Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Project A Part II (1987) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Project A Part II (1987) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1987 · 105 mins · Cantonese
Starring
Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung, Ray Lui, Peter Chan, Carina Lau, Mars

After being reassigned as head of the Sai Wan police district, Dragon must confront a gangster kingpin, anti‑Manchu revolutionaries, a group of runaway pirates, Manchu loyalists, and a corrupt police superintendent, leading to a series of intense clashes.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (9)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Project A Part II
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Project A Part II (1987)

Where can you watch Project A Part II? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Kanopy, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

9 main characters · contains spoilers

Project A Part II Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Project A Part II (1987), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Dragon Ma Yue Lung (Sgt. Dragon Ma) (Jackie Chan)

    A tough, principled Hong Kong police officer who is asked to reform a corrupt precinct. He navigates a maze of bribes, backstabbing colleagues, and dangerous criminals while trying to protect those around him. His blend of street-smarts and martial prowess makes him a formidable, determined hero who pursues justice even at great personal risk.

    • 🛡️ Hero
    • 🚓 Police
    • 🥋 Martial Arts
  • Carina Lau as Carina

    A member of the Chinese revolutionary movement led by Sun Yat-sen, Carina acts as a catalyst for Dragon’s actions and alliance-building. Her presence ties the police drama to a broader political struggle, and she becomes a key ally in resisting imperial suppression and gangster dominance.

    • 🕊️ Revolutionary
    • 🧭 Ally
  • Yesan

    A host who facilitates meetings and serves as a linchpin in the network surrounding Dragon and Carina. She helps orchestrate movements and provides crucial support to the protagonists during moments of danger.

    • 🕊️ Ally
    • 🎭 Plot Driver
  • Mr. Man Tin-Ching

    played by Ray Lui

    A figure tied to the municipal power structure who interacts with Dragon and his allies. His actions influence the balance of authority in Sai Wan and reflect the complex interplay between police and political interests.

    • 🗝️ Authority
    • 🧩 Power plays
  • Tiger Au

    played by Michael Chan Wai-Man

    A gangster kingpin who runs gambling dens and illegal enterprises, representing the criminal underworld that the police must confront. His regime highlights the chaos that accompanies illicit influence in a colonial city.

    • 🗡️ Crime Boss
    • 🕳️ Underworld
  • Ho Chi-Ging

    played by Kenny Ho Kar-King

    The one upright policeman at the station who genuinely seeks to uphold the law. He partners with Dragon, providing moral support and practical help in the fight against corruption and criminal networks.

    • 🛡️ Upright Officer
    • 🤝 Ally
  • Superintendent Chun

    played by David Lam Wai

    A calculating and powerful figure who collaborates with revolutionaries to trap Dragon. His manipulation demonstrates how corruption and ambition can distort justice and security.

    • 🧭 Manipulator
    • 🗳️ Power Player
  • Chief Inspector Tung

    played by Bill Tung Biu

    A high-ranking police official who orders actions against Dragon and the revolutionaries. His presence emphasizes the seriousness with which authorities pursue control and punishment within the system.

    • 🏛️ Authority
    • 🥊 Enforcer
  • Ms. Pak

    played by Rosamund Kwan Chi-Lam

    A confidante within the revolutionary circle who aids Dragon and Yesan’s escape. Her role underscores the coalition between reform-minded individuals and the broader struggle against imperial interference.

    • 🕊️ Ally
    • 🧭 Connector

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:25

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does Project A Part II Take Place?

The setting of Project A Part II (1987): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Early 20th century (circa 1910s)

The plot sits during a volatile period when Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary movement operates within Chinese territories and colonial Hong Kong. Imperial authorities and revolutionaries maneuver behind the scenes as power shifts threaten the status quo. Public events like a governor’s birthday ball become focal points for political intrigue and undercover operations. The era is defined by corruption, factionalism, and a rising push for political change.

Location

Sai Wan, Hong Kong

Sai Wan serves as the policing hub in a colonial Hong Kong, where bribe-laden police work clashes with emerging reform. The story unfolds across teahouses, governor’s balls, and hidden drugstores, highlighting a bustling, densely populated urban environment. The setting blends traditional Chinese culture with early 20th-century imperial governance and criminal underworld activity. This backdrop frames the tension between law enforcement, revolutionaries, and imperial agents.

  • 🏙️ Colonial Hong Kong
  • 🗺️ Urban district

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:25

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

Project A Part II Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Project A Part II (1987) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Corruption vs Reform

    The film centers on a police force plagued by bribery, contrasting the upright Ho with a system-wide rot. Dragon Ma’s rise to leadership tests his ability to root out corruption while maintaining order. The tension between old practices and reform drives much of the investigation and clashes with criminal networks. Ultimately, the story probes whether personal integrity can overcome entrenched systemic corruption.

  • Revolution & Loyalty

    Carina’s revolutionary ties pull Dragon into a larger political struggle beyond ordinary policing. The narrative weighs loyalty to duty against sympathy for revolutionary causes and friends who risk everything for a larger goal. Dragon’s hesitant stance reflects the conflict between a Hong Kong cop’s obligations and a broader fight for national change. The theme examines how political ideals influence personal allegiance.

  • Power, Justice & Betrayal

    Chun’s manipulations to trap Dragon reveal how those in power exploit legal authority for personal gain. The chase for the black book and the staged schemes show how justice is often compromised by ambition and deceit. Rivalries between inspectors, revolutionaries, and gangsters create a web of betrayals that tests alliances. The conclusion underscores the fragile boundary between law and vengeance.

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:25

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

Project A Part II Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Project A Part II (1987): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Project A Part II set?

The movie is set in Sai Wan, a policing district in colonial Hong Kong. This urban environment features teahouses, governor's balls, and hidden drugstores, blending traditional Chinese culture with early 20th-century imperial governance and criminal underworld activity.

  • sai wan
  • hong kong
  • colonial hong kong
  • setting
  • location
Q2

What time period does Project A Part II take place in?

The film is set in the early 20th century, specifically around the 1910s. This coincides with Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary movement operating within Chinese territories and colonial Hong Kong, a period marked by political intrigue, corruption, and rising nationalist sentiment.

  • 1910s
  • early 20th century
  • historical period
  • revolutionary era
  • sun yat-sen
Q3

Who is Dragon Ma in Project A Part II?

Dragon Ma (played by Jackie Chan) is a tough, principled Hong Kong police officer assigned to reform the corrupt Sai Wan precinct. He uses his street-smarts and martial arts prowess to navigate bribes, dangerous criminals, and treacherous colleagues while trying to uphold justice.

  • dragon ma
  • jackie chan
  • police officer
  • protagonist
  • hero
Q4

What is Carina's role in Project A Part II?

Carina (played by Carina Lau) is a member of Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary movement. She acts as a catalyst for Dragon's actions, pulling him into a larger political struggle beyond ordinary policing and becoming a key ally in resisting imperial suppression and gangster dominance.

  • carina
  • revolutionary
  • sun yat-sen
  • carina lau
  • political struggle
Q5

What does Corruption vs Reform mean in Project A Part II?

The theme examines the conflict between an entrenched corrupt police force and those pushing for reform. Dragon Ma's rise to leadership tests whether personal integrity can overcome systemic bribery and rot within the precinct, contrasting his upright approach with the compromised law enforcement around him.

  • corruption
  • reform
  • police bribery
  • systemic corruption
  • dragon ma
Q6

What is the Revolution & Loyalty theme about?

This theme explores the tension between Dragon's duty as a Hong Kong cop and his sympathy for revolutionary friends risking everything for national change. The narrative weighs loyalty to duty against loyalty to political ideals, showing how revolutionary ties influence personal allegiance.

  • revolution
  • loyalty
  • sun yat-sen
  • political ideals
  • allegiance
Q7

What does Power, Justice & Betrayal mean in Project A Part II?

This theme examines how those in power exploit legal authority for personal gain. The chase for the black book and various schemes reveal how ambition and deceit compromise justice. Rivalries between inspectors, revolutionaries, and gangsters create a web of betrayals that tests all alliances.

  • power
  • justice
  • betrayal
  • corruption
  • black book
  • conspiracy
Q8

Who are the main antagonists in Project A Part II?

The film features multiple antagonists: Tiger Au is a gangster kingpin running illegal gambling operations; Superintendent Chun collaborates with revolutionaries to trap Dragon through manipulation; and Chief Inspector Tung is a high-ranking official who orders actions against Dragon and the revolutionaries.

  • tiger au
  • superintendent chun
  • chief inspector tung
  • villain
  • antagonist
  • gangster
Q9

What is the tone and genre of Project A Part II?

Project A Part II is an action-comedy with light, comedic tone despite its high-intensity action sequences. The film features Jackie Chan's signature slapstick and martial arts, blending heroic genre conventions with fast-paced combat and silly heroics. The ending follows happy genre conventions where the protagonist overcomes all obstacles.

  • action comedy
  • genre
  • tone
  • slapstick
  • martial arts
  • jackie chan
Q10

How does the Chinese revolution factor into the story?

The Chinese revolution led by Sun Yat-sen provides the political backdrop for the film. Revolutionary characters like Carina and Ms. Pak operate within Hong Kong, while imperial authorities and reformers maneuver behind the scenes. Public events like the governor's birthday ball become focal points for political intrigue and undercover revolutionary operations.

  • chinese revolution
  • sun yat-sen
  • imperial china
  • revolutionaries
  • political intrigue
Q11

Who is Ho Chi-Ging in Project A Part II?

Ho Chi-Ging is the one honest policeman at the Sai Wan station who genuinely seeks to uphold the law. He partners with Dragon Ma, providing moral support and practical help in the fight against corruption and criminal networks, serving as Dragon's ally in the corrupt precinct.

  • ho chi-ging
  • honest cop
  • police ally
  • partner
  • good cop

Movie threads

More Movies Like Project A Part II, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Project A Part II tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Chaotic Action Comedy Movies like Project A Part II

Stories where relentless, fast-paced action seamlessly blends with high-energy slapstick humor. If you enjoyed the blend of martial arts and comedy in Project A Part II, you'll love these movies that mix high-intensity action with energetic slapstick. Discover similar films featuring playful heroes, relentless pacing, and a triumphant, happy ending after a whirlwind of chaotic fun.

  • slapstick
  • chaotic
  • energetic
  • playful
  • triumphant
  • relentless
  • Tone: light, playful, triumphant
  • Pacing: fast, relentless, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a resourceful protagonist juggling multiple, converging threats, leading to a non-stop series of clashes and chases. The plot structure is a vehicle for delivering spectacular set pieces where physical prowess and comedic timing are equally important, culminating in a satisfying victory.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a unique and specific balance: a high-intensity, fast-paced action core is consistently lightened by a dominant comedic tone. The emotional weight is kept light, and the experience is prioritized as a joyful, energetic ride over deep drama.

Action Movies About One Hero Against a Corrupt System like Project A Part II

Tales of a lone hero taking on an entire web of corruption and villains single-handedly. Fans of Project A Part II's story of a cop fighting gangsters, pirates, and corrupt officials will enjoy these movies about a lone hero battling a complex web of enemies. Find similar stories of epic heroes, political intrigue, and intense combat where justice prevails through sheer determination.

  • triumphant
  • relentless
  • strategic
  • corrupt
  • heroic
  • underdog
  • Tone: hopeful, tense, triumphant
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a classic 'hero against the world' structure. The protagonist, often an incorruptible figure like a police officer, is thrust into a situation where they cannot trust the system meant to support them. They must navigate a landscape of multiple antagonistic factions, strategically confronting each threat until a final, cathartic resolution.

Why they belong together: These films share a focus on a resilient central character facing a complex but not overly complicated network of adversaries. The appeal lies in the hero's journey of overcoming a seemingly insurmountable challenge through a combination of physical action, clever strategy, and unwavering integrity.

If you liked this

Movies Like Project A Part II

Similar movies to Project A Part II: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Project A Part II (1987) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Project A Part II in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app