Police Story (1985)
The best action movies require the best stuntmen.
Presentation:
When it comes to action comedies, they often donât make the cut into the Hall of Spice. But sometimes the action is so incredible it deserves all the recognition. Police Story is one of Jackie Chanâs greatest series for the unbelievable stunt work, if you can even call it that. It reminds me when magician David Blaine shocks celebrities by sticking a needle through his arm. Thereâs no trick, he just actually punctures a needle through his entire bicep. And so when you see Jackie Chan sliding down an electric pole getting 3rd degree burns or hanging onto a speeding bus with an umbrella, itâs real. The story is a bit forgettable and the comedy is a bit silly, and I probably love Rush Hour more. But with action this impressive, itâs hard not to recognize the cinematic greatness of this film, so just sit back and enjoy in awe.
Conclusion:
Compared to some of the other Hong Kong movies like Hard Boiled, Police Story has always been the benchmark of action because of its hand to hand realism. I donât even know if you can call this filmmaking; itâs a documentary pushing the limits of human ability. While people are praising Tom Cruise for doing his own stunts, Jackie Chan and Buster Keaton have been doing it forever. And with the safety regulations in modern filmmaking, we will never get to witness such dangerous thrilling action again. So if you want to see some of the greatest stunts recorded on film, itâs gotta be Police Story, no matter 1, 2 or 3.
Recommendations
The best action movies require the best stuntmen.