Leofwine_draca Very much in the line of hard-hitting late '80s Hong Kong cop flicks like POLICE ASSASSINS and POLICE STORY 2 comes IN THE LINE OF DUTY, actually the fourth in a series of films but retitled for the purpose of simplicity for UK release. It's the film that propelled Donnie Yen into stardom and is probably the most action-packed of all kung fu flicks that I've watched so far. Director Yuen Woo-ping knows what the audience wants and he gives it to them, offering one superlative action sequence after another, building up to a fight-filled climax that will please any martial arts fan.Of course, in the face of so much action, something has to suffer and, as is so often the case, here it's the plot. This time around there's something about a stolen microfilm (a perennial favourite in the '80s – see it also POLICE ASSASSINS) which quickly turns into a good-guys-versus-bad-guys kick-ass action fest. Really, this film is all about the action and it's top-notch. Free of obvious wire work and packed with stunts, car chases (an ambulance in this instance), motorbike duels, shoot-outs, and, of course, kung fu, IN THE LINE OF DUTY is an action lover's dream that is rarely surpassed. The two heroes of the film are equally good, with Cynthia Khan playing the Michelle Yeoh-type role of indestructible female cop, and Donnie Yen as her hot headed partner, who gets into trouble with his unorthodox methods but who nevertheless proves unbeatable when it comes to tackling the bad guys.And what villains! This film has plenty – from the computer-game style street thugs (headed by muscle man Michael Woods) to the slimy corrupt "friend", this time played by the suave Michael Wong. On top of that there are motorbike assassins, huge muscle guys, a guy who I swore was the deaf baddie from POLICE STORY 2 (except it's not, he was played by Benny Lai and this guy isn't him), street gangs, and a female Caucasian who fights Khan in a lift shaft in one of the best bits. Okay, so the Chinese version of Seattle is hardly convincing, and the routine set gags (this time, a handcuffed guy trying to hide his cuffs from his mother) pass the time without being appealing. But in the face of the action, who cares? There's a guy with a lethal needle sticking out of his boot and a battle in an office with an electric fence. There's a rooftop duel between Yen and Woods, the latter proving to be near-unbeatable himself, and there's a fun motorbike chase through some back alleys. Lethal violence and hard-hitting kicks and punches are what this film is all about, and action fans will not be disappointed. It's a classic, pure and simple, up there as one of my favourite Hong Kong flicks of the late '80s.

sydneyswesternsuburbs Director Woo-ping Yuen who also created other classic martial arts flicks, Iron Monkey 1993, Thi Chi Master 1993 and another classic modern martial arts flick, Tiger Cage 2 1990 and was action choreographer on other classic flicks, The Matrix 1999, The Matrix Reloaded 2003, The Matrix Revolutions 2003, Fearless 2006, Kung Fu Hustle 2004, Kill Bill: Vol 2 2004 and was martial arts adviser on the classic flick, Kill Bill: Vol.1 2003 has created another gem in In the Line of Duty 4.Starring Donnie Yen who has also been in other classic flicks, Ip Man 2008, Ip Man 2 2010, Flash Point 2007, S.P.L. 2005, Hero 2002, Blade II 2002, Once Upon a Time in China II 1992, Dragon Inn 1992, Cheetah on Fire 1992 and Woo-ping Yuen's Iron Monkey and Tiger Cage 2.Also starring Cynthia Khan.Also starring Michael Wong who was also in another classic flick, Beast Cops 1998.I enjoyed the fight and chase scenes.If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check out other classic modern day martial arts flicks, American Samurai 1992, Best of the Best 2 1993, Bloodmoon 1997, Bloodsport 1988, Broken Path 2008, Chocolate 2008, The Hunted 1995, Kickboxer 2: The Road Back 1991, The King of the Kickboxers 1990, Martial Outlaw 1993, Mission of Justice 1992, Ninja 2009, Ninja Assassin 2009, No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers 1990, The Perfect Weapon 1991, Ninja: Shadow of a Tear 2013, Death Grip 2012 and Versus 2000.

