Yes, Madam! (1985) User Reviews

Battling Babes at their best

[tpr007 · 8/10 · 27 May 2005]

A revolutionary a film for kick starting and defining the Battling Babes genre, in the same way 'Zu' was for the fantasy swordplay movies, 'Yes, Madam!' combined the best of Hong Kong action cinema with a fresh, sexy and exciting look. Rarely ever had women played such dominant roles and kicked as much butt as they do here, while still being allowed to show a coy, feminine side.

Both Yeoh and Rothrock made their action debuts in this film, and they couldn't have been picked at a better time. The action choreography in HK was entering a new, fast and brutal phase while both girls were at the peak of their physical fitness. The end result is not only the definitive femme-fatale flick, but also one of the finest actioners to leap on to the screen in the mid 80's. The final fight scene alone is more than worth the cost of the DVD and puts Hollywood to shame with its raw power and inventiveness. The best offered in the West at the time was a macho Sigourney Weaver in 'Aliens', but even she wouldn't have been able to touch these girls! Also known as 'In the line of Duty 2' following the later produced 'Royal Warriors' aka 'In the line of Duty' (1986) 'Yes, Madam!' set a new trend in the later 80's whereby attractive women such as Cynthia Khan, Moon Lee, Yukari Oshima and many more were given free reign to dish out the pain, being made to look like the greatest screen fighters ever courtesy of rigorous training from the likes of Dick Wei, Yuen Kwai and Yuen Woo Ping. Even today we are reaping the rewards as female faces, new and old, do battle on the screen in modern classics like 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'.

Entertaining cameos from Sammo Hung and Richard Ng as well as great fighting performances from the likes of Chung Fa and Dick Wei makes this a testosterone junkies dream! Ultimately lacking in great cinematography or even much of a plot, the name of the game is to excite the audience in as many ways possible, whether it's with lingering shots of a luscious, young Michelle Yeoh or an animated, head and arm cracking La Rothrock - this movie should not be missed by anyone interested in action - "Hong Kong style".

The Movie Already Is A Legend

[ebiros2 · 8/10 · 28 February 2013]

This to me is the best movie Cynthia Rothrock ever made, and one of the best movie from Michelle Yeoh's early career. The final action scene involving the two guarantees it.

This was one of very early D&B movie studio's production. D&B movies brought more modern style to Hong Kong movies, and it's clear from this movie that it's years ahead compared other action movies of the time in terms of content, the fashion the actors are wearing, the modern looking background, the speed the scene moves, and the three dimensional shooting.

Hong Kong movies in few short years following this movie makes a stellar leap in terms of quality, but you can already see most of the elements in this movie.

Cynthia Rothrock plays inspector Carrie Morris from Scotland Yard, and Michelle Yeoh plays inspector Ng of Hong Kong police department. They're after a microfilm that was stolen by two small time crooks. The microfilm contains the names of the ones who are involved in criminal activity. The real bad guy who's got most to lose from the microfilm is Mr. Tin and is willing to go any extent to get the microfilm. Eventually, the small time crook, Yeoh, and Rothrock ends up in Tin's house, and massive fight ensues.

The number of casts appearing in this movie is amazing, and this helps to weave many threads in this story. The story has comedic touch, serious touch, and lot of action depending on who's playing the part of the story. It's definitely not one dimensional, and is entertaining to watch. The production is classy, and has high quality looks to it.

This movie started the "Huang Ka" (Royal) movie craze in Hong Kong, and many movies crowning these two characters were made. The movie has confusing number of titles like "Super Cops", "In the line of Duty", "Yes Madam", "Ultra Force", which actually makes finding this movie difficult.

The final fight scenes appears in many specials that chronicles Hong Kong martial arts movies to this day. The amazing physical ability of Michelle Yeoh, and Cynthia Rothrock launched them into superstar status.

This is one of the best martial arts themed movie to come out of Hong Kong, and is highly recommended for viewing whether you're a martial arts movie fan or not.

Some great fights scenes but...

[jellopuke · 7/10 · 24 November 2019]

Everything with Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock was great, but they were relegated to secondary roles with the movie instead having the bumbling criminals as the focus. It makes for an uneven movie that really shines in some parts, but drags in others.

Police Assassins On Da Payroll!!! Cynthia and Michelle are just too vicious!!! YES MADAM!!!

[jrat6200 · 3 February 2004]

Hong Kong Cinema has to be the best to happen to action film history. Well, I'll say Asian Cinema has had a tremendous impact period. Hollywood just can't stop duplicating their style (Matrix for example). Hong Kong action films in the 80's should be given a lot of praise because of what has been accomplished. I'm very happy to say that I'm a martial arts FANATIC!!!

Yes Madam! (A.K.A. Police Assassins) kicked A**!!! I loved the way Michelle and Cynthia connected with each other. I have a lot of respect for those 2 ladies along with Cynthia Khan (another female heroine). The last fight says enough, it doesn't need to be explained. When I saw this movie for the first time, I rewinded that same scene at least 12 times to get that rush again. This is the type of action that action films are missing today. There are too many digital effects and wire work in today's line of work. I wish Hong Kong action films would repeat this formula again along with other movies.

About the content of the movie: Well, the movie is kind of on and off with action scenes. At times, I think the movie didn't know whether to be serious or be comedic. The scene with Sammo Hung, David Chiang, and Richard Ng should've been omitted. I liked the fact that Tsui Hark was in this movie. This is the only movie where I've seen him acting. He did a good job though. He interaction between aspirin and strepsil was funny enough. The first 5 minutes of the movie was off da hook!! Michelle shows off her bad a** cop skills. Cynthia shows off some moves at the airport. And then..... THE FINAL SCENE!!!! To tell the truth, I bought the movie because of the final scene. Those 2 ladies were so graceful with the fight scenes at the end. I enjoyed every punch and kick.

Its amazing how Michelle's dancing skills helped so much with her martial arts training. IMPRESSIVE!!!

My Overall Judegement: 3.5/4 stars

A bit too much cringe-worthy Chinese comedy, but the quality of martial arts more than made up for it.

[tntokmenko · 7/10 · 20 January 2013]

Moments of slapstick comedy are nothing but expected when Sammmo Hung makes an appearance, however it may be a touch overdone here in this sub-genre defining "femme-fatale" flick. Two female officers of the law present themselves as hard-hitting women which should be shown absolute respect, but another group of protagonists weighs them down and the overall result is more comedic than dramatic. There simply wasn't enough Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock on-screen to provide sufficient character development, but even at a basic level it works to support the crime investigation story (which is also very simple). A reel of film ends up being passed around Hong Kong as a triad corporation tries to obtain and destroy it in order to avoid the legal consequences attached. Meanwhile, a group of idiotic underdogs inadvertently become mixed up with the triad affair, as well as our two female hero cops Yeoh and Rothrock. The adventure is goofy yet fun, and the finale will take your breath away in terms of martial arts prowess. This is an iconic movie of both Hong Kong action cinema and the femme- fatale sub genre, and if your mildly interested in either you'll have a great time with this one. - 7/10

Really good action film!

[rphanley · 7/10 · 29 December 2021]

Underrated movie 100%. Great fight scenes and display of martial arts. Cynthia kicks major ass in this one. I wish all of her movies were this good. I wanted more by the time it was over.

Fun but could've been better

[TheSilentBlur · 6/10 · 21 January 2012]

In this '80s Hong Kong action film, Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock team up to find a microfilm containing group of villains' illegal activities after a British diplomat has been killed. Unfortunately three thieves have the microfilm and the police need to find it in order to have evidence to make an arrest.

Although the film stars Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock as kick-ass ladies working as police officers, the story seems to focus more on the three thieves who have the microfilm, which bothered me in a way. The main reason is because I was looking forward to see the chemistry between Yeoh and Rothrock. But instead they are presented as if they are secondary characters. And not only that all of the characters here are one dimensional, which leaves the audience asking themselves questions such as why would Rothrock's character beat up a suspect for answers or why one of the villains is wearing a U.S military- like uniform.

Regardless of the film's plot there are some great action sequences, especially the fight in the finale. The stunts shown will make you say out loud "that's gotta hurt!" Remember, we're talking about no CGI, green screen, or wire work!!!!!!

Overall I think the film could've been better if the filmmakers worked on character development, a better ending, and focused more on our two female leads' chemistry!!

