Magic Cop (1990) Poster

(1990)

User Reviews

Review this title
11 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
7/10
Let's give a cop magic powers
The-Sarkologist15 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is absolutely brilliant and will become a part of my collection. Sometimes, with the number of unknown movies that I have been watching lately I have been becoming a bit board, but I must remember that every so often a movie of absolute brilliance appears and Magic Cop is one of them.

Plotwise Magic Cop is not all that great. It is a very basic plot of good guy verses bad guy, the twist in this story is that the good guy is a cop who happens to be a sorcerer and the bad guy (or should I say girl) is a sorceress. Okay, the description of sorcerer is very European and the magic that occurs within the movie deals more with Taoist spirituality. Even so it still makes a very interesting movie to watch. Even though the effects are poor by Hollywood standards, they are the sort one expects from Hong Kong movies and adds to the flavour of the movie. I was going to describe it as having a comic book flavour, but it does not because the comic book movies have created a very fantasy feel to them. Movies like the Big Hit use bright colours while Batman uses very distinct props which create a twisted and Gothic feel to it.

A zombie, or as the movie terms it, a walking cadaver, rampages through a restaurant carrying a case of drugs. The police are a little confused that this person was able to withstand multiple gunshots and being smashed apart by cars, and this attracts the attention of a retired sergeant. In the opening sequence we are shown that he has extensive knowledge on dealing with the spirit world and he saves an unfortunate mother and daughter from the anger of their ancestors. Thus he comes onto the scene though is rejected by his peers as being unorthodox and trapped in a world that does not exist. This changes when they discover that he is able to drag up information above and beyond any normal person can find out and that at the bottom of this drug ring is a powerful sorceress that is using the art in a skeptical world to advance her power.

Magic Cop is a cool movie because it merges successfully the swords and sorcery feel within the modern world. It is a movie where magic is tossed freely and evil witches try to take control of our heroes. I do not know if the magic sequences were developed by the filmmakers or considered to be true. As for magic I am very conscience of its existence because of reliable sources documenting its existence. It is more an ancient phenomenon because our skeptical western minds refuse to accept the existence of that which we cannot see or touch. Faith in the western world has all but vanished, except for that which we have in ourselves. Magic is not a good thing: it is a very dangerous thing that we must beware of, but to totally ignore it is even more dangerous.
2 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Magic Cop
coltras3510 January 2023
It introduces us to Uncle Fung (Ching Ying Lam), a kindly rural policeman who is "more like a Taoist priest than a cop" -- including apprehending an angry ghost with a candle and cloth, after an old lady accidentally angers it. There must be a lot of people who get killed by angry spirits, if this scene is any indicator.

Then we switch to undercover cops Lam (Wilson Lam) and 'Head' (Miu Kiu Wai), who try to apprehend a drug courier, only to get tossed away like rag dolls. Turns out she died several days ago. This is the ideal crime for Fung, so he and his pretty niece Lin move into Lam's bachelor pad. No, I don't know why Fung doesn't kick Lam out the window for hitting on his niece.

When Fung isn't keeping the womanizing Lam away from his niece, the three cops are tracking the dead woman's boyfriend. The man unwittingly leads them to the head of the drug ring -- a Japanese Taoist sorceress, who reanimates corpses as couriers. Only Fung can stop another Taoist magician -- but soon they've unleashed a horrific zombie that wants them all dead.

Ching Ying Lam reprises his "vampire busting" role but as a cop as well as a priest and combats vampires really well as seen in this highly imaginative and lively HK film that mixes comedy and horror quite well. Ching Ying Lam is great as usual, exuding authority and seriousness, and is very protective towards his cute niece especially where Wilson Lam is concerned, who is quite a lustful guy. His modernity clashes with Ching, highlighting the differences between cultures. Lam is really good as the cop who doesn't believe in such mumbo jumbo and vampires but he soon changes his mind quick. In contrast, Michael Miu, another cop, is respectful to Yam. He's quite funny in his role. The special effects are a highlight. Check out the finale where our hero takes on Michiko Nishiwaki who is great as usual as the villain. She's effortlessly menacing and alluring at the same time. The humour is good, though never overwhelming. Overall, a fun watch.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Mr Vampire + Terminator = Magic Cop
cauwboy1 June 2020
This is really a cool movie, Ching-Ying Lam as a hard-boiled cop with some magic skills in a 90s environment, this is what I wanted the from Ching-Ying after all the comedic roles he had as the taoist in the Mr Vampire films.

