Royal Tramp (1992) Poster

(1992)

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6/10
Reasonably entertaining Stephen Chow silliness.
BA_Harrison12 July 2014
Warning: Spoilers
After saving the leader of revolutionary group The Heaven and Earth Society, lovable rogue Wilson Bond (Stephen Chow) is tasked with stealing a valuable book belonging to the Empress Dowager, mother of the King; it's a mission that sees Wilson almost turned into a eunuch, becoming romantically involved with Princess Jianning, saving the king's life, battling evil martial arts expert O'Brian, and uncovering a plot by the Dragon Sect to overthrow the Ching dynasty.

Chinese humour often leaves me baffled and with my DeltaMac DVD having some of the worst subtitles imaginable (poorly translated and often on the screen for a fraction of a second) I fully expected Stephen Chow martial arts comedy Royal Tramp to be an extremely frustrating and ultimately disappointing affair; rather surprisingly, it wasn't quite as bad as I had feared.

Even though I was often left confused by proceedings and much of the humour failed to make me laugh, I still had a reasonably fun time thanks to the totally bonkers nature of the film, the action kicking off in insane style with villain O'Brian (Sex and Zen star Elvis Tsui) laying waste to an army of assassins from the Heaven and Earth society, impaling them on sharpened bamboo poles, pulling them apart, and even ripping off one poor guy's cranium!

This level of craziness continues throughout, with numerous gags about eunuchs and penises, a kung fu style that allows access to the victim's nipples, another that causes the victim's bones to dissolve, some very silly fight scenes with lots of flying through the air and flapping fabric, a pair of female bodyguards (the lovely Fennie Yuen and Vivian Chan) who used to be Siamese twins and who now speak and act in unison, an attack by flying death cymbals(!), and a suitably OTT death for the villain that sees him not only impaled on a statue (the tip emerging from his groin) but also skewered in the head by a sword.

In addition to the lovely twin bodyguards, the film also features eye-candy in the form of the gorgeous Chingmy Yau (Naked Killer) as Princess Jianning, stunning Sharla Cheung as the Empress Dowager, and Brigitte Lin as her evil stand-in, who is seen escaping at the end of the film, but vowing to return (for Part II!).
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6/10
A classic Stephen Chow movie...
paul_haakonsen16 January 2021
"Royal Tramp" (aka "Luk ting kei") is a fairly straight forward, if not archetypical, Stephen Chow movie, for better or worse. If you are a fan of his movies, then you will definitely like "Royal Tramp", no doubt about it. However, if you are not overly keen on his work, I suppose this 1992 movie might be somewhat of a bitter pill to swallow.

The storyline in "Royal Tramp" is one that combines drama, action and, of course, comedy, in the usual Stephen Chow way. And that is what works for the movie, that is definitely something that I enjoy. However, these historical periodic dramas come a dime a dozen and tend to be a bit too trivial. Such is the thing with "Royal Tramp" as well, were it not for the injected elements of comedy.

Something that definitely works well in favor of "Royal Tramp" is the cast ensemble. Of course you have the always likeable Stephen Chow in the lead role. And he is joined by the likes of Chingmy Yau, Sandra Kwan Yue Ng and Man Cheung, just to mention some of the more recognizable of faces for those slightly familiar with the Hong Kong cinema. And I will say that people in the movie definitely performed quite well here. Sure, it was somewhat typical performances for a movie of this caliber, so it is not something new or innovative.

This is a watchable movie, although it is not one that is readily one you sit down to watch soon thereafter. I have seen the movie three times since 1992, so a fair amount of time needs to lapse between each viewing.

While "Royal Tramp" is not the best of action comedy that the Hong Kong cinema has to offer, it is definitely one that could prove worth your time and effort to watch. My rating of "Royal Tramp" from writer and director Jing Wong lands on a six out of ten stars.
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8/10
Royal pains...
poe42614 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
ROYAL TRAMP should've been titled ROYAL PAIN. Wei Bo (Chow) is an entertainer in a brothel who makes the mistake of agreeing to help steal The 42 Chapters, a kung fu instruction book of great renown. To get closer to said book, he signs on as a royal bodyguard to The Empress. And only EUNUCHS can be bodyguards for The Empress. He's on the "operating table" about to be castrated before he realizes this. It takes some doing, but he manages to talk his way out of the situation. He's nicknamed "Penis" thereafter. At one point, he goes sneaking around the grounds looking for the book- and looks directly at the camera, as if it were just something insignificant in his line of sight. It's a brief but extremely funny moment that happens in passing. There's even an encounter with the infamous Obai, a white-maned madman of the Bai Mae variety. (During an early battle scene, Obai literally shreds his opponents, using his fingernails to lop the top off of one man's head.) The fight scenes make extensive use of over-the-top wirework, but, this being a comedy, one can't argue with the choice.
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Slapstick Stephen Chow comedy...
Mike Astill21 August 2003
Slapstick Stephen Chow / Wong Jing comedy, which follows the exploits of hapless but well-meaning Wai Xiao Bao (or, er, Wilson Bond) as he manages to land himself in the middle of a power struggle between warring dynasties.

The bawdy humour is purely physical enough for the movie to be enjoyed even if you have to rely on the somewhat flaky subtitles (I was watching the Deltamac version). Naturally, Chow's more verbal comedy doesn't translate well to English, but there's still plenty to enjoy in this lively spoof, including some surprisingly good kung fu, Chingamy Yau as a cheeky princess, and a cameo by Brigitte Lin to set up the sequel. Good fun.
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6/10
What to say about this movie.
k-5665224 May 2023
I'm in danger. What? Who is afraid of danger? Who said what is not? I said what is not. What is not is not. I can do whatever I want. If I don't get anything, I can't ask you out. If I can't be strict, I can't be strict. What's wrong? What's wrong? It's just because you put it wrong. It's just because you don't do it. I put everyone's baby who put who too beautiful, everyone what person, what who who. What are you who are so spiritless, you what? A secret or something. How to fight? Why is this not you? No, just don't. I'll give you what right away? Then who are you and what are you? No matter what, what Jungle? No, no, nothing? Who put this is what, you who put me what you? My kung fu is a little worse, who is a little worse, what is heavy? If I still have a list to speak, I will have the courage to speak. If I have Chinese culture, I will have the courage to speak. What? I'm afraid, I'm afraid, I can't do anything. What kind of flower is planted with cotton seeds? Who planted the flower? I don't force anyone. I'm afraid you can't make it clear. Who will have the courage if I have a heavy hammer? Do what you want to do, do what you don't want to do, do what you don't want to do. Take him. Take who back? You know, you know what you. I'm hiding here for good. Who's hiding here for what? Grab what? Grab the hammer? My name is Xiao Chun. What's your name? Beg who to beg? How to fight? What do you want to play? Play fast? Then you go away, who can go and kill you? What, you're scared? Who's scared of a hammer? What, who's scared of you? Who can't be killed? Who am I to do the whole week, and then who is our criterion? Who put up with it until now? What are you talking about? How dare you? Who doesn't dare to laugh? Who is all right? Who is not timid? Who does not dare to go to. What? Who? What? I didn't look for anWhat straight who who set off fireworks? Who doesn't want it? Noyone, and I hit him. What is it? How old is it? What? Careful. Careful. Who's a hero? What, you think I think who thinks? Who's not your teammate? Kill who? Kill who? No, no, who doesn't? What? Who's little? Watch out for what? This man? Who's home? What rest assured rest assured, who rest assured what is strange what? So who do you want, who do you want, and if who wants what? What, Ai Jia, Xiao, who hurt you, what, Wei Xiao, what, you, what?
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9/10
The Crazy World of Wong Jing: The Royal Tramp Volume One.
Captain_Couth27 August 2005
The Royal Tramp (1992) was an epic film that was split into two volumes. The Wong Jing period action/comedy stars Stephen Chow in this all-star cast. Chow stars as Wilson Bond, an employee in a brother where her sister works. His job is to keep the johns entertained before they're serviced. One day, he's caught up in a web of political intrigue when a member of the Heaven and Earth Society (Damian Lau) sneaks into the brothel seeking refuge. In awe of this secret society member, he agrees to help him out. Sneak into the Empress' chambers and steal a book. An easy job, but Wilson Bond get's more than he bargains for. Will Wilson get the job done? Who's pulling the strings behind closed doors? Can Chow help the society achieve it's goals? To find out you have to watch this funny film THE ROYAL TRAMP VOLUME ONE.

This odd comedy co-stars Nat Chan, Chingmy Yau, Sandra Ng, Ng Man Tat, Elvis Tsui, Paul (Chiang) Chu and Fennie Yuen. Featuring a guest spot by Brigette Lin. Directed and written by Wong Jing. Fight direction by Ching Siu-Tung. Immediately followed by VOLUME TWO.

Highly recommended.
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7/10
Little man and adult
z-5971316 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
There are many characters in the film, but the plot is condensed. The characters have some other different bright colors on the basis of the original novel, as well as deep-rooted satire. The characters are full of overall rhythm and smooth, which keeps the audience's mentality in a funny and tense atmosphere all the time... It's really a classic. If you are interested, you can review it and review it.
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10/10
Really Funny and Exciting.
tvbj27 December 1999
Laughing was the only action (besides watching) I did throughout the entire movie. Wilson Bond, played by Cantonese comedian (Stephen) Chow Sing Chi, works with his sister {(Sandra) Ning Kwan Yue} at a local brothel. The poor lad experience several unexpected events all in one day, like being forced to steal Empress Dowager's book of 42 chapters and almost had his "thing" chopped off because he was mistaken for an eunuch at the royal palace. Really funny and worth watching the entire length of the movie.
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Classic Mo Lei Tau
evergreenoldboys14 July 2006
Mo lei tau is a name given to a type of humor originating from Hong Kong during the late 20th century. It is a phenomenon which has grown largely from its presentation in modern film media. Its humor arises from the complex interplay of cultural subtleties significant in Hong Kong. Typical constituents of this humor include nonsensical parodies, juxtaposition of contrasts, and sudden surprises in spoken dialogue and action....

Stephen Chow and Uncle Tat team up once again to bring you many moments of nonsensical hilarity in this classic period piece. I particularly like the musical sequence and bits of kung fu.
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