The US distributor shunned the MPAA's decision to grant the film an X rating and, instead of censoring it for an R, released it to theaters unrated. However, marketing for the film self-proclaimed it with a "A" rating for adults only. This decision was praised by film critics Siskel and Ebert who had noted many times for the need of a rating between R and X that designated a film as for adults only, but did not give the impression of pornography that X came with. Two months later the MPAA replaced X with NC-17.
Wayne Wang's experimental style of guerrilla filmmaking was met with legal consternation by Disney attorneys after Wayne used Mickey Mouse ear caps in a scene as a satirical prop for his scathing commentary on the cultural effects of global capitalism in a pre-emerging China. Subsequently the Disney icons were digitally fogged out of all exhibition prints.
Although critics Siskel and Ebert openly praised the film's "Rated A" marketing strategy which shed light on the ineffective nature of the MPAA's X-rating, the critics also felt the film itself was not deserving of "thumbs up."
Contains one of the very longest foot chase sequences in film history.