Now this film still got a fair amount of comedic scenes in it, but they're not as embarrassing as previous films, this film actually takes itself a bit more serious and it works so well. The Police Force fighting walking corpses, controlled by a Sorceress and for some reason the Police Force just happens to have a cop that can deal with magic too and it's the most perfect example of a fight between Masters of Magic.

The film still got a limited amount of budget, so take it for what it is. It's not the same gory makeup you see in Hollywood films like Terminator or Romero's Dead Series. But instead you have things you've never seen in films before, like the "fortune telling car chase" - you have to see it for yourself to see what I mean, but it's why I love watching films, when I see things like this, great and fantastic ideas I would never have thought of myself.

There were still some dumb, comedic scenes I felt dragged the coolness of the film down, especially from the two cop sidekicks, but Ching-Ying was just amazing. And for some reason all of these HK horror/comedies seems to have a rule to not be longer than 90 minutes, on one hand I would love to have more content, on another hand it's very packed with what it got, and the ending is more closed this time than previous films. I hope we'll see a release of this film on bluray, because I would love to see this again and for many others to discover this gem. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
You had me at Mr. Vampire
movieman_kev4 April 2004
Lam Ching Ying is one of my favorite Chinese actors and when he passed on I was greatly saddened. Although I can't pick my favorite of the movies that he's done, as there are so many great ones, "Magic Cop" is up there. Lam once again plays his "Ghostbusting Taoist monk", but in this one he's a cop (but still Ghost-busting and Taoist) This film will bring a smile to your face, it's action packed & it holds up on multiple viewings. What's NOT to like?? Still not sold? The writer of this film also wrote suck greats as "In the line of Duty", the hilarious "God of Cookery", AND Shaolin Soccer.

My Grade: A

DVD Extras: Just the theatrical trailer & a short bio on Lam Ching Ying
11 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Vampire Buster in modern times!
OllieSuave-0079 September 2014
Vampire Buster Lam Ching-Ying does it again with his skillful and magical persona, playing Uncle Feng who joins forces with Hong Kong police detectives Lam (Wilson Lam) and No. 2237 (Miu Kiu Wai) to investigate a drug ring, whose leader is a black magic practicing Sorceress (Michiko Nishiwaki) that can turn the deceased into zombies.

Lam Ching-Ying sheds his usual Taoist Priest character but brings the same personality and bagful of magic tricks and charms into this modern story, catching ghosts left and right in the attention grabbing introduction, which then leads to the detectives trying to stop a runaway drug dealer - all leading to a funny culture clash between Feng's mystical style in solving the case and Detective Lam's more conventional and by-the-book method.

There is only some light martial arts action, but the film is pretty fast-paced with all its investigation scenes and zombie action, including the thrilling battle scenes between Uncle Feng and the Sorceress. The special effects of the film were nicely done and I thought the acting was actually good.

The story could have emphasized the drug dealing plot a little bit more, but other than that, this film is great zombie and magic action fun!

Grade A-
3 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
My all-time favorite modern HK fantasy
brad.daniels29 December 1999
When a famous actor dies, I usually think, "oh, that's sad", and pretty much forget about it. When Lam Ching Ying died, I was truly sad, and this movie is one of the major reasons why. In Magic Cop, Lam brings his Taoist Priest persona out of the hopping vampire genre and into a modern setting. The film masterfully combines the best elements of films like Mr. Vampire and A Chinese Ghost Story with modern Hong Kong police action films.

Somebody tell me if this one ever comes out on DVD!
5 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Wonderfully charming, very entertaining.
mightymothra13 May 2015
One of my all-time favorites. A Taoist priest/police officer in the modern day faces down a rash of hopping vampires, as well as a sorceress whose abilities match his own.

