Rated: 4/5.
Bottom line: Classic unhinged, kick-ass, Hong Kong action. They don’t make them like this anymore.
In the Line of Duty III (aka. Force of the Dragon / Yes, Madam 2)
Cast: Cynthia Khan, Michiko Nishiwaki, Stuart Ong, Hiroshi Fujioka, Dick Wei.
Certificate: 18
Director: Arthur Wong/Brady Yuen.
Language: Cantonese and English audio options with optional subtitles.
Run time: 84 minutes.
In the Line of Duty IV
Cast: Cynthia Khan, Donnie Yen, Sunny Yuen, Michael Wong.
Certificate: 18.
Director Yuen Woo-Ping.
Language: Cantonese and English audio options with optional subtitles.
Run time: 95 minutes.
Following on from the kick-ass Yes, Madam! Eureka’s continues their girls with guns releases this March with a duo of fan-pleasers: In The Line Of Duty III and In The Line Of Duty IV.
Not available on home video in the UK since the VHS era, both films will be released individually on blu-ray presented in a crisp 2K restoration. As ever the first 2000 copies of each title will feature a Limited-Edition O-card Slipcase and Collector’s Booklet.
Often overshadowed by other films in the series, In the Line of Duty III is the hidden gem of the franchise, featuring shockingly brutal and ferocious action sequences. Cynthia Khan stars in her first leading role as a young police officer who goes up against a dangerous duo of Japanese terrorists.
After staging an outrageous jewellery heist in Tokyo, two thieves (Stuart Ong and Michiko Nishiwaki) travel to Hong Kong to trade their stolen goods. When things don’t go to plan, they go on a violent rampage through Hong Kong, and the only ones standing in their way is a newly promoted police cadet and a Japanese cop with a personal vendetta.
In the fan-favourite fourth entry in the In the Line of Duty film series, action superstar Donnie Yen and Cynthia Khan team up with legendary martial-arts director Yuen Woo-ping.
Yen and Khan play a pair of no-nonsense cops on the case of a major drug trafficking operation. When an immigrant dock worker is targeted by the criminals, the officers must protect this innocent man from an international crime syndicate. Death-defying stunts, insane action set-pieces, and some of the best martial-arts choreography ever captured on film–In the Line of Duty IV is an unhinged Hong Kong action masterpiece
In the Line of Duty III Special Features:
- 1080p HD presentation on blu-ray of the original theatrical cut from a brand new 2K restoration.
- Cantonese and English audio options (both in their original mono presentations). Optional English Subtitles, newly translated for this release.
- Brand new feature length audio commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival).
- Brand new feature length audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema.
- New interview with Cynthia Khan.
- New interview with Michiko Nichiwaki.
- Trailers.
- Reversible sleeve design.
In the Line of Duty IV Special Features:
- 1080p HD presentation on blu-ray of the original theatrical cut from a brand new 2K restoration.
- 1080p HD presentation of the original export version from a brand new 2K restoration.
- Cantonese and English audio options (both in their original mono presentations). Optional English Subtitles, newly translated for this release.
- Brand new feature length audio commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival).
- Brand new feature length audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema.
- Archival commentary by Hong Kong expert Stefan Hammond and lead actor Michael Wong.
- Archival interview with Donnie Yen.
- New interviews with cast and crew.
- Archival “Donnie Yen Action” featurette.
- Trailers.
- Reversible sleeve design.