Police Story: Lockdown (on DVD & Blu-Ray Monday 25th July 2016 and for download from Monday 18th July 2016)
Director: Ding Sheng
Writer: Alex Jia (Screenplay)
Starring: Jackie Chan, Ye Liu, Tian Jing, Tao Yin, Yiwei Liu, Wei Na, Xiaoou Zhou, Rongguang Yu
Plot: A man looking for the release of a long-time prisoner takes a police officer, his daughter, and a group of strangers hostage.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Hugely Enjoyable
Story: Police Story: Lockdown starts as we meet the down on his luck cop Zhong Wen (Chan) who is trying to reconnect with his daughter Miao Miao (Jing) who he finds working in a Wu Bar which is filled with party lifestyle crowd. When the true motives of the owner of the club Wu Jiang (Liu) come through Zhong find himself locked in the club as one of the hostages
Trapped inside the club Zhong must escape and navigate the halls of the clubs to save his daughter and the hostages from Wu and his men who are trying to get a prisoner released from prison.
Police Story: Lockdown gives us an action film that brings Jackie Chan back to the franchise that made him an international star only this time returning as a different character. This works because we get a fresh character that is an experienced cop and the story actually plays out very much like a slightly heavy twist filled Die Hard. The twists keep the final outcome of this film look very strong as we question the motives of the villain throughout the film and by the end we could actually side with him while still knowing what he is doing is wrong. This is one of the best spins on the action crime genre in recent years.
Actor Review
Jackie Chan: Zhong Wen is the experienced cop returning for this latest installment of the Police Story saga as a new character. This time he just wants to rebuild his relationship with his daughter only to find himself locked inside a club held hostage with a man who wants a prisoner released. Zhong must use all of his experience to talk through the situation while also using his combat skills when needed. Jackie is great in this role showing he can handle the acting side of a story as wel as the action.
Ye Liu: Wu Jiang is the owner of the club and soon has his own plans to take people hostage so he can get a prisoner released. He is happy to negotiate with Zhong trading stories as well as honouring what need to be honoured. Ye makes for a great villain that does have complex side to him.
Tian Jing: Miao Miao is the daughter of Zhong who has been distant from him for years and doesn’t want anything to do with him until he is the only one who can save them from the situation they find themselves in. Tian is good but is kind of just a damsel in distress.
Support Cast: Police Story: Lockdown has a supporting cast that are mostly the hostages, the fellow gun men and the police outside. The cast all do a good job without having anyone overly memorable.
Director Review: Ding Sheng – Ding gives us a hostage film that is filled with twists along the way.
Action: Police Story: Lockdown has well-constructed action sequences that all come off great without just using mindless action.
Crime: Police Story: Lockdown puts us into the middle of a hostage situation where we have to see how it all unfolds for our hero.
Settings: Police Story: Lockdown keeps most of the story inside the club with only flashbacks being outside the main area. The setting works for where the story goes very well.
Special Effects: Police Story: Lockdown has small moments that turn to the special effects which all work for when needed.
Suggestion: Police Story: Lockdown is one for all the action fans to enjoy because it feels like a modern Die Hard we all could enjoy. (Action Fans Watch)
Best Part: Villains motives.
Worst Part: There is a slight slow spell in the middle.
Action Scene Of The Film: Fight for a hostage.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: Bloopers
Similar Too: Die Hard
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes
Overall: One of the freshest action thrillers in recent years.
Rating