Bloodwank Sliding in between the fall of old school kung fu and the enthusiasm for wire-work in the 90's In The Line of Duty (or In The Line of Duty 4 or a variety of other names) is one of the greatest of all kung fu actioners made outside of a traditional setting and one that marvellously bucks the trend for keeping action mostly to a few impressive set pieces rather than spreading it evenly throughout. Here the action comes thick and fast, and as directed and choreographed by Yuen Woo Ping it looks great on screen. Wirework and editing trickery is kept to a minimum and the only impediment to following all the action is its speed and virtuosity that ensures every second of each fight offers up excitement, blink and you're sure to miss a good move and powerful blow. Performances in the fight scenes are at a high from all involved, a young Donnie Yen unleashes a dazzling storm of leg fighting fury, Cynthia Khan melds agility and elegance with her talents in ass whuppery, even in a sad sack role Chor Yuen gets to show off some good moves. There's a fine array of baddies as well, the towering Michael Woods gets a ferocious roof top fight scene whilst John Salvitti excels in an alley confrontation. What plot there is concerns an immigrant (Chor Yuen) who gets accidentally involved with drug dealers and corruption when he is suspected of having a vital tape recording. Fortunately help is at hand from Cynthia Khan's Yeung Lai Ching and Donnie Yen playing the imaginatively named Donny. Further smarts in this line come from Michael Wong playing, yep, you guessed it, Michael Wong. Plot and characters simply aren't an issue in the film though, this is mindless stuff and the sort of film where the plot vanishes into the ether of memory as soon as the film is over but the fighting remains. Occasionally the film makes bizarre feeling forays into comedy, sentiment and police ethics, such interludes are somewhat jarring but never take too long and are approached with such a heart and commitment from the players that its hard to grudge them. There's little more to say since there isn't much to the film, but it is certainly a must see for fans of the genre. The only notable criticism I can make is that the fighting is generally too clean for the amount and force of the blows being exchanged. It means that the fights can go on for a decent quantity of time, allowing maximum showcase of the talents involved, but on the other hand it's somewhat unrealistic as all involved would have been more or less demolished by most of the show-downs. Still, this is only a minor caveat to a wondrously entertaining film. If you like martial arts action and haven't seen this film yet, do yourself a favour and find a copy. You can thank me later

Tim Greenwood Between 1984 and 1991, after the demise of the traditional kung fu film, and before things really started going downhill with excessive wire-work, Hong Kong action movies moved through a kick-boxing phase which introduced more pragmatic fighting but retained some old-school sensibilities. Of all the films produced in these five/six years "Witness: ITLOD 4" is hands down the best. Here's my reasons why: the pacing is superb. You watch action films for action - and Yuan Ho-Ping,as is his wont, keeps the movie going at a breathless pace with a fight or chase almost every five minutes.Yuan Ho-Ping uses his strict rhythmic parameters so the action is clear and we can enjoy every movement. Some classical moves are dropped in just to make the action a little prettier. Long shots and close ups are used when appropriate and to give variety - all typical Yuan Ho-Ping trademarks and this is what sets him apart from inferior filmmakers in the genre. He also introduces some great novelty fighters - the female foreign fighter who looks like an English teacher with a heroin habit, the crazy eyed foreigner in the alley with the eccentric fighting style and of course Michael Woods.The syncronisation of the action and sound effects is SO crisp here and the sound effects have never sounded better - deep body blows and crisp "pak" sounds - music to my ears! The soundtrack music is superb! A little bit like the repeated theme of "Halloween" - it's icy and sinister - a delicious backdrop for the brutal and surgically precise action. There's a way that the theme anticipates the action in the way that a repeated theme introduces particularly nasty sequences in a Lucio Fulci film.Silence accompanying action. I love the way that characters roll over, across in and out of cars and buildings in silence. It may not have been a deliberate device - but the fact that HK films are shot silent and then dubbed later sometimes results in some very interesting dynamics.You enter into a world of claustrophobic and relentless brutality - which slips in and out of a cartoon universe where people take beatings with tire-irons and walk away intact one minute, and end up bleeding and lifeless in lift shafts in another. Yet in this icy universe of remorseless violence there are moments of compassion - for example when the "witness" is allowed to visit his mother - but this touching scene is, once again, abruptly terminated and violence resumes.On top of the best action you will ever see, there are also the qualities to the film I have listed above. This all results in a quite extraordinary film with a very distinctive feel and ambiance. It's strange - I've never experienced the same kind of quality with any other Hong Kong film. When I first showed this to friends they demanded repeat viewings - it's like a roller-coaster ride that leaves you craving yet another adrenalin rush.