Nu er dang zi qiang (1993) User Reviews

Lady Supercop, 1993

[horseboxingkiller · 7/10 · 24 December 2022]

Not to be confused with Cynthia Khan's Super Lady Cop, Lady Supercop stars Carina Lau as the serious and ambitious Police Madam, Winnie Chang. After a promotion, Winnie is transfered to the same precinct as her cousin Lo (Teresa Mo) with whom she also shares a flat with.

Winnie's informant, May, witnesses a murder during an arms deal involving gun smuggler Chin Ho and May's boyfriend. After her identity is revealed to Chin Ho, May first seeks refuge at the policewomens' apartment but later goes on the run, fearing for her life. This triggers a cat and mouse chase between Chin Ho's gang and the informant, May.

The story is nothing new here but the film benefits greatly from some exciting, hard-hitting action scenes. Highlights include a shootout within the tight confines of Winnie and Lo's apartment and a chase sequence during a jewellery heist gone wrong. A torture scene involving a power drill is an homage (...or rip-off?) of Marathon Man, albeit significantly nastier and bloodier than the Hoffman classic.

Chan Wai Man, Waise Lee and Eric Tsang all appear in smaller roles. Their 'star power' is certainly welcome, although none of their stories are particularly integral to the main plot. Waise Lee is pretty much wasted but Chan Wai Man does have a chance to get in on the action briefly.

The director chose to film some scenes with a hazy, orange hue which I probably could've done without (it's more prominent in the World Video print than the Star release) and the ending felt slightly choppy and rushed but, overall Lady Supercop is well worth a watch, elevated by 2 or 3 really tough action sequences.

Lady Supercop saved by some Visual Flair

[detflygandespaghettimons · 5/10 · 25 February 2016]

Siu-Hung Chung (aka: Billy Chung) directs this Hong Kong feature from the early 90's about two policewomen related through blood. These main characters are played by Carina Lau, whom claims the part of the older, more professional cousin, while Teresa Mo acts the part of her younger, more playful relative.

This relationship is truly what dominates the film. We see them foiling robberies, attending nightly stakeouts, and having some office shenanigans. Typical police procedural. Serviceable to watch. But I found the overarching narrative quite fuzzy for a large part of the film. Whom is the antagonist? Which organization are they investigating? What is their mission? Eventually a laughing madman played by Chin Ho coalesces as the villain. Unfortunately it's a rather unengaging, stock portrayal that doesn't work in the films favor.

Overall, the main problem with Lady Supercop is found in the narrative. It all feels rather fettered, lethargic and inconsequential. Carina's and Teresa's relationship doesn't really go anywhere or reach any satisfying climax for us to enjoy, which is especially problematic since they are the center of the film.

Lady Supercop is upheld though by some visual flair. Orange tinting, blue shadows, thick fog steaming from the sides of the screen. It's not Dario Argento but Siu-Hung Chung did put effort into these things. The action scenes are fine and sometimes works in tandem with Siu-Hungs cinematographic style. The dominant feel of the rest of the film is rather mellow though, but this is Hong Kong cinema where tonal whiplashes are ineludible and law-of-the-land! A grimdark turn commences two-thirds of the way in and we get some torture and sadism at the hands of Chin Ho.

Lady Supercop is perfectly average though rather uneven at that. Its cons and pros balance themselves out so I'll award it a 5/10.