Police Story III: Supercop 4K UHD Review

Mine Cart Madness

Police Story III patiently waits for its finale, and with good reason. Strapped to a helicopter’s rope ladder and flying over gorgeous Malaysian scenery, Jackie Chan produces one of the most ludicrously dangerous stunt sequences in his career. That’s to say nothing of co-star Michelle Yeoh performing an equally absurd motorcycle leap onto a moving train, and keep the action scene’s perpetually in-motion theatrics.

That’s one of Chan’s best, if least physical in terms of actually fighting. Police Story III’s middle action uses rocket launchers and guns rather than punches and kicks. An earlier set piece uses mine carts and another daring leap of faith, rappelling down hundreds of feet from the countryside. This third film isn’t shy about showing Chan’s confidence.

While Police Story III stalls for time in places, it’s worthwhile

Undercover, Chan’s Ka Kui infiltrates a drug kingpin’s operation along with other officers (notably, Yeoh’s Jessica Yang). As the subtitle suggests, Supercop is true to form, Chan an absolute and perfect cop who when given the keys to a limitless Swiss bank account, turns the information over to the Hong Kong government to help build the nation after the British handover. Courting controversy through the years for his support of communist values, Police Story III is among the first time his shocking nationalist policies showed on screen via a storyline.

The script then has purpose beyond putting Chan in real world danger for thrills, something occasionally lost in Chan’s later films (especially into the ‘00s). There’s clear camaraderie between Chan and Yeoh beyond their athletic prowess, co-workers joined by their careers and common good. Awkward instances with Chan’s on-screen girlfriend (Maggie Cheung) sport both comic and tense attributes as the star risks exposing his undercover status in awkward ways.

Also interesting, Chan begins doubting his skills, adjusting to a new culture, new laws, and new rules. He’s no longer comfortable, and spends the next 90-minutes proving he’s as billed by his home office. Chan does, of course, because here in his prime circa 1992, no one did it better. Police Story III even aims to mirror western action, copying Commando and/or Predator with an explosive jungle shootout that’s just as wild, if not more so, than those counterparts. While Police Story III stalls for time in places, it’s worthwhile.

Video

Caring, pristine, and crisp, 88 Films does incredible work bringing Police Story III to 4K, and it’s wishful thinking to prefer they handle the first two films rather than Criterion when the time comes for a 4K release. This lavish package begins with a spectacular new 4K master, preserved flawlessly at superb resolution. Detail thrives in this environment. Texture appears everywhere, wide shots just as sharp as those in close.

Masterful color replication delivers the primaries demanded by the original film stock, elevating location scenery via elaborate greens. Red flags and signage sport impeccable color density, natural yet ever so slightly elevated. Flesh tones bring warmth.

Dolby Vision isn’t aggressive, but layered. Ample contrast layers Police Story III without drawing attention to itself (although tasers produce a mighty glow). Properly calibrated black levels add their own punch, heavy and bold without crush.

Audio

Cantonese Atmos is an unexpected highlight, going along with mono Cantonese, alternate Cantonese, and English dubs in mono. Sadly, it’s overdone in regards to the score, failing to mix the channels discreetly and treating them all as one. Dialog stays strictly to the center, while sound affects track better around the soundstage than the music. The first fight around 18-minutes has birds convincingly chirping in the rears, but then rain later doesn’t drift from the center at all. The Atmos is wasted aside from a helicopter, and errant gunshots lack precision.

LFE isn’t factored in either, so while the overall fidelity (and it’s superb) impresses, the marketable remix isn’t. Sticking with original mono is preferred.

Extras

Genre expert Frank Djeng brings his thoughts about Police Story III via commentary over the Hong Kong cut. Note the US edit simply titled Supercop is here too, in 4K. Featurettes on the stars include Chan, Yeoh, Stanley Tong, and Ken Lo. Archival bonuses include a Tong interview, outtakes, a nifty Guy Laroche commercial from 1984 featuring Chan and Yeoh, then trailers galore. Of interest is the US screener promo, a rarely seen extra.

Full disclosure: This Blu-ray was provided to us for review. This has not affected the editorial process. For information on how we handle review material, please visit our about us page to learn more.

The following six screen shots serve as samples for our subscription-exclusive set of 37 full resolution uncompressed 4K screen shots grabbed directly from the UHD: