Millionaires' Express (1986) User Reviews

Funny Eastern

[chrichtonsworld · 8/10 · 10 April 2007]

The Millionaires' Express is something you don't see everyday. In hindsight I would say it's a parody and tribute to the Western genre and old school Kung fu films. It's subtle and over the top at the same time. Like for example the misunderstood hero (Sammo as Chin Fong Tin). He wants nothing more to be with his girlfriend but for some unknown reason can't be with here. It's one of the running gags. Very effective and hilarious when you give it some thought.

From start till end you will be entertained. Everything what is happening concerning the Millionaires' Express is a setup for the grand finale in the last twenty minutes! Somehow Sammo Hung managed to create a western in Chinese setting. Even one character in particular seems to be a parody of Clint Eastwood. A lot is going on in the movie but the real action picks up at the final. If you come in expecting this to be a non stop action film then you might be slightly disappointed. The approach is different. It's more a farce where you get introduced to quite a lot of characters. If you are familiar with Hong Kong films then you will recognize a high number of actors. It's one of those extra elements that increases the viewing experience.

If subtle comedy isn't your thing then fear not. There are a lot of jokes that are easy to understand for everyone because they are very visual. One example is a man who seems to be cheating on his wife. While on the train he visits his mistress by climbing on top of the train and without any problems he walks to the wagon where his mistress is residing. Meanwhile a hoodlum has a lot of difficulties maintaining his balance while he is on top of the train. When the two encounter the adulterer greets him like he is taking a stroll while the hoodlum almost falls off the train. This is just so hilarious especially when you consider how many more excuses this guy has come up with to go from woman to woman.

I also recognized a parody on Wong Fei Hung (a famous Chinese hero). It was easily one of the funniest scenes in the film. Anyhow all the different characters have their objectives and will be put in very funny scenes which will come to a climax in the last twenty minutes. The action is more than wonderful. Yuen Baio and Jang Lee Hwang (Korean martial artist famous for being the villain in "Drunken Master") steal the show! Not to say that all the others weren't great but Yuen Baio and Jang Lee Hwang (one of the samurai) simply stand out. As they show some excellent moves and skill. There are some small sequences with Cynthia Rothrock and Richard Norton but they were too short for my taste. Yukari Oshima plays one of the samurai and does enough to make an impact. Sammo Hung himself also shows off his talent and skills with a lot of finesse.

Millionaires' Express delivers on humor and action. What more do you want? One of the best films Sammo Hung as ever made!

A very funny martial arts action movie.

[iron monkey · 8/10 · 19 July 1999]

This movie was not only action packed but very funny. It has most of the famous Hong Kong action stars in it. If your familiar with this genre then you will recognize most of the stars like Samo Hung and more. The plot was kinda silly but the comedy and action sequences makes up for it and more. It is highly entertaining movie.

A rather enjoyable action comedy...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 20 January 2021]

"The Millionaires Express" from 1986 is a movie that I hadn't even heard about prior to 2021, when I was given the chance to sit down and watch it. And with it being a Hong Kong movie, of course I needed no persuasion to sit down to do so.

I will say that "The Millionaires Express" (aka "Foo gwai lip che") is definitely an archetypical mid-1980s Hong Kong action comedy. So if you have seen movies from the Hong Kong cinema from around that time, then you know what you are in for here. And it should be said that writers Sammo Kam-Bo Hung and Keith Wong definitely delivered a good script, and director Sammo Kam-Bo Hung brought it quite nicely to life on the screen.

The storyline told in "The Millionaires Express" is actually one that grasps multiple storylines and interweaving them nicely together for a wholesome movie. There is the story of the thief stealing from Russians, the story of three robbers, the lawmen of the town, some Kung Fu gangs, and of course the foreign soldiers, to mention a few. While it might seem like quite a handful to handle, it is actually done in a very satisfactory manner.

Now, what really impressed me about "The Millionaires Express" was the impressive ensemble of actors and actresses that were in this movie, which included the likes of Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Biao Yuen, Eric Tsang, Richard Ng, Wah Yuen, Kenny Bee and Rosamund Kwan, to mention but the most recognizable of faces and names, if you are familiar with the Hong Kong cinema.

"The Millionaires Express" is a good combination of story, action and interesting characters, and it is nicely spruced up with a good amount of comedy as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and it was definitely a nice surprise of a movie. And it is a movie that I will warmly recommend that you sit down to watch, if you find yourself given the chance.

My rating of the 1986 movie "The Millionaires Express" is a six out of ten stars.

Silly, campy, amazing stunts, just bizarre

[dubnut · 2 August 2000]

This film would sit comfortably next to A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, The Great Train Robbery, every other Jackie Chan/Sammo flick, and then some. It's not as funny as it could be (the dubbed version, that is), but aside from that I have no complaints.

There is no time to develop character traits (aside from a few cliches), but this is a slapstick so that shouldn't really be expected. If you are familiar with the slapstick-martial arts genre, or if you simply love bizarre, zany movies, then I recommend it. If you're looking for a substantial plot with lots of characterization, find something else to curl up on the couch to.

It is exactly what it proclaims to be, a madcap Kung Fu western. But I doubt if you'll ever see a man jump without safety mats from a 4-story building (on fire, I might add) in any other film. Wow.

Fairly good, with a great action finale

[Jeremy_Urquhart · 7/10 · 14 July 2023]

The Millionaires' Express is a Western, a comedy, and a martial arts movie rolled into one, but it mostly just uses the first of those for its setting. I think it's largely a comedy with some brief action scenes/stunts thrown in for good measure throughout, and then it goes for broke with the martial arts stuff in the last 15 minutes. When it's focusing on martial arts, it's at its strongest, because the whole finale is really top-notch stuff. It did also make me wish there'd been at least one more big martial arts-heavy sequence, but at least the quality was good, even if the quantity left me hungry for more.

It may also have a few too many characters, being about various groups of people (mostly shady folks/robbers) who all end up in the same town, with the train alluded to in the title not playing quite as big a role as I expected. It made me sad at first, but then what the movie ended up being - and where it ended up having most of its action - still ended up being satisfying, so it wasn't all a loss.

Like a number of Hong Kong action comedies, I did feel like the comedic stuff was more hit-or-miss, but thankfully there were hits, and not too many misses. It was a fun time - not among the very best martial arts movies of this era, but also far from one of the worst (and there are others where the action's good, but the comedy does nothing but miss).

Simple fun slapstick entertainment

[Twinrehz · 7/10 · 29 July 2023]

Perhaps one of the more absurd Hong Kong comedies I've seen, but still an amusing watch. The story is somewhat weak, but is still able to carry the movie's runtime, it doesn't feel overly padded or seem like it's stalling for time, except perhaps for the social commentary in the start that is mainly to introduce the female protagonist cast. Luckily it doesn't stray too much into awkward romance that some of these movies tend to lean on, and the amount of second-hand embarrassment is fairly low, although it does play on quite a few tropes regarding the cheating husband trying to constantly sneak out on his wife in every situation he can think of, but it's fairly humorously played by Richard Ng.

The fight scenes are some of the more intense I've seen, but only really gets to play out in a satisfying fashion towards the end. Funny slapstick and serious punching action blends quite elegantly, and the comedy is well executed.

The type of comedy is reminiscent of Mel Brooks, at times juvenile but not so childish that it turns unfunny, although there are some themes that would simply not fly in movie production today, such as a few jokes about being intellectually disabled. The fight scenes are punchy, although I personally am not a huge fan of the slow motion-shots, of which there's quite a few. If you're able to overlook some shortcomings and are looking for a simple comedy, it's a movie that'll entertain you.

Crazy Brilliant!

