The Four Robbers is yet another in the seemingly endless conveyor-belt of chopsocky martial arts movies the came out of South-East Asia in the 70's-80's. This one is relatively distinctive – I think – in that its protagonists are a gang of criminals. Usually in this type of movie, it's the innocents who we root for as they batter their way through a parade of villains. So, from that perspective this one is a little distinctive. Our robber heroes set the scene in motion early on by stealing from two gangs of organised criminals in a stage-managed operation. They then wind up travelling from their home base of Hong Kong to Thailand. I can't remember how this came to pass quite honestly but it did seem to happen. I don't suppose it really matters why they go there in the grand scheme of things quite honestly because when they get there more fighting ensues which is sort of the only point of this kind of thing. The bottom line is that this one like all the others of its ilk features lots and lots of action as well as dubbing of an especially biscuit-taking level of inappropriateness. In other words, its par for the course as far this type of nonsense goes. I didn't like it much but in all honesty it's not that bad for this kind of thing.
7 Reviews
4 robbers get around
cerealmon19 April 2020
Another selection from the Mill Creek 200 drive in cult classics box set.
About 4 robbers who rob and steal their way in Hong Kong until they move to Thailand and rob and steal there.
Quite a watchable action movie. It isn't boring and really no plot but things move along pretty well. Action is alright for This type of thing and acting is ok.
The real star of the show is the English dubbing. Man this is what makes watching these movies so much fun.
Definitely give it a watch if you got it. If you like mindless action movies you should enjoy it.
About 4 robbers who rob and steal their way in Hong Kong until they move to Thailand and rob and steal there.
Quite a watchable action movie. It isn't boring and really no plot but things move along pretty well. Action is alright for This type of thing and acting is ok.
The real star of the show is the English dubbing. Man this is what makes watching these movies so much fun.
Definitely give it a watch if you got it. If you like mindless action movies you should enjoy it.
Below-Standard Hong Kong Action Movie - Great Dubbing
codaflex1 February 2006
The plot concerns four criminals from mainland China who go to Hong Kong to make their fortune. Just because I used the word plot shouldn't lead you to think that it makes any sense. It doesn't. The main point of this movie is the tight relationship of the four robbers. The humorless leader is always going on about his principles while he's shooting and stealing. But the real stars of this movie are the people who did the dubbing. I guess they were bored or drunk or something because they do some hilarious voices. There is a character named Dragon that gets a Dean Martin-like voice. And the Thai policeman who is put in charge of the investigation is given a deep, weird voice. There are several minor characters that have unusual and funny voices also. This the only reason to watch this movie but it's enough. This movie is available as part of the Mill Creek Entertainment Martial Arts 50 Movie Pack.
The best you can say for it is that it gives a fair idea of what Hong Kong residents watched for fun back then.
lemon_magic27 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Think of an "all Asian" version of "White Heat" crossed with "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kind", with maybe a little "Dillinger" and "Bonnie and Clyde". Now throw out any humor, irony, or sympathetic characters. Throw in the fact that all these supposed tough guys have the muscle mass of 14 year old school girls (and not the ones who play field hockey and track-and-field, either). Now filter the action on screen through some of the goofiest ESL dubbing you can imagine (sometimes it seems like the voice actors are reading their English lines phonetically; one of them even seems to be doing a Dean Martin impression). Now dress everyone in costumes that embrace the worst of 70s fashion. Now edit the results, so that any forward momentum and excitement generated in any scene dies in a morass of pacing problems.
What have you got? Why, you've got "Four Robbers", that's what you've got.
Even with all the problems, the movie isn't so bad as to be unwatchable. The protagonists may be morally repellent (and not nearly as smart as they think they are), but the screenplay does manage to convey their loyalty to each other. The real "star" of the movie("Ma Yi") does have a little presence, even if the character he plays is the kind of person who can talk about "paying his own debts" etc even as he robs and kills and deals drugs and betrays anyone for his own gain. The movie spends most of its time in "Thailand", so it has a nice sense of the exotic (if Hong Kong wasn't exotic enough for the view already). And the two or three gun battles that act as "set pieces" are pretty well done for the obviously limited budget and schedule.
I got this movie as part of a "50 Pack" collection, so it cost me maybe 50 cents for the privilege of seeing it. For that price, I can't complain.
What have you got? Why, you've got "Four Robbers", that's what you've got.
Even with all the problems, the movie isn't so bad as to be unwatchable. The protagonists may be morally repellent (and not nearly as smart as they think they are), but the screenplay does manage to convey their loyalty to each other. The real "star" of the movie("Ma Yi") does have a little presence, even if the character he plays is the kind of person who can talk about "paying his own debts" etc even as he robs and kills and deals drugs and betrays anyone for his own gain. The movie spends most of its time in "Thailand", so it has a nice sense of the exotic (if Hong Kong wasn't exotic enough for the view already). And the two or three gun battles that act as "set pieces" are pretty well done for the obviously limited budget and schedule.
I got this movie as part of a "50 Pack" collection, so it cost me maybe 50 cents for the privilege of seeing it. For that price, I can't complain.
