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Chinese Ghost Story

Chinese Ghost Story

List Price: $29.95
Your Price: $26.96
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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Tale of a man and a ghost...
Review: The debt collector, Tsai-Shen, arrives in a small town in order to collect a debt. However, during a massive rainfall the water has destroyed the records of the debt that Ning is suppose to collect. Penniless and friendless Tsai-Shenseeks shelter in the Lan Ro temple oblivious to the reputation of the temple, which is known for its ghosts as well as its deaths. During the night Tsai-Shen meets Hsiao-Tsing with whom he falls in love with, but he is unaware that she is a ghost. Chinese Ghost Story is a touching love story full of swashbuckling adventure and humor as Tsai-Shen ignorantly tumbles through an adventure with horrors around every corner. However, the comedy is not as well balanced with the horror, since the comedy removes the suspense as it often is slap-stick humor. In the end, the audience experiences a action comedy that will entertain and offer some hilarious moments as Tsai-Shen struggles through this adventure.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Tale of a man and a ghost...
Review: The debt collector, Tsai-Shen, arrives in a small town in order to collect a debt. However, during a massive rainfall the water has destroyed the records of the debt that Ning is suppose to collect. Penniless and friendless Tsai-Shenseeks shelter in the Lan Ro temple oblivious to the reputation of the temple, which is known for its ghosts as well as its deaths. During the night Tsai-Shen meets Hsiao-Tsing with whom he falls in love with, but he is unaware that she is a ghost. Chinese Ghost Story is a touching love story full of swashbuckling adventure and humor as Tsai-Shen ignorantly tumbles through an adventure with horrors around every corner. However, the comedy is not as well balanced with the horror, since the comedy removes the suspense as it often is slap-stick humor. In the end, the audience experiences a action comedy that will entertain and offer some hilarious moments as Tsai-Shen struggles through this adventure.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Top HK movie, an absolute classic
Review: Theres something special about this movie...
and i cant put my finger on it. This movie, im sure almost everyone has heard of...is a truly classic HK movie with all the style and atmosphere of asian cinema.

LEslie cheung is great in this movie, playing a naive tax collector who runs into a hot chickie ghost in Joey. Together they try to fight of the forces of evil, and attempt to rescue Joey from her evil connections.

The mood, tone and atmosphere of this movie is amazing- ... The imagery, and colours really beautify this production, which does not need to hinge on martial arts or special effects to get the audience's attention.

This movie will keep you coming back for more (hence the sequels ) and will only leave you in a glowing happy mood upon reflection. Overall this is a must see!...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 1987 - great visuals, action, story, everything
Review: This film started the "mortal meets ghost" trend in the late 80s, and as we all know, originals are the best.

The plot in a nutshell-a tax collector screws up during a collection run, and with nowhere to stay, decides he'll take his chances and stay in the deserted monastery on the outskirts of town. He meets a beautiful woman and a mad Taoist swordsman. When he discovers the woman is a ghost trapped by the Tree Demon he enlists the help of the Taoist in order to save her.

There are great performances from Leslie Cheung and Wu Ma-they both seemed to be born to play their roles. Joey Wong, thankfully, doesn't really have to act, so we don't have to cringe at her rather...limited...acting range This film is beautifully filmed, with some etheral scenes, such as the underwater kissing scene, and the special effects compliment, rather than detract, from the storyline. The characters are well-formed and I could definitely sympathize with the lover's plight. Well-written and highly recommended. - ew

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 1987 - great visuals, action, story, everything
Review: This film started the "mortal meets ghost" trend in the late 80s, and as we all know, originals are the best.

The plot in a nutshell-a tax collector screws up during a collection run, and with nowhere to stay, decides he'll take his chances and stay in the deserted monastery on the outskirts of town. He meets a beautiful woman and a mad Taoist swordsman. When he discovers the woman is a ghost trapped by the Tree Demon he enlists the help of the Taoist in order to save her.

There are great performances from Leslie Cheung and Wu Ma-they both seemed to be born to play their roles. Joey Wong, thankfully, doesn't really have to act, so we don't have to cringe at her rather...limited...acting range This film is beautifully filmed, with some etheral scenes, such as the underwater kissing scene, and the special effects compliment, rather than detract, from the storyline. The characters are well-formed and I could definitely sympathize with the lover's plight. Well-written and highly recommended. - ew

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Humor and Ghosts with enormous tongues
Review: This is a fun Hong Kong movie. It tells how a bumbling, good-hearted man is able to find love, adventure, horror and a beast with a tongue that cuts down trees! This is the first in a great trilogy that I would urge anyone who is interested in the Hong-Kong movie scent to check out this funny, romantic, action packed title!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I remember seeing this movie as a kid
Review: This is one of those movies that you have to have because of it's storyline and actors. I have the DVD version, which is great for a movie made in 1987. I think Joey Wong is so fione in this movie. I was about 10 back then. Seeing it again makes the movie even better. For all those fans of HK movies this is one u don't wanna miss.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Colorful, Original and Farout!!
Review: This is such a cool film! The magic is felt when you watch it. The moves of the actors, the music, the sets, the storyline and especially the visuals. The effects are natural and unique in this film. There is a transexual tree monster who rules the beautiful dead ghost, who has to be a vampire in order to survive in the ghost world. They are all living in a temple with a possible ghost or warrior, wasn't quite clear. The warrior stood for good and fought the evil. When a young man who is naive and doesn't realize the temple is haunted stumbles in and falls in love with the bewitched beautiful vampire ghost. He does not know she is dead yet and they have a lovely romance sequence. Soon he finds out she is a ghost and wants to help her escape her karma and be reborn again. With the sanskrit words and the help of the good warrior, they take on the tree monster and even go to hell to fight for the spirit of the beautiful ghost finally making there way back to the world. A shimmering image filled feat! Just like the haunted mansion you always wanted to see. Highly Highly Recommended. It has subtitles and they are sometimes hard to follow. This is a movie definately for art lovers and whoever else that is open to something new and different.

Lisa Nary

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Eminently Collectible
Review: This movie is always such fun to watch. I first saw it in Japan, in Mandarin with Japanese subtitles. But I had no problem following exactly what was going on in every scene. The film is rich in Chinese folkore, yet bursting with special effects that are often splendidly cheesy. The actors fly through space on cables, hurling lightning bolts from their fingers and crossing swords in mid-air. But the love story between the bumbling but true hearted mortal and the beautiful but unearthly princess is the most memorable aspect. Unforgettable. (And so much better than the sequels!)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Extremely good movie, apalling DVD
Review: This movie is an extremely good, and fun movie. I thoroughly advise seeing this on VHS or DVD on a small screen. If you have a large screen TV please save your money, the DVD transfer is apalling and apparently made from a well-used print. Hopefully a carefully made anamorphic DVD is in the works for this popular title. Certainly on my home theter setup it's borderline unviewable.


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