Winners and Sinners (Wu fu xing): Special Collector's Edition (1983)

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General		Extras
Category	Action Comedy	Audio Commentary-Hong Hong Film Expert Bey Logan Trailer-UK Promotional Trailer / Original Theatrical Trailer Interviews-Cast & Crew-Teapot Tango - Director/Star Sammo Hung Featurette-The Man Behind The Legend - Reflections on Sammo Hung Trailer-Hong Kong Legends Trailers
Rating
Year Of Production	1983
Running Time	104:09
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Sammo Hung
Studio Distributor	Contender Ent Group Universal Pictures Home Video	Starring	Sammo Hung John Sham Richard Ng Charlie Chin Shui-Fan Fung Cherie Chung Jackie Chan Philip Chan James Tien Paul Chang Pat Ha
Case	?
RPI	$29.95	Music	None Given

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1 (384Kb/s) English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.75:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	Yes, A big cigar for the bad guy
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Also known as Five Lucky Stars, Winners & Sinners is a very funny action comedy from prolific director and leading man Sammo Hung. While some of the jokes may be lost on non-Cantonese speakers, for the most part Winners & Sinners relies upon physical comedy that easily translates across cultures. Winners & Sinners revolves around five petty criminals who meet in prison. They are a diverse, quirky group to say the least. Vaseline (Charlie Chin) is a suave con man, Teapot (Sammo Hung) is the fat dumb one, Exhaust Pipe (Richard Ng) is totally eccentric, Curley (John Sham) is manic with frizzy hair and Larry (Stanley Fung) is the straight man (The Three Stooges references are deliberate). When they are released from prison they start to live together and establish the Five Stars Cleaning Company. The first half of the film has the other four competing for the attentions of Curley's sister (Cherie Cheung). Then the next stage of the plot starts when a stolen briefcase containing counterfeiting plates is accidentally left in their cleaning van and two gangs of criminals want it back. This leads to some wonderful kung fu action.

     This outline of the plot makes no reference to the Jackie Chan character. He plays a trouble prone detective in the Hong Kong Police Force but his scenes have nothing to do with the main story. Instead, his character is an excuse to stage a couple of fights and the most spectacular stunt in the film when Jackie on roller skates chases thieves through peak hour traffic and under a moving truck, causing a spectacular car pile up. This film is however noteworthy for the fact that until Winners & Sinners Jackie Chan had only appeared in period films - this was the first time he is in a film set in contemporary times.

     Winners & Sinners has a wonderful ensemble cast. Sammo Hung plays his fat, slightly dumb, put upon character to perfection (his capture by the police in the opening sequence is a real hoot) and Cherie Cheung, for once in a Sammo Hung film, is more than decoration. Charlie Chin is smug as the con man but the comedic standout is Richard Ng whose deadpan delivery is hilarious; none more so than when he walks around naked thinking he is invisible (this does make sense in the film!). Ng was nominated for Best Actor in the 1984 Hong Kong Film Awards but didn't win. While the film does have some slow periods, it is generally fast paced and any slower section is quickly followed by a generous helping of slapstick comedy or kung fu action.

     Also known as Five Lucky Stars (the first of the "Stars" trilogy that featured essentially the same characters, the others being My Lucky Stars (Fuk sing go jiu 1985) and Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars (Xia ri fu xing 1985) – I do not count the very inferior Lucky Stars Go Places (Zui jia fu xing 1986) as part of the series), Winners & Sinners is a very funny action comedy from prolific director and leading man Sammo Hung. While some of the jokes will be lost on non-Cantonese speakers, for the most part Winners & Sinners relies upon physical comedy that easily translates across cultures. It is a good natured romp from start to finish that proved very popular at the Hong Kong box office. It is easy to see why. Jackie Chan fans may be disappointed by his limited screen time but if you enjoy physical comedy or Sammo Hung you will enjoy Winners & Sinners.

Video

    Winners & Sinners is presented in a ratio of 1.78:1, which is close to the original ratio of 1.85:1, and it is 16x9 enhanced. This is a 20 year old film that looks pretty good for its age although colours are generally soft, especially in the outdoor scenes, while contrasts are only OK. Skin tones are natural although blacks are a bit murky and brightness levels do vary. Other than mild grain, however, blemishes are absent so while not a perfect print there is nothing seriously wrong.

Lip Sync is marginally better than in many Hong Kong films of the period but it is still only approximate.

     The English subtitles are in a clear white font. They appear to be timely and do not contain any glaring errors. They are closer to the English dub than is usually the case and give the general sense adequately. The hearing impaired track adds only minor extra information.

Video Ratings Summary

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Shadow Detail
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Audio

    Audio is a choice between Cantonese and English Dolby Digital 5.1. Both are very front oriented with only minor ambience and slight music in the surrounds and no panning effects. The sub is silent throughout. If anything, the Cantonese track seems to have more depth and is recorded at a slightly higher level although the English dub is OK for a change. In both tracks vocals are clear and either track is more than adequate for the film.

     The music is by no means memorable but it is effective in supporting the comedy scenes and does not detract from the mood of the film.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Audio Commentary by Bey Logan (Hong Kong film expert)

Trailer Gallery

Teapot Tango - an interview with director / star Sammo Hung (13:30 minutes).

The Man Behind the Legend - reflections on the legendary Sammo Hung (20:01 minutes).

Thanks.

Also Available.

    The Region 1 release of Winners & Sinners has additional audio options (Cantonese DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 1.0, English DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1) but no extras. A Hong Kong region 3 release has a range of language options (Cantonese DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0, Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0), a Sammo Hung interview, stills and a trailer. The UK Region 2 release is identical to this Region 4. A draw between Regions 2 and 4 unless you must have the original Cantonese 1.0 track on the Region 1 release.

    Winners & Sinners is a wonderfully entertaining film from prolific director and leading man Sammo Hung that combines very funny physical comedy and high octane kung fu. It is presented on a DVD with acceptable vision and sound and reasonable extras. If you enjoy physical comedy or Sammo Hung you will enjoy Winners & Sinners.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall