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Shanghai Surprise [VHS]

Sean Penn (Actor), Madonna (Actor), Jim Goddard (Director) Rated:
PG-13
Format: VHS Tape
3.5 out of 5 stars 43 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Actors: Sean Penn, Madonna, Paul Freeman, Richard Griffiths, Philip Sayer
  • Directors: Jim Goddard
  • Writers: John Kohn, Robert Bentley, Tony Kenrick
  • Producers: Denis O'Brien, George Harrison, John Kohn, Robin Douet
  • Format: Color, NTSC
  • Rated:
    PG-13
    Parents Strongly Cautioned
  • Number of tapes: 1
  • Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • VHS Release Date: March 4, 1987
  • Run Time: 97 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 630026324X
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #447,938 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

This adventure set in 1930's China traces the exploits of a handsome fortune hunter looking for boat fare out of the country, and a beautiful missionary looking for opium to help her patients. Stars Sean Penn and Madonna.

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 starsOne of the best worst movies ever!
By kirstmarie on July 28, 2016
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
I had to give this one star, as it's easily in the top 5 worst movies ever. However, if you are like me and you like terrible movies with bad acting and confusing plot points, you are going to LOVE this one. My friends and I were laughing throughout the whole thing. Enjoy!
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4.0 out of 5 starsPretty good movie
By Jereme Semien on November 21, 2014
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
This is a independent film, which makes you laugh, till you cry, the ending was really good, when Madonna, is on the ship leaving, as Sean Penn, is looking at her,and the others leaving, as they are looking for opium, the drug, to help ease the pain of the people in China, as Madonna is suppose to be a missionary, who does not like Sean's attitude towards many things, so as a result, the movie is pretty good.
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5.0 out of 5 starsNOT BAD, REALLY
By Mark D. Serbin on February 27, 2014
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
I got this as George Harrison was the $$ behind the movie and had to make a special trip to Asia to clam down the battling Penn's.

i am a big fan of the movies that George Harrison/Handmade Films produced.

Production values are good, Sean and Madonna turn in respectable performances. Harrison makes a cameo as a night club singer and provided the music.

Possibly an under rated movie with a great sound track.
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2.0 out of 5 starsMadonna Mediocracy!
By Greg Allup on June 10, 2002
Format: VHS Tape Verified Purchase
I am a Madonna fan so in my eyes she can never do any wrong, but this film really is a classic Bomb! Shanghai Surprise is probably considered not only one of Madonna's worst films, but also one of the worst films of all time. I only watch this movie because Madonna comes out in it. Just seeing Madonna is pleasure enough. Madonna is the only reason why anyone would want to see or have this film in their collection, other than that the film is not worth anything. After watching the film a couple of times you kind of start laughing at the mediocracy of it. The direction is drab, plot and dialogue is crummy, and bad acting characterize the surprise you get when your in Shanghai with lovely Madonna and disgusting Sean Penn.
Despite the many flaws in the film I still find it to be one of Madonna's more pleasurable films to watch rather than her dumb Dick Tracy or Evita for which she won an award. This is a fun movie to watch just to look back at a time when Madonna's career was starting to skyrocket. Despite her not so good acting, Madonna and the music are the only highlights of this film.
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3.0 out of 5 starsWhat was so horrible about this movie?
By S. T. Peterson on November 27, 2011
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
Back in the 80s I was a kid. I didn't have movie to spend on all the movies I just wanted to see. I had to save it and spend it on movies I thought would be worth my money. Well I skipped this one as the reviews back then were just horrible. They beat up Madonna and Sean Penn pretty badly back then as I recall. And I would recall very well as I was a HUGE Madonna fan back then. But after all of these years I finally watched it. I don't get what was so wrong. I can remember three of them: 1) The way Madonna read the line "He's gaining" 2) The fake way Madonna was "crying" after she fell out of the window and 3) the way the guy chasing them ran through all the merchants and people on the street for "action" when he could have ran down the empty street itself. The ending had a good twist but was a left one thing loose for me . . . where were the flowers all the time? And what were those jewels? That didn't seem to be explained well. Other than this I liked the movie. It was a Adventure's in Babsitting, Ferris Beuller's Day off, type of movie . . . . Nothing special. Nothing horrible. I think people were hell bent on bringing Madonna under control back then . . . they couldn't let her get too big . . . not at least with acting as she had already conquered the music world. . . and for good reason as we found out in the 90s (when I stopped being a fan). It probably deserves two stars. But I am going to give it 3 as I feel misled by all the bad press around it. Also the extra features were just OK. There should have been more . . . deeper . . . more secrets revealed after all of this about a movie that bombed so badly and with such big names attached to it. Were was Madonna, Sean, and George's remarks? And Melissa Rivers??? Shows they just rushed to put something together to make it a "Special Edition". Why not forgo the VH1 personalities and get the actors. They only had the one. And he was the only one who provided the behind the scenes stuff.
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4.0 out of 5 starsYou May Be In For a Surprise! (3 and 1/2 stars)
By Rudy Palma on December 22, 2002
Format: VHS Tape Verified Purchase
All right, I'll admit it, I bought this movie because I am a Madonna fan. However, I'll also be the first to admit that the movie is choppy and the plot is a little weak. Also, both Madonna and Penn aren't the best at their acting ability here. All that said, for its flaws (and yes, they are plentiful), the movie really is quite enjoyable. In the first hour or so, the movie is especially hard to follow, so hard to follow you may even find yourself howling with pleasureful laughter! However, in the last 30 minutes or so of the film you won't be able to get your eyes off the screen. Everything starts moving so fast you'll be glued in, and many will find themselves especially excited. The scenery and the performances of the other actors involved also help contribute to Shanghai's goodness. All I can say is that, though with its flaws, Shanghai Surprise is still a good movie, and while one only a Madonna or Sean Penn fan really needs to own, it's still worth seeing. It's certainly original.
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3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars
By Diana Waschenbecker on December 25, 2016
Format: Amazon Video Verified Purchase
Some parts were good
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2.0 out of 5 starsMadonna Mediocracy!
By Greg Allup on June 10, 2002
Format: VHS Tape Verified Purchase
I am a Madonna fan so in my eyes she can never do any wrong, but this film really is a classic Bomb! Shanghai Surprise is probably considered not only one of Madonna's worst films, but also one of the worst films of all time. I only watch this movie because Madonna comes out in it. Just seeing Madonna is pleasure enough. Madonna is the only reason why anyone would want to see or have this film in their collection, other than that the film is not worth anything. After watching the film a couple of times you kind of start laughing at the mediocracy of it. The direction is drab, plot and dialogue is crummy, and bad acting characterize the surprise you get when your in Shanghai with lovely Madonna and disgusting Sean Penn.
Despite the many flaws in the film I still find it to be one of Madonna's more pleasurable films to watch rather than her dumb Dick Tracy or Evita for which she won an award. This is a fun movie to watch just to look back at a time when Madonna's career was starting to skyrocket. Despite her not so good acting, Madonna and the music are the only highlights of this film.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Best movie ever!

Published 3 months ago by Steven
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Gift

Published 7 months ago by Paulette J. Perez
2.0 out of 5 starsTwo Stars

terrible movie.

Published 13 months ago by dolores plumlee
1.0 out of 5 starsPenn + Madonna = Disaster

The big-budget bomb that helped bring down George Harrison's HandMade Films. A painfully miscast Sean Penn is stuck with his then-wife (and non-actor) Madonna in a romantic-comedy... Read more

Published 23 months ago by Scott T. Rivers
5.0 out of 5 starsAn oldie but still a goodie..

Loved this years ago when I first saw it.. Madonna and Sean still have the ability to make me laugh when I watch it.. Very funny and great to watch again..

Published on June 12, 2014 by Corinne Beusch
5.0 out of 5 starsIt's all about my muse MADONNA

As a collector of anything and everything MADONNA this is a cherished addition. This came out when I was much younger and it brought a flood of welcomed memories.

Published on January 26, 2014 by Edward Palmer
1.0 out of 5 starsShanghai Surprise

This film is old enough it should be available for viewing at no cost. Apologies accepted in advance. Why isn't it?

Published on January 24, 2014 by mlmetz5612
4.0 out of 5 starsIs a good light comedy

Before to see the movie I thought that was a bad one but after look it I realli think that is a movier to see without preventions

Published on October 2, 2013 by Leonardo Andres Cortez Ruiz
5.0 out of 5 starsShanghi Surprise A Pleasant Surprise!!!

The acting was good. The story was good . the soundtrack was great! the camera shots were excellant. TRy it -Buy it !!!

Published on June 29, 2013 by honey badger

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