2004 Hong Kong film
New Police Story is a 2004 Hong Kong action thriller film produced and directed by Benny Chan, starring Jackie Chan, Nicholas Tse, Charlie Yeung, Charlene Choi, Daniel Wu and Wang Chieh. The film was released in the Hong Kong on 24 September 2004.
The film is a reboot of the Police Story series and is the fifth installment of the series. New Police Story relies much more on drama and heavy action than its predecessors. A sequel to the film, titled New Police Story 2, is currently in development.[1]
Plot
Five youths rob a bank with the intention of shooting police officers. Inspector Chan Kwok-wing and his squad chase the gang and the entire squad is wiped out, including Hong, the younger brother of Chan's girlfriend Ho Yee. Chan is the sole survivor of the incident and takes a year long leave from the force to binge-drink until his new partner Frank Cheng tries to convince him to return and reopen the case.
Chan initially refuses, but changes his mind after apprehending two youths who robbed him while he was drunk. Chan's superior Chiu Chan, believing Chan's overconfidence was responsible for the disastrous raid, challenges them to solve the case before he does. Frank reveals to Chan he is kin of a deceased squad member. Former colleague Sam Wong reveals a clue from the first robbery, a watch he snatched from a robber. Wong says one of the gang is a woman and that they like to play X-games.
Chan and Frank are tailed by Chiu and the police at an upcoming X-Games event. Sam has been arrested to assist in the investigation. At the skyscraper rooftop event, Frank and Chan locate gang member Fire, while Sam and the police find the woman robber Sue. Fire fatally wounds Sam and escapes with Sue. Sam confesses he was blackmailed by the gang so they could ambush Chan's team. Chan and Frank chase Sue and Fire down the building on a tightrope.
Fire shoots a bus driver forcing Chan and Frank to break off the chase to save the bus. Chan's superior, Inspector Tai reveals that he never assigned a partner to Chan. Chan confronts Frank, who admits he failed the exam to be a cop; he is neither a cop nor a kin of deceased squad member. Chan is convinced that Frank is sincere, and the two are briefed by Frank's friend, Constable Sa Sa, that the gang members come from rich families and their leader Joe is the son of the Deputy Commissioner of Police. The gang created online video games based on their raids.
At the gang's new hideout Joe kills Sue, who was critically wounded during the chase. The gang plants a bomb on Ho Yee and send her to the police station. The blast knocks Ho Yee into a coma. Frank's false identity is revealed and he and Chan are arrested. The gang taunts them about their next target. Frank and Chan are unofficially released to apprehend the gang.
Through the online game, Chan, Frank and Sa Sa learn that the gang's next target is the Bank of Hong Kong. To avoid another botched raid, Chan has the public removed from the building, and brings in the gang members' parents. Joe kills gang member Max for surrendering. Frank injures Fire before retreating from Joe's gunfire. Chan has hand-to-hand combat with Tin Tin before Tin Tin is shot by Joe's friendly fire. Chan follows Joe to the roof, where Joe threatens to throw Frank to his death. Joe challenges Chan to a race to assemble a semi-automatic pistol, which Chan wins by loading the bullet directly into the chamber.
The police arrive on the roof along with Joe's father. Chan attempts to persuade Joe into surrendering; Joe admits defeat, but aims his empty gun at Chan and then his father, choosing suicide by cop. Chan rushes to rescue Frank, and both of them fall from the building onto a fireman's inflated cushion. Joe's father resigns. In the hospital, Ho Yee has recovered and accepts Chan's marriage proposal. Frank is arrested for assumption of authority. Chan remembers comforting the orphan Frank as a child after Frank's father was killed by a truck while trying to steal food, prompting Frank to become a policeman and repay Chan.
Production
Principal photography took place in Hong Kong between September 2003 and December 2003.[citation needed]
Box office
New Police Story opened in Hong Kong on 23 September 2004 where it made HK$5,625,746 in its first three days. It ended its run with HK$21 million to making it the fourth highest-grossing domestic release of the year.
The film received a limiting release in the United Kingdom on 13 October 2006. In its opening weekend the film grossed $19,332 having been shown in 16 theatres. It ranked #21 at the box office and averaged $1,208 per theatre.[2] As of 22 October 2006, New Police Story had grossed a total of $33,404 in its two-week release in the UK.[3] British television host and film critic Jonathan Ross gave the film a fairly positive review and felt that Chan could "still do the business".[4]
International version
New Police Story was released straight-to-DVD in the United States by Lionsgate on 16 May 2006. The DVD included an English dubbed with participation by Jackie Chan. Also included is an introduction by Jackie himself and a message not to buy an unlicensed copy of the film. When played in its original language it contains dubtitles. A cut was made towards the end of the film wherein a young Frank Cheng was being escorted back to the PRC by Chan.
A Blu-ray version was released in the United States on 24 November 2009.
Sequel
On 14 March 2023, a sequel to the film, titled New Police Story 2 was announced at the Hong Kong FILMART to be in development with stars Jackie Chan, Nicholas Tse, Daniel Wu, and Charlene Choi returning while Chan will also serve as producer and Tse will also serve as director.[1]