Fairly fun but very much flawed Hong Kong action fare

[Bloodwank · 6/10 · 25 August 2010]

Ah, this film could have been so great. I tend to like Hong Kong actioners from the 80's so Police Assassins didn't cause me too much irritation for all its flaws, but its sad that the film is the way it is given its potential. Potential that amounts to this: Michelle Yeoh teamed up with Cynthia Rothrock. Two great ass-kicking ladies, Rothrcok with her genuine martial arts talents and Yeoh a graceful mover with some great training behind her (though she wasn't originally a martial artist), they make for a fine team and the film zings whenever they are together. Regrettably their time together is much less than it should have been, as the film inexplicably chooses to focus on a trio of dimwitted petty criminals who get in over their heads in a bit of dirty corporate dealing. John Sham and Hoi Mang are little more than irritating as the oddly named Strepsil and Asprin, while Tsui Hark (best known as a veteran director) does a bit better as the wheeler dealer forgery expert Panadol, perhaps the only one of the three who actually fits into the film. He puts across his sly and shifty, mischievous role pretty nicely and gets a few decent scenes, and isn't cloying in his comedy or emotions like the other two, who overact, mug and generally detract from affairs. Most of the comedy in this film is "off", the mixture of light and seriousness is even less well handled here than it is in other films of the same stripe. The films other problem is that the plot is pretty inconsequential, the device on which events hinge is never well explained, thus the film lacks suspense, and the arch baddies is never quite villainous enough to be an effective force, though his two head hench-people (Dick Wei and Fat Chung) are appropriately menacing and fine fighters. Also, the film is largely inconsequential in events until the halfway mark, there are fights and the pace is fair, but it all feels contrived and hastily put together. For all this the film isn't too bad in the end, mostly due to some great action and the fine style on display from director Cory Yuen. He knows just when to slow up or slow down a fight, plenty of smart angles and fast paced editing that remains coherent whilst keeping the pace rapid, also fitting in a couple of nifty jump cuts. His choreography ranges from solid in earlier stages to excellent in the rip-snorting finale and even with the aforementioned plot contrivances, when the film gets moving it gets pretty exciting. To sum up the good points, they just about balance out the bad and leave the film ultimately moderately satisfying. It surely isn't great (it took me a few viewings to really warm to it), but if 80's style Hong Kong action is your cup of tea, this film is certainly better than a poke in the eye with a wet stick. A low 6/10 then.

Amazing action scenes that exceeded my expectations

[petep · 9/10 · 25 May 2006]

So here it is -- Yes, Madam -- Michelle Yeoh's first starring role, back in 1985. I'd been wanting to see this one for a few years. I was a bit worried because the DVD appeared to be a bootleg once it arrived, but it worked fine, so I won't complain. But wow, Yeoh was so amazing in the film. She had won the title of Miss Malaysia just a couple years earlier, for damn good reason, but she took her start in the action genre seriously and trained hard for a few months before shooting began. Sammo Hung himself was the producer (and has a cameo, along with half the industry), and he was looking for two female leads, to make something different from the typical male buddy-cop films. For a co-star they got Cynthia Rothrock, who was making her start in the genre as well. Though she was the real deal as far as martial arts skill. I was interested in the film more for Yeoh but Rothrock certainly held her own. Well, with the action, not the acting, ha ha.

Now then, the average American audience might not think much of the movie. It's full of the kind of very odd and stupid HK humor that I've gotten used to. But Yeoh shines in every moment she's on screen, and the action scenes are incredible. In particular the final fights near the end of the film had me as excited as being at a Bulls game. I couldn't believe some of the stuff they were pulling off. My heart goes out to those stunt men!! The actual final minute of the film caught me off guard, though it was realistic. But damn... that ten minutes or so of fighting was among the best I've ever seen.

Two Budding Stars

[boblipton · 7/10 · 20 May 2023]

Inspector Michelle Yeoh of the Hong Kong Royal Police arrests a flasher, then foils an armed robbery, killing the bad guys. She's ready to go off on her vacation, when her mentor at Scotland Yard is killed in a Hong Kong hotel room. She's assigned the case, and has to contend with C. I. D. Inspector Cynthia Rothrock, who's just as capable and a lot more violent. What neither knows at this point is that three cheap thieves have stolen the dead man's passport, with microfilm in it that criminal mastermind James Tien wants.

