Yes, Madam! (1985)

Really Surprised!

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Wildly energetic 1980s Hong Kong action film made right at the outset of a spate terrifically original and entertaining Hong Kong action films. Released the same year as Jackie Chan's "Police Story," this film has a very similar tone that's primarily a serious police story but sprinkled with elements of comedy. Jackie's film is better in terms of stunt work and comedy, but this film has better shootouts and some fight sequences that easily rival those in Jackie's film. This is thanks in large part to director Corey Yeun, who'd later go on to direct and/or choreograph most of Jet Li's classic films, as well as Michelle Yeoh as the star or the film. Yeoh reprises her role for this sequel (looking super 1980s fashionable, as if she could break out in jazzersize at any moment) and is joined by Cynthia Rothrock who is way cooler here than she ever was in any of her English language martial arts films. Yeoh and Rothrock make and amazing team and are dynamite to watch on screen! It's also funny to see talented director/producer Tsui Hark appearing in a comedic supporting part in the film. Overall, this film is essential viewing for 80s Hong Kong action film film fans.

A HK action drama starring Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock as Inspector Ng and Inspector Morris, out to locate a missing microfilm that could be used to implicate Triad Leader Tin (James Tien). Caught in the mix are petty thieves Asprin (Mang Hoi) and Strepsil (John Shum), who accidentally gained possession of the microfilm.The main plot involving the inspectors investigating Tin trying to locate the incriminating microfilm is a bit intriguing, and Tin proves he is too big of a task for the inspectors to catch using legal means gives the story a bit of a twist. The chemistry between the partnership of Ng and Morris was well-played, as in their fighting choreography in their impressive martial arts scenes. However, The subplot involving the thieves and their leader Panadol (Hark Tsui) drags on and on with little suspense, which I think slows down the movie. However, what the movie lacks is humor, a well-connected plot that ties everything together and a ***spoiler ahead*** fitting ending (it was very anti-climatic)***spoiler ends***.Overall, I've seen better action films from Hong Kong. Grade D+

As with most original movies that create a long series of sequels, this one is good. Basically a couple of small time crooks who are scrapping money to get their master out of a nursing home get caught up in a fraudulent business. They accidentally steal a micro-fiche upon which a false contract, which will destroy the credibility of a major corporation, has been printed. Unfortunately this corporation wants it destroyed and thus they find nasty hit men after them.This movie stars Cythia Kahn, the star of the In the Line of Duty movies, but it also stars Cynthia Rockwell, an American martial artist. From what I remember of her, she was an attractive woman that could kick butt, but in this movie she is much more masculine, and scary. Both Cynthias come across as very competent and are two women which you do not want to mess with.The movie opens with action and the action goes right through to the end, and the suspense is gripping. It all winds up to a movie where there is a shallow victory because even though the bad guys have lost, the good guys have not won. It is a movie that is not willing to kill off major characters and to show that even though violence may solve problems, it will create a lot more. The axiom that violence never solves anything is not entirely true. Rather it should be that violence creates more problems than it solves.For an action movie, this is great, but if you are wanting a simple movie where the good guys beat the bad guys and come out on top, then this is not that type of movie. It is a movie where things go from bad to worse, and the end comes about from a final act of desperation to make sure that justice is done.The one thing that I got from reading the bible tonight is that even if somebody seems to have everything, that will not last forever. The thing is that God will bring about their destruction, not us, so to attempt to speed up the inevitable will not solve anything. Here all of the evidence may have been destroyed, the bad guy will have to die sometime, and when he dies he will learn the truth of what life is really all about.

Hong Kong Cinema has on many occasions either broken the mould of action movies or set a new high in action movies. This movie does the first. By pitting two of the world's major female fighters in the same kick-ass movie they break the mould of a majorly male lead industry.Whilst this is comendable and indeed fantastic, the result is of kick-ass action female heros shows even females can kick ass and look damn good doing it.Unfortuently although this film is fun, it isn't up to scratch on the plot, writing or characters. It still plays like the old cliched action movies of the past. It still has one-dimensional people, over the top bad guys and a story that doesn't make sense the more it is explained.You shouldn't concern yourself with the plot in this movie, although it really does pull this movie down slowly but surely. Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock team up to track down the murderer of a British Diplomat. Rothrock is from Scotland Yard and immediatley makes an impression with her almost upskirt camera angles and her long skirt waving about on screen as she kicks and beats an escaping convict.But Rothrock's character is muddled. Why is she constantly beating up prisoners? Why is she angry all the time? Was the diplomat Rothrock's father? Nope. Does Scotland Yard's way of questioning come from a POW camp? Who knows. Fortuently her character is muted along the film so we don't have to think about it. Rothrock's fiery character is played against the sure and measured response of the beautiful Michelle Yeoh.The film is rather dated. The film quality isn't all that good. The one dimensional characters do not make it feel as good as it could have been. Dick Wei in his usual bad guy routine plays a damn good bodyguard to the drug dealing bad guy but during the end sequences he is left as the only man to stop these two girls. Their two on one fight is very, very short...It should have been five times as long.Also I have a problem with the character of "Mad Dog". Who is he? Why is he there? What's wrong with his 'tache? Why has he got a US army uniform on? His character is perhaps the worst of the one dimensional characters in the film, and that's not even including the ravenousily cackling drugs baron bad guy. I kept shouting "stop laughing for goodness sake".The end fight sequence is amazing as Rothrock and Yeoh gatecrash the drugs baron's mansion - and the ending is pretty good with the bad guy getting away with his crimes *well, almost*. But it isn't as good as the DVD seems to think it is.The DVD version has no audio commentary, the interview has no questions just answers and when questioned the interviewees don't even talk about the movie, which seems strange considering this is what I paid for.As police action movies goes Yes Madam or Police Assassins is a dated but still fun attempt to break the mould of action movies. And whilst it does do this, it doesn't do it in the same way as say Jackie Chan's prolific and far superior "Police Story". I'd buy that instead. But if your into female fighting films, this is probably a good a start as any.Overall: 4/10.