Working in a police precinct full of her in-laws, Inspector Mina Kao and her colleagues are assigned a dangerous case involving Vietnamese criminal refugees, right after getting married to her fellow inspector Huang.
“She Shoots Straight” is a 1990 Hong Kong action-drama directed by Corey Yuen. The storyline is fairly straightforward, and the synopsis on this release’s box art unfortunately gives away key plot developments. If you’re going in blind, it’s best to avoid reading the packaging beforehand.
The film focuses on a family of police officers, beginning with the marriage of Huang Tsung-Pao (Tony Leung Ka-fai) to his fellow inspector Mina (Joyce Godenzi). It is not a harmonious union. Tsung-Pao’s many sisters — also officers — openly scorn Mina at the wedding ceremony, their resentment fueled by jealousy of Mina’s success and her rock-star status within the force.
Arriving during the height of the ‘Girls with Guns’ cycle, “She Shoots Straight” gets right to the action. The film quickly establishes its credentials with energetic fight choreography and well-executed stunt work. Godenzi carries the film well, balancing the physical demands of the action sequences with the emotional weight of an outsider joining a new family. The ensemble of actresses playing the Huang sisters also contributes to the film’s kinetic energy.
The script by Yuen Kai-Chi and Barry Wong Ping-Yiu leans heavily into family melodrama. At times, this gives the film a soap opera quality, with certain dramatic beats grinding the momentum to a halt. While these elements give depth to the characters, a more restrained approach might have resulted in a tighter, more cohesive film.
Despite these issues, the film is largely enjoyable. The action sequences are inventive and engaging. However, the finale, without venturing into spoilers, defies logic to a distracting degree in an otherwise grounded narrative.
This Blu-ray Disc from 88 Films features a ‘new 2K restoration from the original negative.’ The results are impressive. The image appears natural and filmic, with no noticeable anomalies. I viewed it with the Cantonese mono soundtrack, which delivered sound effects and dialogue clearly and cleanly. The disc also includes a Cantonese stereo track and English dubs in both mono and 5.1 surround sound.
Disc extras include an informative audio commentary by Frank Djeng, an interview with Yuen Kai-Chi, alternate English credits, an image gallery, and the original Hong Kong trailer. Djeng’s commentary provides substantial background on the production, its cast, and crew. Yuen’s interview offers insight into his work with Sammo Hung’s production company and the scriptwriting process. The release also features a reversible sleeve and a sturdy slipcover with a notably high-quality feel.
Before this review assignment, I was not familiar with this title. Although the drama elements wear it down, the action more than compensates. For fans of the ‘Girls with Guns’ sub-genre, this lively entry is well worth (re)visiting, and 88 Films’ strong presentation makes this Blu-ray an easy recommendation.
Now available on Blu-ray™ from 88 FILMS
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