Chinatown Video releases for September 1999
A CHINESE GHOST STORY (1987) Rated M.
106 mins. SBS subs. Rental.
Fluttering silks, yellow paper charms, gorgeous ghosts, thirty foot extendable demon
tongues; these are the things that A Chinese Ghost Story are made of. A beautiful
and remarkable film that succeeds on all levels - thrilling fantasy, spooky horror, moving
romance, astounding action. Production is by the legendary Tsui Hark,
direction by Ching Siu-Tung, and starring Leslie Cheung as
the little tax collector, Joey Wong as the beautiful ghost who captures
his heart, and Wu Ma as the Taoist ghostbuster who firmly believes that
there should be no love between the living and the dead. I think it's fair to say that
this is one of the films which built the legend of Hong Kong film throughout the West;
it's certainly among the finest fantasy made by anyone, anywhere, at any time.
SHANGHAI GRAND (1996) Rated MA. SBS
subtitles. $29.95.
Terrific rags-to-riches yarn set in 1940s Shanghai. Ding Lik (Andy Lau)
is a nightsoil collector (read shit sweeper), but he has his eye on the top spot of the
local mob, or more particularly on the daughter (Ning Jing) of the top
local mobster. Meanwhile Keung (Leslie Cheung) washes up half-dead on
Shanghai Beach, having just seen all his buddies in the Taiwan Liberation League
machine-gunned to little bits by a beautiful assassin (Almen Wong).
Together Keung and Lik set out to make their mark in the Shanghai underworld. A great
story, excellent characters, gorgeous production design, fine script and some stellar
scenes; a winner.
HONG KONG SHOWGIRLS (1996) Rated PG.
$29.95.
Sorry kids, you're on your own on this one. Stars Diana Pang Dan and Veronica
Yip.
