Yes, Madam

Take your pick

Yes Madam aka In the Line of Duty II aka The Super Cops aka Police Assassins is the second feature directed by Peking Opera School attendee Cory Yuen (director of my fav martial arts movie, The Legend: Fong Sai-yuk). Released in 1985, the movie was the first starring role for Michelle Yeoh.

Undercover at the bookstore

Yeoh plays Senior Inspector Ng. She's in charge of a lot of male officers who tell her she is 'on the rag' and should 'go back to the kitchen.' She's a total badass and kicks ass at her job and ignores all the meanies.

Yeoh channels Eastwood

Plot = a microfilm conspiracy involving a fake contract and sums of money. Those things weren't very interesting to me, but I loved the stylistic touches from Yuen and the performances by the spectacular cast.

I expected movie director Tsui Hark to have a cameo, was then surprised by his substantial part (w/dramatic payoff).

Tsui Hark as Panadol (left)

I have trouble not romanticizing Hong Kong cinema, especially during its fertile periods, like in the mid-80s, when a number of great movies were being made and people were working on each other's movies; and these movies are electric, fast, fun, and cinematic. Sigh. Is there already a movie about making movies in this time/place? I'd like to write that movie, fill in the gaps with my imagination (which method would be harmonious with the movies of the time/place).

Scotland Yard sends Senior Inspector Carrie Morris (Cynthia Rothrock) to help with the case. Inspector Ng doesn't appreciate this fact at first, probably because Morris is a threat to her own authority, maybe also because she doesn't like to share the spotlight.

'Getting to know you' interrogation scene

But eventually they realize they're both kickass and independent women in roles of authority. Why not get along and kick ass together?

Dance club scene!

A series of escalating events occur -- and things do get properly dramatic -- culminating in a multifaceted showdown at the bad guy's house, with a lot of fights, a lot of Yeoh and Rothrock getting their asses kicked and kicking ass in return.

In a sort of really cool 80s way. Several 'modern' touches surprised me, like when the bad guy himself referred to all the laughing he was doing:

Next line: "I just can't help laughing because I'm so happy."

Funny. More than that, the ending is a kind of anti-hero twist that put a lump in my throat. Seriously. Don't want to give it away, but what happened made me think 'daaaaang.'