Corey Yuen's "She Shoots Straight" is not only a good action movie - it's above the average due to the tragic drama/character bits. There is a beautiful scene when a mother celebrates her birthday, not knowing yet that her son was killed by gangsters - some party guests witnessed it, yet nobody has the heart to tell her the sad news. Most genre movies would rather take a break from the action for for a little comedy scene in between. "She Shoots Straight" is one class above that. Anyhow, the story is basically quite simple, about the Hong Kong police fighting gangsters, and after the above mentioned guy was killed, his young widow (Joyce Godenzi), sisters and even his mom (what a great role for an old lady!) do everything they can to avenge him, while his former police colleagues are not a big help. Talking about the fights in "She Shoots Straight", particularly impressive is the violent clash of Joyce Godenzi versus Agnes Aurelio.
9 Reviews
She Shoots Straight Joyce Godenzi vs Agne Aurelio
white_fang-846337 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
One of my favorite fight scene is when Joyce kicks Agnes between the legs and she falls down in agony and pain. After she recovers she tries to kick Joyce but Joyce quickly reacts and jumps up and knees Agnes in the crotch again and kicks her in her boobs ending the fight.
Corey Yuen doesn't let you down!
sarastro718 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Well, I admit not *all* Corey Yuen's movies are great, but a heckuva lot of them are! And She Shoots Straight is no exception, featuring plenty of Corey Yuen's beautiful trademark action. Joyce Godenzi is, as ever, an intense and ice cool actress, showing remarkable emotional range as well as fighting ability.
I don't have a lot to add to Brian Camp's insightful user comment, except to mention that I didn't find the finishing action sequences disappointing in the least; quite the contrary. There were two action sequences in the end, one aboard the boat and one in a gravel pit. While the last one "only" involved Joyce Godenzi and the amazing Agnes Aurelio, the first one involved just about everybody!
The movie as a whole was an intense police family drama with lots of crying going on, and it was done so you could relate. The final action scenes really clinched this movie as great entertainment, action-wise as well as drama-wise. So I give it high marks and a high recommendation.
8 out of 10.
I don't have a lot to add to Brian Camp's insightful user comment, except to mention that I didn't find the finishing action sequences disappointing in the least; quite the contrary. There were two action sequences in the end, one aboard the boat and one in a gravel pit. While the last one "only" involved Joyce Godenzi and the amazing Agnes Aurelio, the first one involved just about everybody!
The movie as a whole was an intense police family drama with lots of crying going on, and it was done so you could relate. The final action scenes really clinched this movie as great entertainment, action-wise as well as drama-wise. So I give it high marks and a high recommendation.
8 out of 10.
Straight-shooting Hong Kong policewomen
BrianDanaCamp30 April 2001
SHE SHOOTS STRAIGHT (1990) was directed by Corey Yuen and produced by Sammo Hung and turns out to be a fascinating and entertaining movie along the lines of the IN THE LINE OF DUTY series from the 1980s (one of which was also directed by Yuen), with its hyper policewomen-in-action scenes. The difference is the greater attention paid here to family drama.
The only son (Tony Leung Ka Fai) in a family of police officers marries Mina, an ambitious `half-breed' colleague (played by Joyce Godenzi), incurring the resentment of his four sisters, all policewomen, especially the eldest, Ling (Carina Lau). There is pressure on Tony to father a son, to keep the male line going, although Mina wants to delay pregnancy until she gets promoted to Superintendent. The family dynamics make the non-action scenes more interesting than usual for this type of film and add an emotional layer missing from the more action-oriented entries in this genre.
The crime-fighting plot centers around a Vietnamese criminal gang (led by the always formidable Yuen Wah) which robs a nightclub where the five policewomen are working undercover as hostesses, initiating the film's most spectacular action setpiece. The rest of the film details the various conflicts with the gang culminating in a big shipboard/shipyard battle and one-on-one hitting/kicking fight between Mina and a muscular female gang member (Agnes Aurelio). When they get their undercover assignment at the nightclub, one of the sisters, Ling, gets up at a department meeting and wonders just how far the girls are expected to go with the customers, a question I don't recall being asked in such American counterparts as the old `Police Woman' TV series or the `T.J. Hooker' episodes where Stacy went undercover as a hooker, stripper, club dancer, or anything else they dreamed up to put Heather Locklear in a bikini or miniskirt. (Not that anyone wanted Stacy to ask that question, which would have defeated the whole purpose.)
The film has far less kung fu than the LINE OF DUTY films, with its action scenes more steeped in the stunt leap/breaking glass/gunplay mode. One of several clever action sequences involves a series of Vietcong-style jungle traps laid in a public park for Mina, Tony and Ling. Lead actress Joyce Godenzi is, however, not the fighter that Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock and Cynthia Khan were in the LINE OF DUTY films, although Joyce is a far better actress than the two Cynthias and is quite watchable throughout. I've previously seen her only in the great EASTERN CONDORS and the mediocre THE RAID.
In fact, all the women in SHE SHOOTS STRAIGHT are good actresses, most notably Carina Lau and Sandra Ng, and a couple I don't recognize. The women here are all a bit harder, beefier, and tougher than the usual Hong Kong starlet type. They run the show in this film and even Sammo Hung takes a supporting role, staying out of the fighting for the most part. The final action scenes here are something of a disappointment, because only two of the main women participate. But overall, I highly recommend this disc.
The only son (Tony Leung Ka Fai) in a family of police officers marries Mina, an ambitious `half-breed' colleague (played by Joyce Godenzi), incurring the resentment of his four sisters, all policewomen, especially the eldest, Ling (Carina Lau). There is pressure on Tony to father a son, to keep the male line going, although Mina wants to delay pregnancy until she gets promoted to Superintendent. The family dynamics make the non-action scenes more interesting than usual for this type of film and add an emotional layer missing from the more action-oriented entries in this genre.
The crime-fighting plot centers around a Vietnamese criminal gang (led by the always formidable Yuen Wah) which robs a nightclub where the five policewomen are working undercover as hostesses, initiating the film's most spectacular action setpiece. The rest of the film details the various conflicts with the gang culminating in a big shipboard/shipyard battle and one-on-one hitting/kicking fight between Mina and a muscular female gang member (Agnes Aurelio). When they get their undercover assignment at the nightclub, one of the sisters, Ling, gets up at a department meeting and wonders just how far the girls are expected to go with the customers, a question I don't recall being asked in such American counterparts as the old `Police Woman' TV series or the `T.J. Hooker' episodes where Stacy went undercover as a hooker, stripper, club dancer, or anything else they dreamed up to put Heather Locklear in a bikini or miniskirt. (Not that anyone wanted Stacy to ask that question, which would have defeated the whole purpose.)
The film has far less kung fu than the LINE OF DUTY films, with its action scenes more steeped in the stunt leap/breaking glass/gunplay mode. One of several clever action sequences involves a series of Vietcong-style jungle traps laid in a public park for Mina, Tony and Ling. Lead actress Joyce Godenzi is, however, not the fighter that Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock and Cynthia Khan were in the LINE OF DUTY films, although Joyce is a far better actress than the two Cynthias and is quite watchable throughout. I've previously seen her only in the great EASTERN CONDORS and the mediocre THE RAID.
In fact, all the women in SHE SHOOTS STRAIGHT are good actresses, most notably Carina Lau and Sandra Ng, and a couple I don't recognize. The women here are all a bit harder, beefier, and tougher than the usual Hong Kong starlet type. They run the show in this film and even Sammo Hung takes a supporting role, staying out of the fighting for the most part. The final action scenes here are something of a disappointment, because only two of the main women participate. But overall, I highly recommend this disc.
Corey Yuen handles a female-dominated story of backside-kicking mayhem
Leofwine_draca15 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
SHE SHOOTS STRAIGHT is another winner from director Corey Yuen and another instalment in the hugely popular girls-with-guns sub-genre of action films from Hong Kong. This one stars Mrs. Sammo Hung herself, Joyce Godenzi (perhaps best known for her supporting role in EASTERN CONDORS) playing a cop on the trail of some Vietnamese refugees with a fine line in robbery and murder. Godenzi contends with a goofy husband (the likable Tony Leung), a rubbish superior, Sammo himself in support, and lots of jealous female family members.
This is very much an action film with the emphasis on the action. There's a whole lot of shooting and chasing going on, and Godenzi shows herself to be up to the job, rivalling the likes of Cynthia Khan at times. The martial arts sequences are kept quite brief but the film has a very fast pace and plenty of violent incident to enjoy. I was particularly delighted to find that Yuen Wah once again plays the villain and burns up the screen with his presence alone. There's a slow fifteen minutes in the middle of the film where everyone wallows in grief interminably, but the rest is thoroughly entertaining.
This is very much an action film with the emphasis on the action. There's a whole lot of shooting and chasing going on, and Godenzi shows herself to be up to the job, rivalling the likes of Cynthia Khan at times. The martial arts sequences are kept quite brief but the film has a very fast pace and plenty of violent incident to enjoy. I was particularly delighted to find that Yuen Wah once again plays the villain and burns up the screen with his presence alone. There's a slow fifteen minutes in the middle of the film where everyone wallows in grief interminably, but the rest is thoroughly entertaining.