It's a combination of goofy comedy among the three cheap thieves, interspersed with bloody-minded fight sequence -- Miss Yeoh has a "do you feel lucky, punk" exchange with the bank robber about the shotgun she's holding on him. Meanwhile the thieves, all named after over-the-counter cold medicines, are bickering, smuggling roast chicken to their old boss in the nursing home, and getting caught by Miss Yeoh and Miss Rothrock, and released to serve as bait for big bad guy Tien. But as everyone's mother said, it's all fun and games until someone gets kidnapped, and the last half hour is all death and martial arts, with an ending that I didn't see coming, even though it was properly set up.

This was Miss Yeoh's third movie, and Miss Rockroth's first, so they each had a lot riding on it; the Scotland Yard inspector was originally intended to be a man, until they saw the five-times World Champion in martial arts Forms and Weapons. Both women have done very well out of their mutual start in stardom. Miss Rothrock has starred in about 60 movies, with more to come, and, of course, Miss Yeoh has just won an Oscar.

Stardom is an elusive thing. It requires a lot of luck to be in the right role in the right movie. More than that, it requires skill.

Nothing outstanding here actually...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 6 July 2019]

Oddly enough, then it is not before now in mid-2019 that I had a chance to watch "Yes Madam" (aka "Huang jia shi jie"). But when the chance presented itself I needed no persuasion to sit down and watch this 1985 action movie.

Well, the storyline in the movie was very generic, actually to the point of being almost non-existing. So you shouldn't sit down to watch "Yes Madam" with the hopes of being in for a grand storytelling of epic proportions. The movie barely had a plot, but luckily it had stupid enough characters to match the almost non-existing storyline.

"Yes Madam" is a very stereotypical Hong Kong movie from the mid-1980s. Silly dialogue, silly characters with stupid names for the most part, a heap of action and a very predictable storyline. However, it should be said that the ending of the movie was actually so questionable that you will hardly believe it. I am not going to reveal it here, of course, but you need to watch the ending for yourself. Trust me.

I was happy to see Michelle Yeoh in this movie, and it was also one of the reasons why I picked up the movie. And I have never been much of a fan of Cynthia Rothrock, so having her in a Hong Kong action movie hardly got me worked up. It was also fun to see Tsui Hark in the movie.

"Yes Madam" is a movie that is suitable for hardcore and diehard fans of the Hong Kong cinema, such as myself. I hardly think that most other people will just roll their eyes at this movie with what they will see on the screen.

Not the brightest of moments in Hong Kong cinema for sure, but still a fun trip down to the golden age of Hong Kong action cinema.

Yeoh, Rothrock, and director Yuen make this essential viewing!

[a_chinn · 8/10 · 29 June 2017]

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.

Overall average with some greatness

[mad007 · 6/10 · 15 April 2023]

Yeoh and Rothrock are really awesome. Most of the stunts are above average including the fight scenes. However, as others have mentioned it drags in places. The focus on the criminals is not helping, but also not too bad. They are the typical likeable bandits and have their bad ass (and comedic fight scenes) moments as well.

Three things I took from this movie. Disclosure: I am not a super hyper Hong-Kong movie fan.

This movie is further proof, that John Wick did definitley not invent Gun-Fu.

Cynthia Rothrock invented the "Showtime Kick". Hence, I motion to call it the "Rothrock Kick" from now on.

Michelle Yeoh invented the atomic buttdrop. Although still credit to Mark Hunt, because while Michelle's is in the KT range, Mark certaintly improved it to MT.

Not as good as some of the sequels

[bobcobb-84371 · 5/10 · 5 November 2016]

This was one of those 1980's Hong Kong action flicks that had been on my list for some time. I'm glad I saw it, but it's nowhere near as good as some of the sequels, especially the excellent In the Line of Duty IV.

The opening action scene is pretty brutal and sharply edited, but truth be told, it's about as good as the flick has to offer. I mean, it would have been better if it had built up to something truly extraordinary. Never happens.

Flick's notable for being Michelle Yeoh's first lead role and she's pretty good, as is the always athletic Cynthia Rothrock, again looking like the female half of some British synthpop duo from the '80's. Gotta love her.

Tsui Hark and his two stupid buddies create some funny slapstick scenes which, in true Hong Kong fashion, are at odds with the gritty violence. I love how these Hong Kong flicks switch tone every few seconds.

