Director Gordon Chan Kar-seung (Beast Cops) wanted to reshape the Hong Kong police film genre with 1994โs The Final Option, and the result was a classic. Lesser sequels followed.
The Final Option (1994)
A classic of 1990s Hong Kong cinema, The Final Option is action filmmaking of the highest order. The story about the Royal Hong Kong Police forceโs Special Duty Unit (SDU), has a gripping storyline, believable characterisations and some excellent tactical assault sequences.
โFinally, a crime story that is intelligently scripted, directed and acted,โ said the Postโs review.
โWhat distinguishes The Final Option is that Chan chooses to deal with his material in a more realistic fashion, underplaying the combat and emphasising the interpersonal drama. The emotional subtext is particularly mature for a Cantonese movie.โ
What made the film different in 1994 was the extended focus Chan gave the personal lives of the SDU team.
Young recruit Ho (Peter Yung Kam-cheong) is in a troubled relationship with May (Carman Lee Yeuk-tung), who is best friends with Stoneโs fiancรฉe, who worries about the commander being shot every second of the day.
The personal elements are expertly woven into the plot and depict how personal problems can influence, usually negatively, the way police officers do their jobs.