Police Story is the 1985 Hong Kong movie that people love so much that it has 2 re-edits and 4 dubs. Today we're going to be looking at one of those re-edits, the 1986 international export dub!
Original version is the Japanese Bluray on the 2010 Fortune Star DVD. I figure since the credits say 2010 on the SBS on Demand version it's the right release.
Trailers
Export Trailer
1986
Media Asia
International
Theatrical trailer
1985
Media Asia
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong trailer - spoils all the big stunts but doesn't actually tell you anything about the movie. Also is way too long, a trailer should be 1 minutes & 30 seconds at max if it's in cinema. Of course, the background music "Hero Story" by Jackie Chan is completely amazing, but it's in Cantonese, and the trailer has no subtitles (this is a DVD version on the video so that's why it does) That might suck if you watched the movie and weren't from China. 7/10
The USA trailer - Gives away the plot in a good, short, sweet way that is easy to understand and that doesn't spoil much at all with amazing kick-butt music by Kevin Bassington. The trailer also shows clips that will make the average viewer hella excited to watch the film. 10/10
VIDEO QUALITY
BLU-RAY
VHS
So.. how is it that a VHS released 22 years before a Blu-Ray has better color quality?
SCRIPT
On the SBS on Demand version, the script adds a bunch of un-needed, unnatural words. The re-release also adds some unnecessary profane words like "b1tch" which actually makes Kevin sound like a jerk and it turn, makes the scenes with May more funnier. The re-dub actually has funnier dialogue, as well. I guess it's better when you understand the language.
In turn - the re-dub script's better.
CUT / SWAPPED SCENES
The US dub has a lot of cut scenes, so I will list every cut scene here.
- The photo-shoot scene is cut out, thus resulting in 47 seconds of the film gone.
- In the Hong Kong version during the fake murder attempt, you get more shots of tired Selina.
- Mars bumping his head on the lights.
- Kevin biting his way into the mask.
- 46 seconds in the courtroom are removed.
- Koo watching Kevin on the news in his office.
- The entire phone scene. However, a few seconds before this scene (Kevin getting told what to do, asking a question, getting an answer and talking to a cop who works for Chu on the phone and telling him he only has 3 days.) are still there.
- The angry speech Kevin makes in Li's office.
The Japanese version is 1 hour & 48 minutes.
The original Hong Kong version is 1 hour & 36 minutes.
The export version is 1 hour and 27 minutes.
13 minutes have been cut out from the theatrical version.
ADDED SCENES
In the US theatrical version, a shot of Selina clicking "record" on the tape recorder is added. 1 second long, which does fix a minor minor MINOR plothole.
MUSIC
The original score is composed by Lai Siu-tin, and the re-dub score is composed by Kevin Bassington.
Lai-Siu Tin's score - Inspired by the main theme song, and has a lot of re-used tracks. Still a banger and is definetly worth listening too. Especially the tracks with Ondes Martinot.
Bassington's score - A slap-bass synthesizer score that is incredibly 80s and satisfying to listen too. Sometimes a bit of the instruments get a little bit annoying and go on for a while though.
Lai Siu Tin's score: 11/10
Bassington's score: 7/10
COVERS
VHS
BLU-RAY
The VHS cover is more exciting and summarizes up the film on the back well.
OVERALL: THE RE-DUB VHS FROM 1988 WINS!!
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