Millionaires' Express (1986)

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!

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.

From start till end you will be entertained! Everything what is happening concerning the Millionaire's 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 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! This movie is more a comedy! There a lot of jokes that are easy to understand 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! In the 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! And this just one of the very funny scenes this movie contains! Also I recognized a parody on Wong Fei Hung (A famous Chinese hero)! 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! "Millionaire's express" delivers on humor and action! One of the best movies made by Sammo Hung!

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.