Vehicle for Joyce Godenzi
phillip-5830 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
First let's get the point of this film out of the way. Sammo Hung was dating Joyce Godenzi (they married in 1995) and this film was designed one of several he was involved in to make her a star. Though not a bad actress (though she came to attention as a Beauty Queen) she was no fighter and despite Sammo's efforts to teach her the moves, it shows at times like the famous final fight with the Phillipine fighter Agnes Aurelio (who only made a few films). Sammo appears at various times throughout the film but only fights for a few seconds towards the end, presumably not to distract from his 'star'. Carina Lau is good as the sister who first hates Min (Joyce) but later fights with her to revenge the death of her brother (Min's husband - Tony Leung who has little to do except die well). The other sisters do little but special mention should be made of the feisty Matriarch (played by veteran Helena Law) who adds some character. I found the birthday party where she learns of the death of her son moving, though heavy handed for Western tastes at least. Yuen Wah is genuinely scary as the villain but the film would have been so much better id he had faced Sammo at the end and not just been killed rather pointlessly. You'll spot many other minor HK characters in this film. I enjoyed it, but I suspect it would have had a much higher score with Michelle Yeoh in the lead who could really fight. The now defunct Hong Kong Legends disc has a lot of extras.
Intense and full of rage.
OllieSuave-00722 January 2016
This is an intense action movie from Hong Kong, featuring Joyce Godenzi as an Inspector Mina Kao, who faces a gang of dangerous Vietnamese criminal refugees.
The acting was quite good, especially those of the Godenzi, Carina Lau, Sandra Ng and Anglie Leung. They all play policewoman and, sometimes, rather furiously and dramatic. Actor Tony Leung has a touching co-starring role in the film as well. Sammo Hung also has a role, but unfortunately, he didn't do much with his character and his cameo appearances didn't contribute to the plot much. It was actually quite a distraction to the story.
The English title of the movie, Lethal Lady, pretty much describes the film to a T. The policewomen faced a family tragedy and must defeat the Vietnamese gang in the process, relying on the strengths of their colleagues and family to overcome their adversities. While a little in certain moments, the film does suffer from a lack of humor and suspense, and there is a limited amount of action, mostly sequestered toward the latter half of the plot.
Overall, it an average movie full of rage and overkill moments. There are better stuff out there but won't hurt to watch on a slow day.
Grade C
The acting was quite good, especially those of the Godenzi, Carina Lau, Sandra Ng and Anglie Leung. They all play policewoman and, sometimes, rather furiously and dramatic. Actor Tony Leung has a touching co-starring role in the film as well. Sammo Hung also has a role, but unfortunately, he didn't do much with his character and his cameo appearances didn't contribute to the plot much. It was actually quite a distraction to the story.
The English title of the movie, Lethal Lady, pretty much describes the film to a T. The policewomen faced a family tragedy and must defeat the Vietnamese gang in the process, relying on the strengths of their colleagues and family to overcome their adversities. While a little in certain moments, the film does suffer from a lack of humor and suspense, and there is a limited amount of action, mostly sequestered toward the latter half of the plot.
Overall, it an average movie full of rage and overkill moments. There are better stuff out there but won't hurt to watch on a slow day.
Grade C
She shoots, but does she score?
DanTheMan2150AD2 November 2023
Between the copious amounts of histrionic, clichéd melodrama with scenes that go on for way too long, She Shoots Straight provides some genuinely uproarious and well-done action that wouldn't be out of place this side of Michelle Yeoh. Corey Yuen certainly brings variety to the film's kinetic style, particular standouts being a shootout shot in infrared and the storming of a ship with every manner of melee weapon imaginable, Yuen understands when to add a dramatic weight to make a true impact. Complimented by a decent if cheesy score by Lowell Lo, while the performances of Joyce Godenzi and Carina Lau balance out the deranged villainous antics of Yuen Wah. She Shoots Straight isn't bad by any means but the story doesn't make me really care about any of its soapy sap opera characters beyond a surface level while the action is too few and far between but finally delivers that explosive Hong Kong finale that you wait the whole film for, it just really needed some spicing up during the first half.
Awesome
nova6930 November 2001
I've seen many action movies where the ladies rough it up. Unfortunately the action is either too short or too predictable. Sometimes its even ridiculous. I remember watching this movie where the female villian was bashing up all the male cops who tried to arrest her. The female cop came up behind her, gave her a punch & she was out cold. That sucked!
Therefore I was glad that She Shoots Straight was nothing like that. In fact the final fight scene between the 2 ladies makes this movie the best action movie ever! I am particularly impressed with Agnes Aurelio. This babe not only has a great muscular body but is able to fight well too.
Therefore I was glad that She Shoots Straight was nothing like that. In fact the final fight scene between the 2 ladies makes this movie the best action movie ever! I am particularly impressed with Agnes Aurelio. This babe not only has a great muscular body but is able to fight well too.
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