The action scenes in this movie are just a joy to watch. Ching-Ying Lam's character performs complex, incense-heavy banishment rituals in cartoonish flurries of ultra-precise acrobatics, drawing glyphs with melted wax and controlling wafts of smoke with elegant absurdity. It really has to be seen.

I don't want to spoil much. Incredibly entertaining, delightfully fun, and completely ridiculous in the best way. Absolutely worth a watch.
4 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
Modern Mr. Vampire let down by irritating sidekicks
cpu-48 December 2023
This flick stars the awesome Ching-Ying Lam as a kind of current day Mr. Vampire. Sounds promising, and so are the first scenes.

Things quickly go downhill though as the two sidekicks are introduced, who might manage to provide some low brow comic relief for ages 5 and below, but are guaranteed to annoy anyone else, and who are given way too much screen time. The other prominent character, Mr. Vampires niece, must be around 18 years old, yet acts like she is a whiny cognitively challenged toddler which obviously gets irritating very quickly as well.

On the up side: Michiko Nishiwaki is convincing as a wicked sorceress, and Ching-Ying Lam doesn't disappoint.

To sum it up, there sure are some entertaining scenes and fights, but you will probably find yourself fastforwarding a lot as well. Might be worth it for Mr. Vampire fans, but certainly not required viewing.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Ching-Ying Lam is the master of Hong-Kong horror comedy
phanthinga9 May 2018
Ching-Ying Lam is very famous for his ghost busting Taoist priest in the Mr.Vampire series and any horror comedy movie with Chinese hopping vampire after that so in 1990 his battle with the force of evil one again happen in the modern times when science take over and the old traditional being left behind.This time we still get the slaptick humor from his co-star and many crazy ghost busting techniques that too awesome to put into words.Magic Cop is very entertaining and a must see for fan of Ching-Ying Lam and Hong-Kong cinema in general
2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Fantastic Fun!
cindyapples26 April 2015
This movie is fantastic fun and by this movie is fantastic fun I mean this movie is fantastic and I also mean that this movie is really, really, fun!

The subtitles can get a bit annoying sometimes especially when there is a lot of action on the screen which you are missing in order to read the lines, then have to back it up to re watch it all over again, but this is the kind of thing I would complain about any time I watch a foreign movie that has subtitles, so I can't really attack it too much for that.

Great action, some really funny parts, and the acting and story are better than you would expect.
2 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
I loved it!
BandSAboutMovies15 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Some consider this the fifth film in the Mr. Vampire series. It stars Lam Ching-ying as Uncle Feng. Seeing as how he's the hero -- he's also in the second and third movies in the Mr. Vampire films, as well as Vampire vs, Vampire and Encounters of the Spooky Kind II -- you can figure out why this movie is tied to those films.

Uncle Feng is a retired policeman leading a quiet and beautiful life in Tung Ping Chau who still occasionally reports to his boss, Chief Inspector Ma (Wu Ma). His next door neighbor asks Feng to make the trip to Hong Kong to bring back the body of her daughter. She was a stewardess who the cops shot after she was accused of smuggling drugs. That's when he learns the truth: she was already dead when the cops shot her, the thrall of a Japanese sorceress (Michiko Nishiwaki, Passionate Killing in the Dream, In the Line of Duty 3) who is killing others and enslaving them as undead workers for her drug business.

Feng has to team with a young cop, Sargent Yam (Wilson Yam), and find the secret altar of the Sorceress and stop her with his Taoist magic. Director Stephen Tung combines comedy, wild magic fights and martial arts into one incredibly entertaining film.

That said -- there is one moment of near-cat abuse, so when you see a black cat on screen and you are easily upset by animals in danger, look away. It's not comfortable watching a cat get nearly hung, even though one hopes it was well taken care of when the scene was over.

The last twenty minutes of this movie are completely out of control and as a fan of both Lam Ching-ying and Michiko Nishiwaki, I couldn't help but be in a great mood after this was over. Just total fun and a great mix of modern cop action and traditional magic and martial arts.
0 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed