Millionaire’s Express (1986)

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Millionaire’s Express (1986)

Another all-star Sammo Hung adventure, not as well crafted as his other classics yet perfectly pleasing enough. A cast of hundreds make this one a little tricky to follow. It’s a Hong Kong take on the runaway train movie complete with western trademarks – robbers, hookers, even a dusty makeshift town located in the back of beyond (the outtakes show the set’s big budget construction and subsequent demolition).

Comedy sub plots clash as the Millionaire’s Express is grounded on its maiden voyage, causing its passengers of crafty criminals, thieving officials and sword fighting Samurais to seek refuge at the local town, …

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Profile: Cynthia Rothrock

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Profile: Cynthia Rothrock

Full name: Cynthia Ann Christine Rothrock

Date of birth: 8 March, 1957 (Wilmington, Delaware)

Chinese name: Law Fu-lok

Occupation: Actor, producer, martial arts instructor

Style: Tang Soo Do, taekwondo, Eagle Claw kung fu, wushu, Northern Shaolin, Pai Lum kung fu, tai chi.

Biography: Regarded as the ‘Queen of Martial Arts Movies’, Rothrock has starred in over 50 films. She is a martial arts instructor, five-time undefeated World Karate Champion in forms and weapons (between 1981 to 1985) and owner of six black belts.

Rothrock began her martial arts training at the age of 13, learning the Korean style of Tang Soo Do in Scranton, Pennsylvania, before learning …

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Yes, Madam! (1985)

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Yes, Madam! (1985)

Michelle Yeoh’s starring-role debut sees the former Miss Malaysia play a buttoned-up, straight-laced HK cop in sassy 80s hair and makeup, concealing gun holsters behind high-collar jackets and harem pants. She is soon supported by London’s top agent, Cynthia Rothrock, recruited from Scotland Yard with a remarkable fluency in Cantonese, to help Yeoh crack a case involving cheery criminal James Tien who is in hot pursuit of a microfilm displaying evidence of forged real estate documents. Meanwhile, the film is in the unfortunate possession of three buffoonish petty thieves: Panadol (Tsui Hark), Strepsil (John Sham) and Aspirin (Mang Hoi), whose …

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Interview: Cynthia Rothrock

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Interview: Cynthia Rothrock

The original ‘blonde fury’ talks about motherhood, martial arts and returning to the movies after an absence of seven years.

After a break of seven years, Cynthia Rothrock is planning her comeback. With a movie in development and two more scheduled for 2012, martial art cinema’s leading femme fatale looks set to resume her head-kicking duties. Now 54, Rothrock has settled into a role of simple, if hectic, Californian domesticity, voluntarily entering a state of semi-retirement to single-handedly raise her daughter and run her own martial arts seminars. “I juggle a lot,” she tells me over email. “Single Mom, movies, seminars, …

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Enter the Fat Dragon (1978)

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Enter the Fat Dragon (1978)

Sammo Hung’s heartfelt homage to Bruce Lee is a scatterbrained triumph – as equally absurd as it is endearing and packed with some great fight sequences. Sammo (who worked with Bruce Lee on Enter the Dragon) was more qualified than most to carry on the mantle of the fallen star, rather than the majority of imitators that actually followed – even if Sammo’s burly frame and slapstick persona betrayed an extreme athleticism and skill for Lee-like mimicry. In his second feature as director, Sammo channels his passion for his idol through the humble, childlike and (seemingly) autobiographical character of a …

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