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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Millionaire’s Express, The
    Genre:Western

    Reviewed In Issue 28 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Sammo Hung, Yuen Caio, Yukari Oshima, Richard Norton & Cynthia Rothrock

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 1
    Sound Rating: 1
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
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    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Tai Seng Video
    (Catalog Number): 49946
    (MPAA Rating): Not Rated
    (Retail Price): $39.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 107
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): No
    (Theatrical Release): 1986
    (LD Release Date):
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Sammo Hung
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
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    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.54:1

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
    (Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital): No
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Based on the novel by Lee Sau-Man, The Millionaire’s Express, also known as Shanghai Express, is a slapstick western romp with kung-fu kick. The legendary Sammo Hung directs and stars as Chin Fong-Tin, a well-meaning drifter/pimp who returns to his birthplace of Hanshui, only to find it dwindling. In the hopes of revitalizing his village, he devises a plan to derail the Shanghai Express—a train loaded with wealthy passengers. What Chin doesn’t know is that a group of train robbers are also after the train’s treasures, and plan on using Hanshui as an escape route.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The picture, framed at 2.54:1, exhibits poor color fidelity that is greenish in hue throughout all aspects. Fleshtones, interiors and exteriors, including snow, are green; and blacks while deep, are undefined. Images are wanting in sharpness and detail with poor shadow delineation and contrast. Noise and artifacts are apparent. The second line of subtitles cannot be read on widescreen monitors.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The sound is undistinguished mono that sounds compressed and strident with aweful dialogue dubbing.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
    (Aggressive System Surround): No
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): No
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): No
    (Aggressive Split Surround): No
    (Center Back Surround Imaging): No
    (Directionalized Dialogue): No
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    Superb Cinematography:
    Reference LaserDisc:
    Collector Edition: