It’s a shame Sammo Hung never received a fair shake from Western audiences. From 1998 to 2000, he headlined the CBS series Martial Law which was a surprise success when it debuted. The show was a blast for most of its run but became somewhat uneven during the second season, which was one of the reasons Hung cited for its eventual cancelation. He spoke very little English yet managed to capture audiences with his indescribable athleticism for a man of his stature. He did very little else in the United States and never enjoyed the success of his schoolmate Jackie Chan. Regardless, he delivered some terrific films in Hong Kong as an actor, fight choreographer, and director. One such film is Millionaires’ Express which he wrote, directed, and starred in with an international cast of performers. Arrow Video is bringing the film to Blu-ray in a wonderful two-disc set.
Ching Fong Tin (Sammo Hung) is a bit of a con man, and he’s devised a plan to open a brothel in the small town of Han Shui, a place where nothing much happens. There’s a train about to be derailed, and there will be some hungry men hoping to find themselves in the warm embrace of a woman.
On the same train, there’s a Japanese ambassador who is in possession of a map of the Terracotta Army. A group of people is waiting to steal the map for their gang. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a bank robbery happening in Han Shui as well, so all these people with their own plans will converge on this small town at the same time. There’s only one outcome that could possibly come of this, and one thing is sure: all hell will break loose.
The only films I can think of to compare Millionaires’ Express (also known as Shanghai Express) would be The Cannonball Run or Rat Race, mainly because it has a massive cast that’s just thrown together. The cast includes Hong Kong superstars like Hung, Yuen Biao, Richard Ng, Rosamund Kwan, Yuen Wah, Bolo Yueng, Lau Kar-wing, and many more. There’s also the blonde fury herself, Cynthia Rothrock, and Australian legend Richard Norton.
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The film is filled with politically incorrect humor that will have you either laughing out loud or cringing in your chair. When the action takes center stage, it’s lightning-quick, expertly choreographed, and has some genuinely insane stunt work. Despite a goofy, convoluted plot, it all works, and you find yourself having a terrific time.
This set is pretty terrific since it contains not one, not two, not even three, but four different film cuts. They’re not distinctly different, but there are several notable differences. There’s a composite cut, “The Hybrid Cut,” that includes everything from the other three cuts making it the most complete version available. In addition to the multiple versions, there are interviews with Cynthia Rothrock, Yuen Biao, and Yukari Oshima, trailers, alternate opening titles, and more.
The limited edition version of the film comes with that second disc with two of the alternate versions, so I wouldn’t drag your feet too long when it comes to picking this up. The picture and sound are wonderful. Seeing those action scenes in such a vibrant and crisp image is something to behold. I love this film, and this is the set fans have been waiting for.