4. A CHINESE GHOST STORY (1987)
Even amongst the offbeat creativity to be found in Hong Kong movies, few directors have conceived such bizarre imagery as Ching Siu-tung. His work as an action director no doubt helped him turn his deeply affected imagination into reality.
Here Leslie Cheung stars (again!) as the hapless tax inspector who takes shelter on a stormy night in a haunted temple. Cheung meets Joey Wang and falls in love, not realising she’s a ghost. With the help of Yin Chek Hsia, a Taoist monk, Chueng undertakes to free Wang from the evil spirit Lau Lau who controls her, and bring her back to life.
This film is a perfect example of Hong Kong cinema’s Chinese Opera roots, as the first ‘act’ (or half hour) follows one spectacular set piece with an even better one. And it doesn’t stop there… with references to horror films, particularly Evil Dead, this has fun, romance and action in equal bounds!
ALSO RECOMMENDED
A Chinese Ghost Story II (1991)
The long overdue sequel sees Cheung returns to his role as the unfortunate tax inspector with a knack for getting himself into the worst kind of supernatural trouble. Again joined by Wang with support from Jacky Cheung.
Duel to the Death (1983)
A ground breaking, spellbinding movie often quoted as helping kick off the ‘New Wave’ in Hong Kong in the early eighties, Ching’s first effort is rather more overlooked than Tsui Hark’s Zu: Warriors of Magic Mountain. In many respects it’s even stranger, showing off Ching’s talent for the wonderfully absurd.
Heroic Trio (1993)
Johnnie To co-directs this delicious comic book fantasy about three superheroine’s played by HKs top female stars Michelle Yeoh, Anita Mui and Maggie Cheung.
Swordsman II (1992)
Jet Li stars opposite Brigitte Lin’s Asia the Invincible, a character who has supernaturally castrated himself in order to become more powerful. The question remains - now did he or didn’t he get it on with Asia?
