Almost a quarter-century on, and viewed objectively, this latest version by Ye ( SPL 杀破狼, 2005 Ip Man 叶问, 2008) sports tip-top visual effects by South Korea’s Digital Studio 2L, two leads who are just as good as Zhang and Wang Zuxian 王祖贤 in a more realistic way, and a storyline that’s far richer in supporting characters and plot. But like that earlier version, itself pre-dated by the stagier The Enchanting Shadow 倩女幽魂 (1960) directed by Li Hanxiang 李翰祥 for Shaw Brothers, this A Chinese Ghost Story 倩女幽魂 is absolutely of its era, with production in China, a mixed Hong Kong/Mainland cast, largely Mainland money, and a technical crew (including director Ye Weixin 叶伟信 ) from Hong Kong.Īt the time, the Cheng/Xu version galvanised audiences with its wire-work, sheer energy, stylistic excesses (all sensual curtains and misty blue light) and Cantonese comedy-romance nowadays, it all looks rather late 1980s and very cartoonish on the effects side. And then Xiaxue Fenglei turns up, with his younger sister Xia Bing (Wangdan Yili), both intent on settling the demon question in light of Yan Chixia’s hesitancy.ĭedicated to the memory of iconic Hong Kong actor-singer Zhang Guorong 张国荣 – star of the 1987 version, directed by Cheng Xiaodong 程小东 and produced by Xu Ke 徐克 – this latest version of the short story by Qing dynasty writer Pu Songling 蒲松龄 (from his collection Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio 聊斋志异) got an undeservedly rough ride from some Hong Kong loyalists on release. Meanwhile, however, Yan Chixia has reappeared on the scene and warns him not to get involved with Nie Xiaoqian. After unblocking the water source under the temple, Ning Caichen is feted as a hero by the villagers, but returns up the mountain to find Nie Xiaoqian. Ning Caichen meets Nie Xiaoqian and falls for her. At Lanruo temple, the prisoners are seduced by two beautiful demons (Lin Peng, Gong Xinliang), who suck out their life energy to pass on to the Tree Demon so she will gather enough strength to escape her bonds. The village head (Xu Jinjiang) sends along some prisoners to help him. Years later, young government official Ning Caichen (Yu Shaoqun) arrives in the area and offers to go up the mountain to find out why the village’s water source has dried up.
However, with the help of fellow demon-hunter Xiaxue Fenglei (Fan Shaohuang), who sacrifices his left arm, he does manage to “imprison” Nie Xiaoqian’s mistress, the Tree Demon (Hui Yinghong), beneath Lanruo temple.
#A chinese ghost story movie professional#
Yan Chixia (Gu Tianle) is a professional demon-hunter in the Black Mountains who falls for beautiful young demon Nie Xiaoqian (Liu Yifei) but cannot bring himself to kill her, even though he realises humans and demons cannot co-exist. Simply bigger and better, on most levels, than the famous 1987 version.Īncient China.