[JinxsterJones · 10/10 · 30 December 2002]

It's a crazy movie, but awesome all the same. It's an incredibly visual story. The first time I saw it was a Cantonese version with no subtitles, but I still followed the whole story. The humour is also very visual and very funny! However, the stand out moment, ignoring the awesome battles running through the film, has to be Yuen Biao's flip from the top of a burning building. If you watch this film for no other reason, you have to see one of the greatest stunts ever committed to celluloid. Simple yet MAD! For fight fans there's the added bonus of seeing some of the all time greats of Far East Cinema battle it out on screen! SEE THIS MOVIE NOW!

One of the funnies films!

[editajan · 10/10 · 23 March 2008]

The "Wealthy train" aka "Millionaire's express" looks like an action film. But strangely each and every moment that in a normal action film would have been dramatic here turns into a farce. It has all necessary elements of a classical western, only things happen in China. The fighting stuff is really well done, only instead of tension it brings another occasion to smile. It is extremely rich in characters and situations. One could say overcharged. But most of these situations are illogical: I mean, if it were true, it would never happen, at least it would not happen this way... But it doesn't matter. Do not look for any logical explanations, the film is not about that. In fact it is a parody. And a good one. People who created this film gave a free course to imagination, and the audience is invited to do the same thing. It's like a game: recognize all moments which usually are presented so seriously in many action films (and are supposed to thrill us!) and see how ridiculous they often are. "Wealthy train" is one of those films that never becomes outdated. It will be appreciated by everyone who is able not to take himself too seriously. Watch it when you want to relax, cheer yourself up and just have fun!

A boring mess

[TheOneThatYouWanted · 1/10 · 14 September 2020]

What a snoozer! Not even the karate/Kung-fu action is directed worth a da%m! Skip it! Don't be fooled by the high ranking. I am guessing most of the people who reviewed it on here probably watched it when they were much, much younger.

Genre bender...

[poe426 · 9/10 · 13 August 2011]

Long before movies like SUKYAKI WESTERN DJANGO or THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE WEIRD, there was Sammo Hung's SHANGHAI EXPRESS. While both of the aforementioned movies definitely have their fair share of memorable moments, SHANGHAI EXPRESS tops them both (in my own, ever humble opinion) by virtue of its sheer diversity. There are, first and foremost, the unbelievable stunts (some of which would make Jackie Chan himself green with envy, I'd wager): at one point, Yuen Biao does a roundoff off the top of a two story building (falling about THREE stories in the process), jumps up when he lands, then runs out of frame- all in a single take. Another player does a similar jump from the top of a building later in the movie- again, in a single take and, again, jumping up to run out of the shot as did Biao. Sammo himself, sporting a kind of mullet haircut, engages Biao in a spectacular if brief slugfest at a train station. Cynthia Rothrock, in a very small but memorable part, also goes toe to toe with Sammo in a particularly brutal fight scene. My favorite moment, by far, has to be Kurata's fight with Richard Norton: when Norton nails him at one point, Kurata begins a Chaplinesque, leaning-tower-of-Piza stagger around Norton, circling stubbornly and refusing to fall. If you're a Charlie Chaplin fan (and who isn't?), you'll appreciate both the homage and the sheer craziness of the scene. In fact, there are several sequences (in particular a laugh-out-loud train sequence, with one guy roped and tied running alongside the train) that are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Hung mines comedy gold with SHANGHAI EXPRESS.

Another bad movie from Sammo..

[daisukereds · 2/10 · 5 July 2020]

Even for this era, this is not a good movie.. and like most of its type, the action is the only thing you can expect to be decent. The plot is fairly straightforward in summary, but it is a mess in execution.

There are too many non-important characters and inconsequential situations, that you can't really root for anyone or care for the results of anyone's actions. It's a mess and that makes it boring. A mixture of "cool scenes" don't make a movie.

The Japanese are probably the best characters (few lines of dialogue and a sense of mystery).. along with the Kung-Fu masters in the train with their disciples. But that is exactly what you can expect.. to MAYBE get a good 5 minutes out of this garbage. Can't recommend this, even if Cynthia Rothrock is in it.

