In the Line of Duty 4

1989
7.1| 1h34m| en| More Info
Released: 21 July 1989 Released
Producted By: D & B Films
Country: Hong Kong
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Two detectives who are up to their necks in trouble and in each other's face, as they try to shut down a drug-trafficking scheme that could be connected with international ties to organized crime. But in the midst of their investigation, innocent immigrant dock worker Luk Wan-Ting gets caught up in the mix when he witnesses the murder of an intelligence operative and is framed for the crime.

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Reviews

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.
Ortiz Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
Brooklynn There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.
Leofwine_draca Very much in the line of hard-hitting late '80s Hong Kong cop flicks like POLICE ASSASSINS and POLICE STORY 2 comes IN THE LINE OF DUTY, actually the fourth in a series of films but retitled for the purpose of simplicity for UK release. It's the film that propelled Donnie Yen into stardom and is probably the most action-packed of all kung fu flicks that I've watched so far. Director Yuen Woo-ping knows what the audience wants and he gives it to them, offering one superlative action sequence after another, building up to a fight-filled climax that will please any martial arts fan.Of course, in the face of so much action, something has to suffer and, as is so often the case, here it's the plot. This time around there's something about a stolen microfilm (a perennial favourite in the '80s – see it also POLICE ASSASSINS) which quickly turns into a good-guys-versus-bad-guys kick-ass action fest. Really, this film is all about the action and it's top-notch. Free of obvious wire work and packed with stunts, car chases (an ambulance in this instance), motorbike duels, shoot-outs, and, of course, kung fu, IN THE LINE OF DUTY is an action lover's dream that is rarely surpassed. The two heroes of the film are equally good, with Cynthia Khan playing the Michelle Yeoh-type role of indestructible female cop, and Donnie Yen as her hot headed partner, who gets into trouble with his unorthodox methods but who nevertheless proves unbeatable when it comes to tackling the bad guys.And what villains! This film has plenty – from the computer-game style street thugs (headed by muscle man Michael Woods) to the slimy corrupt "friend", this time played by the suave Michael Wong. On top of that there are motorbike assassins, huge muscle guys, a guy who I swore was the deaf baddie from POLICE STORY 2 (except it's not, he was played by Benny Lai and this guy isn't him), street gangs, and a female Caucasian who fights Khan in a lift shaft in one of the best bits. Okay, so the Chinese version of Seattle is hardly convincing, and the routine set gags (this time, a handcuffed guy trying to hide his cuffs from his mother) pass the time without being appealing. But in the face of the action, who cares? There's a guy with a lethal needle sticking out of his boot and a battle in an office with an electric fence. There's a rooftop duel between Yen and Woods, the latter proving to be near-unbeatable himself, and there's a fun motorbike chase through some back alleys. Lethal violence and hard-hitting kicks and punches are what this film is all about, and action fans will not be disappointed. It's a classic, pure and simple, up there as one of my favourite Hong Kong flicks of the late '80s.
craigstealsheep Yeah, no. This film was awful. The choreography was so forced, and the characters had no depth except for Yat Chor Yuen (which is a shame as this is his last film). Donnie Yen is so blasé that his character is just another "hard cop without any conflict" and Cynthia Khan cannot take over for Michelle Yeoh, no matter how hard she tries.Yeun plays Luk, a just legalized Chinese immigrant in America who witnesses the CIA murdering a cop who are selling drugs for money to support their Latin American conquests(hang on, it gets better). Yen and Khan, two Seattle detectives, follow Luk to Hong Kong where their captain turns out to be a CIA operative who happens to be undercover as an officer for years, built up a relationship with Yen's character, and is in on the whole affair. Right. Not only that, but he kidnaps Luk's own mother to get at him.This film obviously hates the CIA, which there is nothing wrong with nowadays, but the story seems right out of a paranoid schizo's mind. Woo-ping Yuen's choreography is surprisingly clichéd and unremarkable given that he would do "The Matrix" and "Crouching Tiger" later. The blood looks like ketchup and hot sauce which was probably the best part considering this film was made in 1989, not 1954 and in Technicolor.The music sounds like it's from a workout video by Jane Fonda and the cinematography is just static. Lighting is just that, light, and the relationships are forced. In fact, no one seems to have a real relationship except for Luk and his mother (which is actually rather sweet).Overall, the only saving grace is from Yat Chor Yuen (brother of Woo-ping) and the rest is just a mess. Worth a look if you're a die hard Yen or Yuen fan, but other than that, there's nothing to recommend.
BA_Harrison It's non-stop fight action all the way in director Yuen Woo-ping's amazing martial arts classic 'In The Line Of Duty'.Sporting a great line in blouson jackets (leather AND tassled suede) and tight snow-washed jeans, feisty female fight star Cynthia Khan, aided by high-kicker Donnie Yen, battles nasty gangsters and corrupt cops in this prime slice of 80s kung fu cinema.OK, the story might not be anything special—a witness to a crime is hunted by both the police and the gangsters—but with blistering chop-socky and dangerous stunts from the opening frames to the end credits, those who enjoy Hong Kong mayhem will be in heaven when they watch this.Using virtually none of his trademark wire-work (that, in my opinion, ruins many of his films), Woo-ping presents the viewer with a roller-coaster ride of top action set-pieces and amazing acrobatic mêlées that show off his stars' skills to great effect. Khan is easy on the eye, but deadly in a fight, and gives her all in several brutal battles, one of which sees her performing an amazing routine with a couple of spanners standing in for a pair of nunchakus, and another which has her fighting atop a moving ambulance. Yen is also on fine form, performing more than his fair share of life-threatening action, but his best moment is undoubtedly the final rooftop punch-up with the massive Michael Woods—David and Goliath, kung fu style!Throw in some great motorcycle-fu, loads of energetic gun fights, a sword fight or two, and good support from both Yat Chor Yuen (as the unlucky witness Luk) and Michael Wong (as a traitorous CIA agent), and the result is a hugely enjoyable masterpiece of the genre.
Alexandre Bender Even though this movie cost me a lot more than I expected, I was wonderfully surprised about this one! The plot is virtually non-existent but the action scenes are plentiful and , most of the time, great! Everybody fights in this movie: Cynthia Khan, Donnie Yen, Yuen Yat Chor, Michael Woods, John Salvitti, David Berwick and even MIchael Wong!!! Yuen Woo-ping proves once again that he is one of the great action movie directors. The fight between Donnie and Michael Woods at the end is pretty good also. If you like this one, see Tiger Cage 2 ,if you can ,it has the same cast and is a bit better .Overall a great action movie that deserves to be discovered!!...8,5/10