If you're a completist like me, take a look. If you're new to the genre I suggest skip this and watch part IV in stead. If you want a better Yeoh flick, watch Tai Chi Master or Wing Chun in stead. They are freakin' awesome.

Rothrock + Yeoh = Dead Dealing Action!

[ersin1 · 2 March 2001]

The first chapter of this movie (In the Line of Duty 1) was a hit in Asia in the '80 years. So the producer company (D&B: famous producer company of martial arts and Made in Hong Kong movies) decided to make a sequel.

Michelle Yeoh (Khan) is not a real martial arts expert like Cynthia Rothrock. M.Yeoh was a Chinese ballet. Cynthia Rothrock was 5 years undefeated female karate champion of USA.

The story is simple. But the action scenes are perfect. What would you except more than action from these two dangerous-dead dealing women? They are showing us all their martial arts techniques. If you like martial arts movies then this is your `must to see movie'.

If you decide to watch this movie then find a Cantonese version. English translated version is very bad. Check out for Rothrock 's Scottish accent in English version. I would like to know who made this terrible translating in English.

Also recommend for all Cynthia Rothrock fans, like me.Michelle Yeoh is still the best partner of Cynthia Rothrock. .I hope that Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock ever will play in a movie again.

AWESOME!

[BandSAboutMovies · 7/10 · 10 May 2023]

After Inspector Ng (Michelle Yeoh) stops a gang from robbing an armored car, she learns that an assassin has killed a man who ends up being her boyfriend, Westerner Richard Nornen. As he lay dying, two pickpockets had gone through his belongings and taken what he died for, a secret microfilm that has info on all of the major gangs in Hong Kong. This brings in Scotland Yard's Carrie Morris (Cynthia Rothrock) to find that microfilm - I love movies based on hidden microfilm, I must confess - and the two female cops take down the crooks in spectacular fights as their rivalry gives way to grudging respect.

This was Rothrock's first film and it doesn't show at all. While working as part of a martial arts demonstration team, Inside Kung Fu that team seeking a new male lead. Even though only one role was mentioned, the team brought their female fighters and the studio was so impressed with Rothrock that they rewrote the film for her. She was surprised as she thought this was going to be a period film and not a modern cop movie.

It's also an early starring role for Yeoh, who was credited as Michelle Khan. Her first acting work was in a television commercial for Guy Laroche watches. She was told that it was with an actor named Sing Long. She didn't speak Cantonese, so she had no idea that that was Jackie Chan. She appeared in The Owl vs Bombo and Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars before this; afterward, she was in Royal Warriors, Magnificent Warriors and Easy Money before her retirement, as she married Dickson Poon, who was the D in the D&B Group that made this movie. She'd come back in 1992 after her divorce for the incredible Police Story 3: Super Cop. Today, thirty years later, she's one of the biggest stars anywhere in the world.

I think it's kind of amazing how much of the score of Halloween shows up in this movie, almost a prophecy that one day, Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis would have to battle in Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Okay actioner if you don't think too much

[dave13-1 · 6/10 · 13 April 2012]

Hong Kong action movies in the 80s were made on such short production schedules that calling them 'quickies' is almost flattery. This one is no exception, a serio-comic cop actioner with a crazy plot that is at once simplistic and yet totally unbelievable. The police procedural plot is so silly and slap-dash it makes Crockett and Tubbs look like Holmes and Watson. Famed director Tsui Hark stars as a two-bit forger who, by a series of coincidences, stumbles across a valuable piece of microfilm, then discovers that a dangerous hit man is after it too. Detectives Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock team up to follow the microfilm up the criminal food chain, hoping it will lead them, by another series of coincidences, I guess, to the hit man. Or something. I swear, Hong Kong is about the only place where a movie maker would attempt to shoot a murder mystery / police procedural story without bothering to fully work out the plot first... Or bothering to check with a police technical adviser to see how many laws the cops broke in 90 minutes. Anyway, Hark is pretty funny in his scenes as a coward adept at dodging and running away and sticking other people with his problems, and Yeoh and Rothrock kick major butt in their action scenes. If you take the movie on its merits and don't compare it to CSI too closely it makes for pretty decent low brow entertainment. Note that (this film having been shot in 1985) Yeoh and Rothrock - and everybody else - did all of their own stunts and that no wire work was used in the fight scenes, just a little slo-mo to stylize the action. As athletes, they were pretty impressive!

A kick-ass 'budette cop' film set in Hong Kong, starring Michelle Yeoh & Cynthia Rothrock

[RRHodek · 7/10 · 28 January 2024]

Huang jia shi jie, aka Police Assassins, aka Yes, Madam! (1985) is a fast-paced, action-oriented comedy buddy or 'budette' cop film set in the streets of Hong Kong.

Starring Michelle Yeoh and marking the debut of Cynthia Rothrock, who also becomes the first western female lead in this genre in that region up to that point.

The comedic aspect surprised me a bit, as I found myself enjoying it slightly more than being annoyed by it. Usually they are WAY over the top, but in this case it was fairly tolerable.

Standard plot but does the job well: two newly paired kick-ass cops who are using different approaches team up to take down some hard-ass criminals, while the whole chain of events is set off by small-time thieves.

The exhaustingly badass fight sequences, the editing, and the overall chemistry between Yeoh and Rothrock, and among the supporting cast, what sets this film apart and makes it enjoyable in its own category.

Also, just as one example, there was a brief scene where Rothrock's character tries to be tough and intimidate by quickly extinguishing a cigarette on a man's face, only to burn her own palm aswell and mask her pain from him behind her back. That scene caught me off guard, it's a small thing but this and some other such scenes makes the film memorable too.

Oh and that Dirty Harry reference was cherry on the top.

Anyway, it was fun 90 minutes. It's a recommend. I rate it a fierce 7/10!

A Dizzying But Fun Ride

[crossbow0106 · 7/10 · 14 November 2008]

Michelle Yeoh plays a fast moving cop in Hong Kong who is exposed to Dirty Harry type situations in this film which is part of the "In The Line Of Duty" film series. The film is mostly at accelerated speed, and it is the action that carries the scene. The constant fighting and attempted escapes make you forget what is a simple plot about microfilm. Cynthia Rothrock is also in this, so you have two butt kicking cops. The movie loses some steam due to the silliness of some of its characters, but you'll still like the action. It plays in high definition on the Kung Fu Channel, so if you have access this is the way to see it. Michelle Yeoh has, of course, done more compelling work after this, but I think you'll enjoy it, even the violent scenes.

Yes, madam

[coltras35 · 8/10 · 16 December 2022]

Two hapless thieves Aspirin (Mang Hoi) and Strepsil (John Shum) break into a freshly murdered man's hotel room and steal his passport. Unknown to them, the occupant was just stylishly murdered by an assassin and that wallet includes the microfilm of a forged contract that crooked businessman Mr Tin will kill for.

It soon falls to Senior Inspector NG (Michelle Yeoh) and Inspector Carrie Morris (Cynthia Rothrock) to track down the microfilm and solve the murder.

A fast-paced concoction of well-executed humour and action with Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock lighting up the screen as two kick-behind inspectors with differing personalities and methods, yet they make a great pair. But a funny yet bumbling crime caper scenes with Aspirin, Strepsil, and their passport forging friend Panadol (Tsui Hark) makes this excellently choreographed actioner thoroughly entertaining. The finale features some nifty fight sequences by the leading ladies.

Mostly lives up to its reputation

[gridoon2024 · 7/10 · 5 March 2009]

"Police Assassins" AKA "Yes, Madam!" marked the first action role of the now internationally famous Michelle Yeoh, and established her as one of THE top female stars in her field. When you see the movie, it's easy to understand her success: she moves, shoots, fights and poses with the speed and confidence of a veteran, as well as with the enthusiasm of a rookie. The film also marked the Honk Kong debut of the fierce Cynthia Rothrock, who is generally considered to have done her best work in this part of the world and not later in America. Essentially this is a female buddy-cop film, except that the rivalry between the two women doesn't last as long as in most male examples of the genre, and they soon join forces to get the bad guys. The most notable among those is Dick Wei, the kind of guy who doesn't pull any punches when he fights women (check out his fights with Cynthia Khan in "In The Line Of Duty 3"), which ends up making both him AND the women look good. There are some overextended "slapstick" sequences that don't really fit with the violent style of the movie (particularly those with Tsui Hark), but the action scenes deliver what they promise. *** out of 4.

Action-packed, but with a slow plot.

[OllieSuave-007 · 5/10 · 17 November 2014]

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+

Kick-ass babes in kick-ass action movie

[phanthinga · 9/10 · 1 May 2019]

Corey Yuen is one hell of a director and action choreographer when he kicks start a lot of action movie star career that you know and still love today with his fast and brutal action scene and in 1985 his fame hit a new high when he directed his first "Girl with gun" flick Yes Madam! (1985) a movie not only got some of the best action scene Hong-Kong cinema can deliver but it also introduced us to Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock and if their name doesn't ring a bell in your head then I suggest you stop what you're doing right now and watch Yes, Madam! ASAP

Flawed but enjoyable showcase for the great Michelle Yeoh

[Jeremy_Urquhart · 7/10 · 18 January 2023]

Ever since Everything Everywhere All At Once blew many minds last year (mine included), I've thought I should check out some of Michelle Yeoh's older films. I've seen a couple of the big ones, but not as many as I should have, because she's had a very prolific career since the 1980s. Of her earlier films, Yes, Madam (1985) seemed to be one of the most well-known, so I thought it would be a good starting point.

Yeoh plays a cool, hypercompetent young police officer who's on the trail of a bunch of doofus criminals (thieves and gangsters). She's not quite in the movie as much as you'd expect - maybe because if she had more screentime early on, she'd solve the case well before the 90-minute mark, and the movie wouldn't be feature-length.

Now, I'm not saying this inspired Fargo (it's very different) but the idea of a smart, charismatic female detective tackling a complex case with many (stupid) men behind it is a little comparable to the Coen Brothers' classic... Maybe?

I mean, in both Yes, Madam and Fargo, while Yeoh and McDormand are the protagonists, the first half has many scenes focused on the criminals and the mistakes they made, so they can get their comeuppances in the second half. But the comparison is a little silly when you realise one's an action movie and one's a darkly comedic thriller.

Some of the scenes early on in Yes, Madam felt sort of comedic, but the comedy didn't always land for me. I do find that sometimes with Hong Kong films from this era - their style of humour is very different from what I'm used to. With Jackie Chan, for example, I adore his action scenes, but don't always feel as amazing by the comedy scenes in his movie.

Naturally, this means the film gets better as it goes along and gets more action-heavy. And when the film features Yeoh taking down the bad guys, it's really satisfying. It's a shame there are like 50 minutes between the opening action scene and the next time she gets to fight, but oh well.

Her presence in the action scenes and charisma in the non-action scenes has made me want to watch a few more of her older movies, at least before she wins her Oscar in a couple of months for Everything Everywhere all at Once (calling it now - manifesting it, if you will).

The title, "Yes Madam" makes more sense than the one I saw this film as...

[Aaron1375 · 4/10 · 31 January 2023]

Was not thrilled with this film, this is probably due to the total misdirection the American title and the opening sequence had than due to any fault of the original film itself. It was called In the Line of Duty 2: the Super Cops, or something to that effect and opened with a rather impressive opening featuring a man jumping and kicking a man through a car window before flying through a sign. I was like, wow, but then nothing of this was ever mentioned again and now I see here it was as I guessed, something from a totally unrelated film. No, this film is not about super cops, I mean there are two rather bad ass female cops, but no this thing focuses more on a trio of low rent criminal types getting mixed up in something bigger.

So, depending on the cut you may get a flashing scene or the scene that has nothing to do with the film. The general story is that these three guys, two of whom are small time crooks and another who forges documents get caught up in a caper involving microfilm. Meanwhile, Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock are two cops on the case to get the guy who the microfilm will incriminate. They get to show their stuff, but it really does focus more on the bumblers and they even get to close the film out.

I like Cynthia, as she is cute as a button, but she is dubbed so no hearing her very cute kung fu cries. Michelle Yeoh is alright, but this is not one of her better roles and why the heck does she have a mullet!?! The bumblers may be alright in their original voices, but sound terrible dubbed and it just makes what might of been an okay film, worse!

So, from the title and the start I got, I was expecting one heck of an action film. However, way too much goofy comedy that does not work for me due to the voices and a very uninspired bad guy really just makes it watchable. I mean, the bad guy was an evil real estate guy, not exactly someone to strike fear into the masses. Some good martial arts on display, but in the end, I think something got lost in the translations.