Entertaining From Beginning To End

[coconutkungfu-30704 · 10/10 · 19 February 2020]

Star-studded spectacular that is an absolute joy to watch for any fan of HK action cinema. This movie is filled with fun and excitement. Another Sammo masterpiece.

10 out of 10.

Spectacular Chinese Western-style film with an all-star cast!

[OllieSuave-007 · 10/10 · 6 August 2014]

This is a one-of-a-kind Hong Kong movie filmed in the Western style and directed my martial arts great Sammo Hung, where he brought in an all-star cast including Hung himself, Yuen Biao, Eric Tsang, Richard Ng, Lydia Sum, Kenny Bee, Lam Ching Ying, Wah Yuen, Corey Yuen and Rosamund Kwan. It's a story where Ching Fong-Tin (Sammo Hung) tries to makes amends for his past by attempting to return wealth and prosperity to his hometown. In doing so, he plans to stall an express train full of wealthy passengers in hopes they will lodge at his town and spend money on its amenities. Meanwhile, a group of mountain bandits wants to rob the train, where three samurais in possession of a treasure scroll are on board.

It is an action-packed film from start to finish that will give you pure fun and excitement - a film that has just about everything in it: comedy, adventure, martial arts, romance and drama. Each of the characters has his/her own unique charm, development and relevance in the movie that makes him/her stand out in the story. Hung took great care in directing that made every one of the many characters important, inserting humor and drama where appropriate and creating fun and interesting subplots (like the town's renegade security officers attempting to rob the train; Richard Ng's character's silly love affair; the rival between legendary martial artists Master Wong and Master Shek) while not swaying away from the main point of the story. He keeps the plot going at a fast pace and makes every scene captivating, leaving no room for boring fillers.

The special and visual effects are realistic and believable and the script is an awesome piece of work - it makes you feel you are along the wild adventure and just having fun with the ride. The music score by Anders Nelsson, Alastair Monteith-Hodge and Chin Yung Shing is very catchy and dynamic, filming location is breath-taking and the acting was spot-on. There are some silly and goofy moments from some of the cast members, but it is not done overboard.

With such a large cast and an exciting story, I just wished that the movie was made a little longer to have more time to accommodate the actors and action sequences. But overall, it is one of the best movies I have seen come out of Hong Kong and certainly one that is highly recommended if you are a fan of wild Hong Kong Cinema. If you are not, it is still a great movie to watch for the casual viewers!

Grade A

I'm confused

[JohnSeal · 4/10 · 20 November 1999]

Maybe I don't know enough about HK cinema to get all the in jokes and references, or maybe I just didn't pay close enough attention, but I was thoroughly confused by this bizarre action comedy that seems to be set in an Old West town located in China. The cinematography is fine (particularly the train sequences) and the martial arts are predictably excellent. But the dubbing is atrocious (not too mention insulting) and the cast of character so vast I couldn't keep track of everyone. Sammo Hung is good, but he's used his comedic talent to much greater effect in other stuff like Wheels on Meals. Only for the HK hardcore.

Solid Hong Kong comedy antics topped by an incredible fight action climax

[Leofwine_draca · 9/10 · 28 August 2016]

This kung fu epic has a simple enough storyline – it's one of those old East-meets-West stories again, as myriad characters including Japanese, bandits, bank robbers, police, prostitutes, and fugitives meet up in a border town in the early 20th century. Its strength lies in the cast, which manages to round up just about every Hong Kong star of the 1980s (with the notable exception of Jackie Chan) and throws them into a fast-moving plot that'll quickly have you head scratching. After Hung battles various villains against a snowy backdrop in the film's bravura opening sequences, the action winds down for an hour while we take in some typical Chinese comedy, in a small run-down town and on board a steam train. The laughs come thick and fast and many are of the bizarre type that we know and love from the films made by Hung, Chan, and Biao during this decade. My favourite is the "everyone hides in a room" joke that seemingly turns up in every film in this genre, most notably in PROJECT A PART II as well.

