Spiritual Love

Rating:
Summary: A charming HK supernatural thriller/comedy
Review: Chow Yun Fat plays Lao K, a small time triad type who earns his livingas a collection man for a loan shark. His cousin, Chin Hua (played by Deannie Yip), an aspiring "ghostbuster", pines after him, using her divination skills to chart her cousin's romantic future, hoping to see her name revealed. Lao K is oblivious to her infatuation, caught up with his collection activities and the romantic charms of May (Pauline Wong), a self involved maneater who treats him badly, and soon forsakes him for a richer, more successful man.

One day, while trying to collect a debt for his boss in the company ofhis constant companion, 6'3" (a deaf mute fellow criminal whom Lao K has "adopted") Lao K is captivated by an antique Chinese desk. Buying it and taking to the home he shares with his cousin, he discovers a letter in a drawer that tells the sad story of a young woman, sick from birth, who posthumously was wed to an "ugly ghost" by her family. The young woman has not been reincarnated and has little hope of ever being, until she can find a man born on a yang day,in a yang month, in a yang year willing to give up 3 years of his mortal life to help her escape from her fearsome ghost-husband and win her achance at reincarnation.

Lao K, the petty criminal with a heart of gold, and told by a physiogamist that he will live to 98, decides he can spare a few years to help the girl out. He performs the ritual she details in her letter, and then promptly forgets about the whole matter.

He is walking on the waterfront when he spies a young woman in a boat. Escaped from the underworld, Wei Hsaio-Tieh (Cherie Chung), has come to search out her benefactor.

Hsiao-Tieh enters and reenters Lao K.'s life over the course of the next few days, finally coming to stay with him after he stumbles home ill after an argument with May.

Complications ensue--leading to an exorcism, a ghostly rescue and a further ritual that grants Hsio-Tieh 49 days on earth with her beloved. Ex-girlfriend May reenters the picture, which ultimately leads to a climactic and cataclysmic supernatural showdown.

The always versatile Chow Yun Fat is endearingly roguish as the
basically decent Lao K.. Cherie Chung displays her wonderful range as an actress, effortlessly moving from broad comedy to affecting pathos as the ill-starred Hsiao-tieh. The supporting players, especially Deannie Yip as the long suffering cousin, are universally excellent.

While Hong Kong supernatural comedies are an acquired taste, this film stands on its own, and carries appeal on several fronts, not the least of which is the incredible chemistry between its two leads.

Rating:
Summary: another side of chow yun fat
Review: If you think that chow yun fat is only any good at filling bad guys full of lead than you should check out this charming supernatural comedy. Chow plays a young rogue who accidently frees a young girls spirit from being trapped in hell with her evil husband what follows is a charming love story/supernatural comedy where the gorgeous girl works to charm chow into marrying her and freeing her spirit forever. As mentioned in the editorial review one of the best things about this movie is chow's jealous cousin and her crafty attempts to scupper the procedings. If you want to see a lighter side of HK cinema give this little gem a go and enjoy yourself.