Royal Warriors (5 Stars)

When reviewing "Raging Fire", made in 2021, I praised Hong Kong police films. They're not a new phenomenon. "Royal Warriors" was made in 1986, and it has all the trademark mix of martial arts and gunfights. If anything, it's even more over-the-top than the newer films.

Three policemen from different departments meet on a plane flying from Tokyo to Hong Kong. Michelle Yip is a Hong Kong detective returning home from vacation. Michael Wong is an undercover air marshal. Yamamoto is an Interpol agent accompanying a criminal who's been extradited to Hong Kong.

Hijackers attempt to free the criminal by taking control of the plane. Was it so easy to smuggle guns onto a plane in 1986? The three heroes defeat them in a breath-taking battle. After arriving in Hong Kong they work together, although I'm not sure how that's possible.

What they didn't know is that the criminal and one of the hijackers belonged to a gang of four blood brothers who survived the war (which one?) and promised to remain together until death. "We live together or we die together!" They hunt for the three policemen, killing dozens of innocent bystanders in their attacks.

I groaned when I saw the plaque on Michael Wong's coffin. Don't they know how to spell Michael? Oops, that's a spoiler!

But 10 minutes later we see the coffin again, and the plaque has been put right. I'm happy that the director noticed his mistake, but he should at least he should have been consistent and gone back to reshoot the first scene. It couldn't have been that difficult. Maybe he thought nobody would notice. He didn't reckon with me.

By the way, the director/screenwriter wasn't very imaginative with the character names. Michelle Yip was played by Michelle Yeoh. Okay. And Michael Wood was played by Michael Wood. What a coincidence!

It's a high octane action film from beginning to end. There's none of the humour that tainted Michelle Yeoh's previous film, "Yes, Madam". I said that this film is more over-the-top. Michelle Yeoh even drives a tank to fight the gang members.

Michelle Yeoh was a cute looking girl at 23.

And now she's a fine lady. She's always been a talented actress, but she had to wait another 37 years to hold an Oscar in her hand to prove it.