Shanghai Express

Posted by Robert Fure (robert@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 25, 2007

This upcoming DVD release from Dragon Dynasty repackages the 1986 film that has many names. The name on the box these days is “Shanghai Express” though it has been called, more aptly I think, “The Millionaire’s Express” back in the day. But I digress.

The movie itself has a fairly loose plot and this is revealed through commentary to be due to the fact that there was no script. Not off to a good start. There is a group of conmen who pose as cops and set a fire to loot a town which turns the fire crew into the new police force meanwhile Sammo Hung, having escaped from the Russians in Siberia arrives back at the same town and rebuilds the hotel all while a group of crooks are going to rob a train and on that train are two masters and their sons, a group of Samurai stealing Chinese national treasures, a handful of millionaires and a philandering comedic husband with his comically fat wife and fairly hot mistress. Then the bandits who are a cross between Civil War veterans and the Chinese New Kids on the Block show up. Also Interpol is chasing Sammo Hung. Got it?

Yeah me neither. Plot wise I’m not going to go over that again. I’m going to leave you confused because when you watch this film, you’ll still be confused. But you know what? It doesn’t matter. This movie is silly and entertaining. If you’re a fan of silly cinema and enjoy other releases of this nature, you’ll dig this. I did. It didn’t matter I didn’t really know anyones name.

We get a few great scenes and some fun characters. The town fire scene shows what all that ‘Chinese Fire Drill’ nonsense is about as they attempt to fight fire with little more than rickety ladders and blankets. It’s pretty hilarious. Later we get a fun train ride, a great meeting of punch happy masters and sons. This entire film is leading up to one moment. We only get two or three action peices before we arrive at the Show Down. The rebels have stormed the town and now it’s up for all the other factions to join up and kick some ass. We get Samurai action, chick fighting action, all sorts of action. The last 20 minutes really is pretty sweet.

Technically speaking, the dubbing is ok. It’s not great. There are 2 subtitled tracks, both are comically bad. I had a great time switching between subtitles and dubbing and doing both at once. It’s insane how off they are from each other, but hey, Chinese to English is hard.

If you think you’ll like this film, then you will. If you don’t have much interest in seeing it and you generally don’t watch this type of film, pass on it. But if you want some silly fun and a few quick kicks, go for it.

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