IN THE LINE OF DUTY I-IV: Two Khans Are Better Than One

IN THE LINE OF DUTY I-IV (Blu-ray)

1985-1989 / 375 min (4 movies)

FROM 88 FILMS

Review by Tiger the Terrible😺

For the uninitiated, it’s probably prudent to point out that In the Line of Duty wasn’t really a franchise in the purest sense. For the most part, they're all stand-alone films, the only tenuous connection between them being the basic concept…an ass-kicking female cop as the protagonist. So one could watch them in any order and miss nothing. That being said, this collection features the first four films, providing an interesting look at the early careers of Michelle Yeoh (when she was still billed as Michelle Khan) and her fresh-faced successor in the series, Cynthia Khan.

In Royal Warriors (retroactively re-titled In the Line of Duty), dedicated cop Michelle Yip (Yeoh), a Japanese Interpol agent and an obnoxious air marshal thwart an airline hijacking. Now they’re being targeted by a group of vicious war veterans who’ve made a pact to avenge the deaths of their friends. This wildly-plotted film features ample gunplay, explosions, fights and a shitload of broken glass. The opening close-quarters clash on-board an airliner is especially impressive. Attempts at broad comedy sit uncomfortably alongside scenes of brutal violence, but overall, the movie is a fun ride.

Yes, Madam! (retitled In the Line of Duty II) was actually released a year before Royal Warriors, featuring Yeoh as a different character (Inspector Ng). It also boasts the film debut of American martial arts champion Cynthia Rothrock (amusingly, her voice is dubbed in both versions on this disc). Together, they’re investigating the murder of their mentor, who had microfilm that could incriminate a powerful Hong Kong businessman. However, it has fallen into the possession of three bumbling petty thieves. Ridiculous but enjoyable, it has a rousing climax that showcases these ladies’ considerable skills.

Cynthia and Michelle do not appreciate being mistaken for Duran Duran.

Relative newcomer Cynthia Khan takes the reins for the next two films. Playing the same character in both (Inspector Yeung), she isn’t quite as charismatic as Yeoh, but is an equally formidable fighter. Storywise, In the Line of Duty III might be the best film in the collection (and the bloodiest), in which a pair of psychotic lovers commit a deadly jewel heist to fund a terrorist organization…while causing a jaw-dropping amount of collateral damage. In the Line of Duty IV has Yeung trying to protect a hapless dock worker from gangsters and corrupt CIA agents. More serious in tone, this one is also noteworthy for featuring a very young Donnie Yen as Khan's hotheaded partner.

Being that all four films hail from those wacky ‘80s, it probably goes without saying that, aesthetically, they’re definitely products of their time. From the synth & drum scores to the production design to Yeoh’s mullet and shoulder pads, watching these things is kind of like time traveling. Beyond that though, In the Line of Fire I-IV has more-than-enough brutal, bloody brawls to sate action lovers, plus the added bonus of a few martial arts legends in early roles. With decent restorations and a smattering of vintage bonus features, 88 Films has put together a nicely-packaged boxed set, throwing in some physical goodies for good measure.

EXTRA KIBBLE

SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET

2 TWO-SIDED POSTERS

REVERSIBLE COVER ART

ROYAL WARRIORS (In the Line of Duty)

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Frank Djeng

2 TRAILERS

ENGLISH TITLE SEQUENCE

YES, MADAM! (In the Line of Duty II)

ENGLISH DUBBED VERSION

INTRO BY CYNTHIA ROTHROCK

MICHELLE YEOH INTERVIEW

CYNTHIA ROTHROCK INTERVIEW

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Frank Djeng

SCENE SPECIFIC COMMENTARIES - By Cynthia Rothrock & Frank Djeng

“LADIES FIRST - MANG HOI ON YES, MADAM!”

“BATTLING BABES”

ORIGINAL HONG KONG TRAILER

IN THE LINE OF DUTY III

INTERVIEW WITH JOHN SHAM - A very entertaining interview with Sham, who produced a lot of these things…and acted in a few.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Frank Djeng & Michael Worth

ENGLISH & HONG KONG TRAILERS

ENGLISH CREDITS

IN THE LINE OF DUTY IV

ENGLISH DUBBED VERSION

INTERVIEW WITH DONNIE YEN

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By Frank Djeng & Michael Worth; 2) By Stefen Hammon & Michael Wong.

ENGLISH & HONG KONG TRAILERS