Wolff rating: FAIR
Plot summary: In 1937 China, two Americans search for a lost heroin shipment to use as morphine for wounded soldiers.
Biased, pithy comments: What a serious plot summary that is. Hah! This is a movie that only delivers half of what it promises---Shanghai, no surprises. The sets are lavish, the costumes are exciting, and even Madonna is struggling to make something of this ill-defined role as church girl/slut to Penn's total failure to accomplish anything. If they had fired Sean Penn and replaced him with somebody more likeable like Harrison Ford or Kirk Douglas, this might have been almost NOT BAD, but it just doesn't do anything at all and ends up being flawed and dull.
Other Notes: Music by George Harrison adds nothing, though probably tried to sell soundtracks.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Sean Penn, Madonna, Paul Freeman