Millionaires' Express

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.

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.

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!

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!

It's pretty common for Hong Kong comedies of a certain era to also contain some of the best martial arts action ever put to film. Can you imagine if an American comedy did that? American movies tend to be too concerned with staying within one genre, afraid to be goofy if they want to be taken seriously. Hong Kong movies don't have that problem, and the theoretically jarring yet actually satisfying balance between silly hijinks and deadly fights is practically the beating heart of its filmmaking industry.

'The Millionaires' Express (1986)' is, first and foremost, a madcap comedy, and it's also, first and foremost, genuinely funny. It may not provoke many belly laughs, but it almost constantly provokes chuckles with its distinct blend of slapstick physical humour and fast-paced verbal wit. Sprinkled in and amongst the laughter are several jaw-dropping stunts that essentially feel like what would happen if 'Looney Tunes' was live action, prat falls off multi-story buildings and casual strolls along the roof of a moving train. It's a wonder nobody died when making this (as far as I'm aware), and the number of injuries that were sustained by the cast and crew seem to pale in comparison to what logic would suggest they ought to have suffered. That's not even taking into account the fight scenes, which infrequently pepper the first two thirds before fully taking over the final act and transforming the feature into a certified action extravaganza. As is often the case with these kinds of movie, the last movement is where things really go off the rails. With some entries in the genre, the likelihood this is going to happen is the only real thing that keeps you watching during the earlier segments; thankfully, that isn't the case with this one. The feature is a lot of fun before its climax knocks your socks off, even if its plot is a bit all over the place until it coalesces for its final confrontation.

In essence, the affair is formatted as a series of loosely connected skits starring a variety of quirky characters (only some of whom become more significant as the narrative proceeds) before it then brings its disparate elements together into a single sprawling set-piece that sees its various players pull together to defend a town from a gang of criminals. While the picture can be a little disorienting at first due to the decisive lack of connective tissue between some of its scenes, it eventually becomes clear what it's doing. Everything falls into place by the time the last movement is about to occur, and the flick becomes much more focused as it prepares to pull you to the edge of your seat with its mighty martial arts. Yuen Biao does some absolutely spectacular acrobatics during his fights, with most of them inspiring genuine gasps of disbelief when they occur. Sammo Hung's notorious hard hits can be clearly seen on screen, Cynthia Rothrock's trademark high kicks make an impression, and Yukari Oshima suavely slices her way through plenty of opponents. There are many other cameos, far too many to name here, and it turns the piece into a veritable who's who of Kung Fu that's delightful to witness.

Ultimately, this is a really solid martial arts movie. Despite one or two dodgy jokes that haven't aged well, the affair is surprisingly funny. While entirely unafraid to amuse with silly antics, it's also really eager to impress with spectacular set-pieces. The action is amazing, making use of its all-star cast and Hung's playful yet confident direction to truly entertain every time it occurs. There's even a fight between two little kids who can throw down better than many adults. Although its story is a little confusing at first and it lacks any real theming, the film remains enjoyable from start to finish. It's really good.