Supercop 2 (1993)

This strong follow-up to 1992's Supercop puts Michelle Yeoh in the lead role, with an excellent supporting cast that includes Yu Rongguang and Fan Siu-Wong. Yeoh reprises her role as Inspector Yang, sent to Hong Kong to help the local police uncover a gang of thieves. The fact that Yang's boyfriend (Yu Rongguang) has risen to a leadership role in said gang is revealed during an expertly staged shootout that sets the tone for the remainder of the film, up to and including an explosive climax in a subway tunnel. Much darker than previous installments of the Police Story series, it has only a brief and not entirely relevant cameo from Jackie Chan to lighten the mood. The film lacks much of anything in the way of denouement, with simply a voice-over following a final, tragic scene that leaves one feeling curiously dissatisfied. Still, Yeoh's stunts and martial arts work are worth the price of admission, and the major reason to see this. Her hand-to-hand scene against an opponent who appears to be twice her size remains impressive. Some attempts at comic relief grow scarcer toward the film's end, and nothing really relieves the harsh abruptness of the ending, but overall, it's entertaining enough. ~ Genevieve Williams, All Movie Guide