POLICE FORCE is another non-martial arts movie from acclaimed Shaw director Chang Cheh, who nevertheless manages to pack as much action as he can into a contemporary thriller. Things begin with an appropriate karate tournament in which newcomer Alexander Fu Sheng kicks up a storm; the pace then slows down considerably as the focus shifts to Wang Chung, an actor best known for playing bad guys in period films. Chung is the hero here, hellbent on revenge after tragedy and looking after Lily Li who has a minor character role. Chung ends up joining the police force, going through lengthy drill and parade ground scenes before tackling robbers, gangsters and counterfeit gangs. Things build carefully to an appropriately exciting climax set on the claustrophobic confines of a yacht. It's certainly not a top-tier film, but Cheh's direction is typically strong and the story is interesting enough to keep you watching with its moral dilemma angle.
Review of Police Force
