This film is released under many different titles and like always is confusing as hell. You can change the title as many times as you want it is not going to change the content that much. Unless you changed it for each market which I am certain of did not happen. Craziest thing is that this is the first in the In the Line of Duty franchise and not the second as the title suggest. See what I mean? Anyway what you need to remember that this film is produced by Sammo Hung, directed by Corey Yuen and is starring Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock, Tsui Hark, Hoi Mang and Dick Wei.
What more do you need to know? This also marks the first proper film Cynthia Rothrock has been in and has made her a huge name in Hong Kong and in the rest of the world. And very rightfully so. Because she truly impresses every scene she is in. For Michelle Yeoh this also is the first proper film but you would not be able to tell she is not as experienced yet since she also shines when it comes to the action and her acting. However both Michelle and Cynthia aren't in this as much as you would expect. I guess the studio bosses weren't as confident and came up with the idea to have established actors steal the limelight with their goofy and comedic antics. One of these actors is director / producer Tsui Hark. The goofiness is of a level that it simply gets tiresome very soon. I don't mind this in short little bursts in between tense or other exciting scenes. But not like it's done here. Here it takes over the whole story and detracts from the action too much. Especially since I didn't care that much for the characters. I was more interested in Cynthia and Michelle. They basically could have showed them typing up reports and it would have been more compelling than the incompetent low life crooks fumbling yet another ploy they came up with.
However the finale does make up for the lack of action prior to it since it is here where the most kickass martial arts is showcased. It immediately made me nostalgic and reminded me why I fell in love with most of the HK flicks made in the Eighties and Nineties. Because it rocks. Still. That is quite the accomplishment if you ask me. Especially if you compare it to older films of for example Steven Seagal. Most of the action in his (older) films don't hold up that well.
However the finale does make up for the lack of action prior to it since it is here where the most kickass martial arts is showcased. It immediately made me nostalgic and reminded me why I fell in love with most of the HK flicks made in the Eighties and Nineties. Because it rocks. Still. That is quite the accomplishment if you ask me. Especially if you compare it to older films of for example Steven Seagal. Most of the action in his (older) films don't hold up that well.
This film might not show enough of Michelle and Cynthia but whatever they do show of them is more than solid. For the fans of the girls with guns genre or HK flicks in general you can't pass this up.
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