A CHINESE GHOST STORY, PART II
A film review by Thomas E. Billings
Copyright 1991 Thomas E. Billings
Synopsis: The continuing adventures of a young debt collector in ancient China who has a real talent for getting into trouble. This time he encounters guerillas, a monk who travels underground like a mole, and he fights monsters and demons using magic. Wild and very entertaining, though it's not as good as part I.
Hong Kong (English subtitles), color, 1990, 104 minutes. Director: Ching Siu-tung. Producer: Tsui Hark.
Before discussing part II, it is appropriate to mention part I. A CHINESE GHOST STORY (part I) is the story of a young debt collector in ancient China who stays overnight at a haunted temple. There he meets and falls in love with a beautiful vampire ghost. He battles monsters, demons and ghosts to give her a chance at reincarnation. Part I is a fast-paced horror and adventure film with a strong dose of humor. It was relatively popular, and introduced many people to the exciting films that are being made in Hong Kong.
Part II begins where part I left off (for people who haven't seen it, part I is recapped in brief highlights at the beginning of part II). The debt collector is arrested by the police, on grounds that he may be an escaped convict. He is put into a prison cell with an old man, a scholar, whose dietary preferences include cockroaches. Just before he is to be executed, he escapes.
After escaping, he meets a monk who travels underground by burrowing like a mole. They encounter a band of guerillas, one of whom, Windy, looks exactly like the beautiful vampire ghost he was in love with in part I. Together they fight political corruption, monsters, and demons using magic and martial arts.
Part II is very much like part I; it is a fast-paced horror and adventure film. There are a few differences, though. In part I, the emphasis was on ghosts, most of whom were in human form, whereas in part II the ghosts and demons that appear are primarily in the form of monsters. There is a large "corpse monster", similar to the smaller ones in part I, and the fight against it is outrageously funny. Also appearing is a monster in the form of a large golden Buddha, and a gigantic flying centipede.
The special effects are generally very good, though the giant centipede is clearly a model. The same actors and actresses appear in both parts, so there is continuity in the roles. The major differences in the two films is that part I has more humor (which I really appreciate), and part I has a tighter, better story line.
Although part II is recapped at the beginning of part II, I suggest that you see part I before part II. First, the recap is far too brief. Second, part I is incredibly good, and it is certainly worth seeing! Thus I suggest seeing both parts, I and II, if you have the opportunity; very entertaining and enjoyable!
Print Source: Gordon's Films International Inc.; 8 Chatham Square, Room 805; New York, NY 10038. (Currently in its initial theatrical release in the U.S.).
Reviewer contact: teb@stat.Berkeley.EDU
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