The film's best bit is undoubtedly the twenty-minute finale, in which all of the fighters finally come together in a massive brawl between town folk and bandits. There's stunt work aplenty, tons of smashing scenery, and Biao performing some of his best high-flying manoeuvres. His jump from a burning building is undoubtedly impressive, but for me this is topped by his spin off the balcony at the film's climax. The cast is evenly matched with comedians like Eric Tsang (as a convict) and Richard Ng (as a Lothario) on one side and top-notch fighters like Cynthia Rothrock and Richard Norton (complete with "Painful?" catchphrase) on the other. Biao goes hand to hand with super villain Dick Wei in one bone-smashing encounter while top kicker Hwang Jang Lee pops up to create some samurai carnage. The rest of the cast is packed with familiar faces including Yuen Wah, Lam Ching Ying, Wang Lung Wei, Yukari Oshima, and Bolo Yeung who all do their bit. One standout is Sammo's run-in with Cynthia Rothrock which is brief but brutal. All in all the finale livens an otherwise good film, turning it into a minor masterpiece with one of the best martial arts endings of all time!

Go Home To Mommy?

[saint_brett · 5/10 · 10 November 2022]

Somewhere in Alaska, in the tradition of 'Death Hunt,' North Korean president Kim Jong-un is riding horseback and steals gold nuggets off a dead Russian army. They raise from the grave and he's captured and humiliated with a mop wig and turned into a New Zealand hula girl and made to dance for the dead army.

China's answer to Eastwood arrives and captures Lady Boy-un. They frolic and roll around in the snow until it builds momentum and morphs into a big CGI snowball.

Mr. Miyagi, code name Spider-Man, leaps from a tall tree and takes down Eastwood. (It sounded like Miyagi.)

If you look hard at the start Cynthia Rothrock appears on a horse. Now, I personally questioned her in a mall about this movie not being available in the video stores back in '93 and she informed me to find it at your local Chinatown area. (I bought it online in 2019.) We had our picture taken that night and years later I'd tell anyone online who'd listen that she was my dead wife. That's my claim to Hollywood.

Time out! Time! Sorry to make a teaching lesson out of this, but whoever translated the English subtitles needs making an example out of. And they must never work in the translation business ever again. Here are a few examples.

Don't you want me to owe you all my life?

Don't you have the gut to do that, do you?

Excepting my mom I have slept with all women I know.

Can you keep my dream alive, can't you?

Don't worry, I don't prefer old women.

Go home for some sleep.

IF THIS MOVIE'S INTENTION WAS TO OFFEND ME, THEN IT'S SUCCEDED IN ONLY 14-MINUTES!

That whole scene needs a reshuffle and filmed again.

It's some kind of slapstick comedy and not a serious kung fu movie.

Hang on! Did that really just happen at the 15:20-minute mark? A 400-pound fire dragon woman is ablaze and forced to leap from a fourth story floor and into the awaiting arms of the trampoline bug catchers down below and they let her fall to the ground face first? Hmm.

So, this is China's answer to humor, eh?

This guy's 10ft tall.

"Don't play with the chicken otherwise it'll expose your identity." What does that mean?

Karl Malden is on a train with his son and punches his cabin mates when they go through a dark tunnel.

'Pink Panther-type' sleuth music. Benny Hill stupidity. Subtitles that go way too fast and are riddled with blatant errors, which I find highly offensive.

Captain, I have been followed him closely.

THESE SUBTITLES DARE OFFEND ME WITH POOR GRAMMAR! TO SUBJECT ME TO SOMEBODY ELSE'S POOR SCHOOLING IS TO BRING ME TO THEIR LEVELS!

A man on a PeeWee 50 that sounds like a Ferrari when revved?

THIS MOVIE WANTS TO VIOLATE MY INTELLIGENCE IN MY OWN ROOM?

I don't believe I can't manage it.

THIS IS INTENTIONAL.

There's a good fight scene at a train station and this guy moves fast for a big guy... and manages to maintain wearing his glasses the entire time.

Movie's about a silly train heist - 'Solo' - and filled with different segment skits that don't seem to run concurrently with the main theme.

I swear I can hear snippets of Mr. Miyagi's voice at times.

Wow - this run home to momma prison scene is award winning. My God.

Whoops, here we go again!

Don't be so hidden bitterness.

What is the reason of being so hesitated?

WHOEVER TRANSLATED THESE SUBTITLES WAS PAID FOR DOING SO! THEY ACCEPTED CASH IN RETURN FOR INCOMPETENCE!

The end fight scenes by all involved are awesome. This ninja lady in the blue is ultra-impressive with her moves.

Why wasn't the rest of the movie this good?

They ambled along for three-quarters of the movie trying to be funny, with lame comedy skits, then it kicks into gear when it's all over and only gets serious with proper fighting drama at the end before the credits roll? The ending of this doesn't belong to the rest of the movie. That was some serious fighting that belonged in another movie. Very, very, impressive how a lot of these fighters moved at the end. The ending deserved better than the rest of it.

The Hong Kong answer to "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"

[cauwboy · 10/10 · 11 June 2020]

Going into this film, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew what that it starred Sammo Hung, that there was a fight with Cynthia Rothrock... and that's about it. I admit that the opening for this film is very strange, Sammo as a simple thief, fighting russians in a snow landscape and being hunted by a bounty hunter, I guess. But after this introduction the plot starts to build more and more...

... we get introduced to the main bad guy played by Paul Chang Chung (who we recognize from earlier Jackie Chan films) planning to rob a train and steal something valuable. And then there's Eric Tsang as the leader of a robber gang, followed by his stupid henchmen (one of them played by Ching-Ying Lam) and this is where I was starting to realize that this film had some famous actors in it. Little did I know that the next introduction was no other than Yuen Biao as a fireman turned police chief in the little town where everything more or less ends up taking place. Some great stunts during a town on fire while the bank robbery take place. Luckily Yuen Biao and his firemen manage to catch two of the robbers which ends up being Hoi Mang and Wu Ma, and now I know for sure that this is a film just filled with candy for an avid Hong Kong action film watcher as me. With the introduction of the train that's headed towards the town, we get introduced to Richard Ng, Billy Lau and two rivaling Kung Fu Masters (Jimmy Wang Yu and Kien Shih) I had pretty much given up keeping count by now, this film just knocked me out with surprise after surprise of cameos and supportive roles.

I complained with previous HK films that they looked like different gags and fight scenes being filmed and then edited together into a full-length film, this feel like a proper film, most of the plots of all the various characters in the film getting linked together at the end and I couldn't really believe how we would be able to fit all of this into a 90 minutes long film.

70 minutes into the film the third act kicks in and we get multiple fights in various styles between all kinds of characters, including Cynthia Rothrock and Richard Norton, it's pretty fantastic how they could press so much content into the last 20 minutes and you would really need to see it more than once to follow along and appreciate all of the fights. And really, for a film I gave 10 out of 10 stars, how could I even complain about anything? Well, with a cast and story like this, it really should've been 30-60 minutes longer, many of the side characters got cut off pretty quickly or got forgotten at the end. But I was never bored at any time through the film and I laughed out loud multiple times during the film and I see no other reason than giving this 10 stars - it's really an action comedy western rollercoaster of a film - just crazy fun fantastic.

More gold from Sammo

[gorytus-20672 · 9/10 · 4 August 2021]

Aug 21

Millionaires Express arguably the most star studded hong kong film ever, Jackie Chan is really the only one missing.

Everybody is a well known actor regardless of how small the part, plus we even get the likes of Cynthia Rothrock and Richard Norton too.

Its got action and its got comedy and its got some breathtaking martial arts.

This film was very expensive to make for a HK film of this time, but it was worth it.

9ish out of 10.

I loved this!

[BandSAboutMovies · 8/10 · 8 February 2023]

Starting in Russia, we meet Ching Fong-tin (Sammo Hung, who directed and wrote this), who gets caught by Russian soldiers as he steals from them. They make him strip and dance for them, but then he throws their grenades into their cabin and blows them all up real good.

Ching's hometown of Hon Sui Town doesn't have the same luck that he does. Banks are being robbed and set on fire as everyone struggles to keep it together. But what if that new train that's coming through town, filled with rich politicians and merchants, and if he works to derail it, everyone will have to spend their money and keep Hon Sui Town alive. And by that, I mean that he's starting a new brothel and plans on getting rich. Yuen Biao is the fire chief, while Hwang Jang-lee, Yasuaki Kurata and Yukari Oshima are a trio of samurai with a map to the grave of the terracotta warriors and Richard Norton and Cynthia Rothrock show up as bandits dressed like U. S. calvary officers out to rob everyone on the train.

These are just facts. The reason to watch this is that it's absolutely packed with action, like Sammo Hung found it his mission in life to entertain you and got everyone else on the same page and they were all like, "Let's make the wildest Eastern Western movie of all time." Then they called Bolo Yeung, Shih Kien from Enter the Dragon. Is that enough? Well, what if they got Jimmy Wang Yu and he was like, "Remember how awesome I was in One-Armed Boxer and Master of the Flying Guillotine and pretty much popularized unarmed combat? I'm here too!"

It also has a moment where Yuen Biao jumps out of a burning building two stories to the ground below and the camera never cuts as he starts delivering dialogue despite the fact that this stunt broke his leg. This kind of entertainment is dangerous, as in one scene, Hung kicked Biao Yuen so hard in the chest that the actor couldn't breathe until he got assistance from Kar Lok Chin.

Super western-flavored Hong Kong action-comedy

[I_Ailurophile · 8/10 · 26 May 2022]

Hong Kong martial arts flicks come in a few different flavors. Most fall into one of three categories, either being fairly straightforward action, a blend of action and comedy - or in some instances, so abjectly playful as to be more than a little cartoonish. 'Millionaires' Express,' also known as 'Shanghai Express,' generally counts among the latter. Inherent in the scene writing, this tone is amplified by flourishes including basic special effects and sped up footage. This is no especial mark against the feature - and I should say, it is a good bit of fun - but viewers should be aware of what they're getting into. More substantially trying on one's patience is storytelling and sequencing that feels notably scattered. There are multiple narrative threads that slowly converge leading into the third act, but they are presented in a manner that makes it feel far too much for the first two-thirds of the length as though they're totally disconnected, even as we know they're not. It's a credit to filmmaker Sammo Hung - writer, director, and star - that all the ideas do mesh together, but it's a fit that's a little uneven and marginally unconvincing, and it's not until the very climax that the whole meaningfully crystallizes.

It's a long walk to get to the utmost value of 'Millionaires' Express,' and sometimes it's fair to ponder what one has committed to watching. Still, for all the silliness, disparate story beats, and a large cast of characters, there's a great deal to enjoy here. Most immediately, a cavalcade of roles means lots of faces to fill them, and there are a lot of very recognizable names in the ensemble. Everyone joyfully leans into the varied personalities of their parts and does well to help bring the wild tale to life. Very importantly, that means a gleeful abundance of stunts as martial arts and otherwise action accompany much of the narrative. It's not until the climax that we're treated to absolute bombast in which fight sequences dominate, but it's utterly fantastic and does much to make up for any subjective prior shortcomings. And every little instance that we get along the way, if smaller in scope, is just as swell.

Meanwhile, from a technical standpoint - and where production design and art direction are concerned - 'Millionaires' Express' is outstanding. Arthur Wong's cinematography is sharp and crisp, and aside from post-production visuals, the practical effects are terrific. Fabulous set design and decoration, costume design, and hair and makeup work all contribute to a wonderful presentation that helps to truly transport the viewer to another time and place. Hung illustrates a keen eye for shot composition, and the orchestration of every scene as we see it is superb. Everything about the movie looks and sounds excellent. It's a tad regrettable that the writing doesn't quite keep up. It's not that Hung's screenplay is bad - far from it! Assessed piece by piece, the characters are incredibly varied, dialogue is clever, scene writing is robust, and the overall narrative is engaging and amusingly compelling. The chief fault here is just that the connective tissue between all the ideas herein isn't entirely as strong as it could or should be.

I think my words have been fairly critical here, so I need to repeat - I very much like this film. I have no regrets about watching it, and perhaps more to the point, no regrets about buying it, sights unseen, so I could watch it. I have a sense that viewers who are still more accustomed to the styles of Hong Kong cinema may see what I've opined and think I'm off my rocker; that may well be. All the same, I maintain that a bit more carefulness in the writing and sequencing would have strengthened the picture even more. But after all, maybe I'm nitpicking: it's fun, it's funny, it has action, it has comedy, and if imperfectly, it blends genres and ideas together into a single feature that's satisfying and entertaining when all is said and done. Save for diehard fans of Hong Kong films, or someone in the cast or crew, this isn't necessarily a movie one needs to go out of their way to see - but if you have the chance, 'Millionaires' Express' is definitely rather worthwhile, and a solid way to spend 100 minutes.

Epic Hong Kong western/comedy/action

[dworldeater · 8/10 · 2 May 2023]

The Millionaires Express is a big budget Sammo Hung Hong Kong production with a all star international cast. This is a martial arts comedy that if you seen a few movies from Sammo Hung that you will be familiar with the style. However, this is a western styled film taking place in China. The costumes and sets pay homage to The American West and the sets look amazing with awesome camerawork. The stunts and the fight choreography are master class with Sammo on top of his game as director, actor and fight choreography. His brother from The Chinese Opera Yuen Biao is also here as well as Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton, Eric Tsang, Rosamond Kwan as well as lots of other familiar faces if you are familiar with HK films of this period. Millionaire's Express is action excellence and blows away much of what passes as action today. This is a fine example of how action should be done.

Millionaire's Express is filled with positives and essentially no negatives.

[tarbosh22000 · 23 April 2015]

Hijinks ensue when a colorful cast of characters converge upon a newly-built train, and each has their own motives to use the train to potentially get money for themselves or their respective towns.

We've always been Sammo Hung fans, and here he turns in a high-energy, upbeat and lovable movie filled with humor, stunts, action, and overall wackiness. It truly is an "Eastern Western" as Hung crafted an homage to Sergio Leone and his Spaghetti Western ilk. But he interjected his own flavor and style to it all, and the Buster Keaton influence is clearly evident as well. The whole outing is very well-shot and has a professional sheen. Everything from the costumes to the sets were done lovingly, and audiences can't help but respond positively to everything they're seeing.

While fans of Hong Kong filmmaking are bound to see familiar faces in the cast, interestingly, this movie is the first team-up of Cynthia Rothrock and Richard Norton. So there's some trivia for you. While they also starred together in The Magic Crystal (1986) the same year as Millionaire's Express, this is credited as their first outing together. Both of their names in the movie are simply "Bandit". We would have liked more screen time from both of them, but that's how it is in these ensemble pieces. There's not enough time for everyone - though Sammo clearly recognized Rothrock's potential. Even though this is only her third-ever movie, she gets a really cool fight scene with Sammo himself. Their fight together is a movie highlight in an already enjoyable romp.

While it may seem that there are certain stretches in the film where Martial Arts isn't the main focus (unless you count two brawling, pint-sized kids who use a technique called "Stealing Peaches") - just you wait until the final brawl. Sammo pulls out all the stops and it's extremely entertaining. Yet another memorable Golden Harvest production, Millionaire's Express is filled with positives and essentially no negatives. If you get a chance to see it, see it.