Action filled movie lots of excitement!!!
dbmaster51413 June 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I found this movie to be very good indeed. I like the unique blend of martial arts and gun-play with this classic story of betrayal. Four robbers end up robbing the right person at the right time and make it big. But after making it big, they begin to get cocky and start a fight with the wrong person which ends up making them be betrayed and hunted by both the police and the drug lords. Following the tradition of the Chow Yun Fat movies, this movie brings a great mixture of martial arts into the urban streets of Hong Kong and Thailand. This is a great Hong Kong crime flick I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the genre.
This movie is strangely watchable
dekmax25 August 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I had the pleasure of catching this movie on Saturday late-late night TV. Every week they show a shlocky late 70's early 80's kung-fu movie or blaxpoitation flick. This one is a standout.
4 robbers pull a heist and somehow become a very dangerous outfit which have many "bosses" trying to get them to work for them. Why? I have no clue. The "leader" of this outfit is the only one who has any redeeming qualities as a believable "thug" while his buddies are a bunch of idiots who seem to fail miserably at anything they attempt.
Witness them gambling. If I saw these morons enter a casino I would follow them around and just beating them at any game they attempt to play. Also, they seem to get into a fight everywhere they go and just bring more attention to them instead of laying low for a while and living off the money the got by pulling off their criminal deeds. Oh wait, they gamble all their money away.
The inevitable faith of the these "4 robbers" comes at the end of this movie and it should be no surprise as to what that is, being that they are complete and utter morons.
The high value of this film lies in the incredibly awful English dubbing. It had me laughing and even crying of laughter at he voices and the litteral wordings used by the people doing the dubbing of this flick. I am sure that this movies dubbing was done in one night and with the help of a case of Tsing-Tao beer. The constant use of the term "brother" when characters address themselves makes me think this movie should have been called "4 brothers".
All in all, this movie is perfect if you are sitting at home after a long week of work and are tired and want to spend a night watching something that will not require the use of your brain. Also for added fun, have a sip of beer every time the word "brother" is used and you will have the pleasure of being hammered by the time this ordeal ends.
I highly recommend this film!
4 robbers pull a heist and somehow become a very dangerous outfit which have many "bosses" trying to get them to work for them. Why? I have no clue. The "leader" of this outfit is the only one who has any redeeming qualities as a believable "thug" while his buddies are a bunch of idiots who seem to fail miserably at anything they attempt.
Witness them gambling. If I saw these morons enter a casino I would follow them around and just beating them at any game they attempt to play. Also, they seem to get into a fight everywhere they go and just bring more attention to them instead of laying low for a while and living off the money the got by pulling off their criminal deeds. Oh wait, they gamble all their money away.
The inevitable faith of the these "4 robbers" comes at the end of this movie and it should be no surprise as to what that is, being that they are complete and utter morons.
The high value of this film lies in the incredibly awful English dubbing. It had me laughing and even crying of laughter at he voices and the litteral wordings used by the people doing the dubbing of this flick. I am sure that this movies dubbing was done in one night and with the help of a case of Tsing-Tao beer. The constant use of the term "brother" when characters address themselves makes me think this movie should have been called "4 brothers".
All in all, this movie is perfect if you are sitting at home after a long week of work and are tired and want to spend a night watching something that will not require the use of your brain. Also for added fun, have a sip of beer every time the word "brother" is used and you will have the pleasure of being hammered by the time this ordeal ends.
I highly recommend this film!
I like the male bonding similar to other Hong Kong action movies
jordondave-2808512 June 2023
(1987) Four Robbers
DUBBED
THRILLER It's basically the Chinese version of "The Wild Bunch" centering on it's characters than on story where at the beginning "4 robbers" succeed in robbing a high maintenance jewelry store, and since they can't really make any money from their stolen stash, because they are going to be recognized, they decide to put a hit on Chinese gangsters doing illegal exchanges, stealing both the drugs and money at the same time. They're then being sought after because of their known stances and aggressive tactics before being double crossed. There's a heck of a lot more to say about this film, but I thought it was still well made since in specific parts it does feel rather genuinely authentic, and may have influenced other Hong Kong films made after this one centering on the 'bond' amongst the robbers than on anything else, which is why it is reminiscent of "The Wild Bunch". And the action is nothing to get excited about. Perhaps if I seen this on it's proper subtitled version my rating might've been higher.
THRILLER It's basically the Chinese version of "The Wild Bunch" centering on it's characters than on story where at the beginning "4 robbers" succeed in robbing a high maintenance jewelry store, and since they can't really make any money from their stolen stash, because they are going to be recognized, they decide to put a hit on Chinese gangsters doing illegal exchanges, stealing both the drugs and money at the same time. They're then being sought after because of their known stances and aggressive tactics before being double crossed. There's a heck of a lot more to say about this film, but I thought it was still well made since in specific parts it does feel rather genuinely authentic, and may have influenced other Hong Kong films made after this one centering on the 'bond' amongst the robbers than on anything else, which is why it is reminiscent of "The Wild Bunch". And the action is nothing to get excited about. Perhaps if I seen this on it's proper subtitled version my rating might've been higher.
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