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Essay / Masculinity In The Police Story Essay - 1127
Police Story 3: Super Cop is the third installment in the Police Story franchise, where Jackie Chan, playing Chan Ka-Koey, plays a Hong Kong-based police officer who works undercover for Chinese police to arrest a drug warlord. The story contains Jackie Chan's usual array of death-defying stunts, thefts and explosions. He fights against bad guys atop a moving motorcycle, train, cars, speedboat, trucks, and helicopter. This exposes Chen's concept of masculinity. However, he does not fit all definitions of masculinity. The masculinity of modern movie heroes consists of physically dominant individuals, with tough exteriors and rigid movements. Yet Chan comes off as quite the opposite. He looks weak, flexible and is not physically dominant. On the other hand, Michelle Yeoh, who plays Inspector Yang, contradicts the film's stereotype of women, which is usually linked to the damsel in distress stereotype. Most of the time, women are stereotypically portrayed in positions of weakness, but Yang is physically dominant and bold. The director almost overcompensates for the insufficient masculinity of Chan, the main character, with cinematic effects and stylized movements. Chan displays tenacity and daring maneuvers in stunts, while his stature and demeanor do not match his on-screen accomplishments. This article examines how stereotypes of masculinity and femininity are contradicted in the film Police Story 3: Super Cop. Police Story 3: Super Cop emphasizes the use of cinematic effects, action effects and stunts to bring out the masculinity of its characters in this Hong Kong. Kong Drama. The stereotype of action heroes is that they are supposed to be tough, bold and courageous. For example, Chan Ka-Koey jumps on...... middle of paper...... thrown move. The film lends itself to analysis on different topics. However, gender is at the forefront. This film contradicts the predominant view of femininity and masculinity. For example, while most films present their male heroes as completely masculine, rigid but tough men, Chan in Police Story 3: Super Cop is not masculine in his stature and posture. He looks too friendly, agile and also makes too many flexible movements. He does not represent the tenacity that his maneuvers and stunts demand. His lack of masculinity is made up for with daredevil maneuvers and daring feats. Yang, on the other hand, challenges the stereotypical view of women as servants and damsels in distress. In the film, she takes on combat and manly roles. These characteristics can be explained by the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang..