Shanghai Express (Special Collector's Edition)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Biao Yuen, Sammo HungBrand: Genius
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Cantonese (Original Language); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 96 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-05-29
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Weinstein Company
Movie Reviews of Shanghai Express (Special Collector's Edition)
Movie Review: Wacky Kung-Fu comedy for serious HK fans only.
Summary: 4 Stars
This film is a typically wacky caper, more of interest for hardcore fans of The 3 Dragons: Sammo, Yuen Biao, and Jackie Chan. While it features some exceptional fighting in the last reel, any viewer not thoroughly steeped in HK films will have to work pretty hard to make it through the first 2/3rds of the movie.
This movie tosses in everything but the kitchen sink. Slapstick and broad physical comedy is the main focus. The filmmakers just went crazy with all the characters, situations, and plot elements: a Wild West town in China, Samurai, Wong Fei Hung, Confederate soldiers, bank robbers, train robbers, jail breaks, fat jokes, a Madam her and prostitutes, a Keystone Cops-style fire fighting caper with Jackie-Chan-esque stunts, and an enormous cast featuring at least half the actors in Hong Kong (including Lau Kar Leung, Jimmy Wang Yu and Corey Yuen Kwai to name three out of dozens!)--and none of it makes any sense whatsoever. A lot of the humor is less than childish and will simply fall flat on most western audiences, unless you are really sensitized to this particular genre.
A lot of the humor is lost through the subtitle massacre that is perpetrated here. I'm assuming the producers of the DVD simply re-typed in bolder face the original British-mandated subtitles that every HK movie was required to be released with back when the movie was originally made. You'll have to work really hard to even come close to figuring out what the characters are saying, let alone get the jokes.
The plot is almost non-existent, and it doesn't take a genius to guess where it is all headed: a giant battle in which the huge and unwieldy cast comes together to beat the tar out of each other. There is some pretty impressive fighting, including a good showdown between Sammo and Cynthia Rothrock. Unfortunately, this show-stopping melee is over all too quickly, leaving the viewer with an appetite whetted for better movies featuring these same actors.
Why did I give this movie 4 stars then? For the true HK film lover, this movie shouldn't be missed. Just seeing all these actors jammed into the same picture is a treat. You can spot about 50 of the best known film people in Hong Kong at the time, and they seen to be having a blast working together. The fight between Rothrock and Sammo, Biao and Sammo, Richard Norton vs 3 samurai, the Lucky Stars gang pulling their usual pranks, the scene with a young Wong Fei Hung and his dad, are all treasures of a particular time and place and an era of film making history that will always have a very special spot in the hearts of the fans. The extras are very well done, including an illuminating interview with Cynthia Rothrock, and typically fascinating commentary by Bey Logan, which alone is of interest to the fans.
In short, for the hardcore fans of this era of HK movies, this is a worthwhile and highly amusing artifact. For most normal people, I'd think twice before attempting to make sense of this mess!
Summary of Shanghai Express (Special Collector's Edition)
(Martial Arts/Action) A FUN train heist adventure, featuring a cast of martial arts all-stars, about multiple cutthroat gangs plotting to rob the ultimate luxury locomotive and its wealthy passengers.Action & Adventure DVD Video
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