comedy, which he definitely let Tse handle, with the drama he always wanted to do. I think that he should either go straight for drama or do straight comedy.

Beer · Post by **Beer** » 24 Feb 2005, 13:18

thelostdragon wrote:Daniel Wu is by no means a pop-idol

You are right, though about over-the-top villains in a serious film. I also think that Jackie has failed combining his comedy, which he definitely let Tse handle, with the drama he always wanted to do. I think that he should either go straight for drama or do straight comedy.

Yes, with "pop-idol" I didn't mean "pop-singer", but "a young cutie with trendish looks who appeals to young audiences"... my mistake.

I agree that Daniel Wu was good in Purple Storm (fine film, too), but not memorable in other movies I've seen (2000AD, Naked Weapon, Gen-X Cops).

I was very disappointed by Nicholas Tse, too. Especially after the good role in Time and Tide.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 24 Feb 2005, 13:48

Another movie Daniel was very good in is "One Night in Mongkok" which is a quite recent HK film.

He was also quite good in "Cop on a Mission".