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A Chinese Ghost Story

Original title: Sien lui yau wan
  • 2011
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
FantasyHorror

Tax collector Ning, a clumsy and easily frightened man, doesn't have any money and decides to stay overnight in an abandoned temple. Little does he know that the temple is haunted. He meets ... Read allTax collector Ning, a clumsy and easily frightened man, doesn't have any money and decides to stay overnight in an abandoned temple. Little does he know that the temple is haunted. He meets a very beautiful lady who seduces him, but he doesn't know that she is a ghost, usually no... Read allTax collector Ning, a clumsy and easily frightened man, doesn't have any money and decides to stay overnight in an abandoned temple. Little does he know that the temple is haunted. He meets a very beautiful lady who seduces him, but he doesn't know that she is a ghost, usually not leaving any man alive...

  • Director
    • Wilson Yip
  • Writer
    • Tan Cheung
  • Stars
    • Louis Koo
    • Liu Yifei
    • Shaoqun Yu
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    1.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Wilson Yip
    • Writer
      • Tan Cheung
    • Stars
      • Louis Koo
      • Liu Yifei
      • Shaoqun Yu
    • 13User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Photos189

    A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
    Shaoqun Yu and Jing Li in A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
    Liu Yifei and Shaoqun Yu in A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
    Siu-Wong Fan, Louis Koo, and Liu Yifei in A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
    A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
    Louis Koo and Liu Yifei in A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
    Shaoqun Yu in A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
    Liu Yifei and Shaoqun Yu in A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
    Liu Yifei in A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
    Shaoqun Yu in A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
    Louis Koo and Liu Yifei in A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)
    Siu-Wong Fan and Kara Wai in A Chinese Ghost Story (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Louis Koo
    Louis Koo
    • Yan Chixia
    • (as Tian Le Gu)
    Liu Yifei
    Liu Yifei
    • Nie Xiaoqian
    • (as Yi Fei Liu)
    Shaoqun Yu
    Shaoqun Yu
    • Ning Caichen
    • (as Shao Qun Yu)
    Kara Wai
    Kara Wai
    • Tree Demon
    • (as Ying Hong Hui)
    Siu-Wong Fan
    Siu-Wong Fan
    • Ha Suet Fung Lui
    • (as Shao Huang Fan)
    Elvis Tsui
    Elvis Tsui
    • Village Chief
    • (as Jin Jiang Xu)
    Miumiu
    Miumiu
    • Green Snake
    • (as Miu Miu)
    Peng Lin
    Peng Lin
    • White Snake
    Fei Wang
    • Demon
    Jing Li
    • Ti Nga
    Hark-On Fung
    Hark-On Fung
    • Second Village Chief
    • (as Ke An Feng)
    Alan Chung San Chui
    Alan Chung San Chui
    • Prisoner
    Yili Wangdan
    • Director
      • Wilson Yip
    • Writer
      • Tan Cheung
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Remake of A Chinese Ghost Story (1987)

    User reviews13

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    A milestone of Hongkong cinema goes Twilight
    I have seen the original three movies as a child and I have kept very positive memories about it. These movies were atmospheric, artistic, mysterious, mythological and romantic. From the imaginative fighting scenes over the profound emotional parts up to one of the best movie soundtracks ever done in the history of cinema, these movies introduced me to Chinese culture and until today I have remained fascinated by this diversified and colourful country.

    I am aware of the fact that remakes often fail to be on pair with the originals and I think that a remake of one of these untouchable movies shouldn't have been made. They had already done a comic adaption of the story in 1997 and now they have released some sort of remake of the original film even though both films have a slightly different story line. This movie may be dedicated to the brilliant late Leslie Cheung but in reality it's a question of business to revamp these series in times of Twilight and similar movies that are popular around the world. This movie is definitely for younger audiences and not for those who have grown up or liked the first three films. If this movie had a different title, it would maybe be worth seven points but as it's directly related to the original by its title, it wouldn't be worth more than five points. In the end, I think that my six points are a quite fair rating for both points of view.

    This revamp of the series focuses a whole lot on special effects. There are too many of them, they look very artificial and they are miles away from the innovating techniques of the original movies. These CGI effects don't fit at all to the beautiful landscapes, the traditional clothes, the old fashioned countryside villages and the mythological elements of the movie. It's as if you put aliens in a western and I always thought only Hollywood would do this kind of things.

    The actors in this movie do a good job but they really can't mess with the original cast. Yu Shaoqun isn't on the same level as Leslie Chung because he fails to add his own note. Louis Koo comes quite close to the original performer Wu Ma and has some strong charisma that pleases me very well. Liu Yifei gives her very best to portray a charming and innocent ghost but I really liked the supernatural grace of Joey Wong better. The supporting actors could have been more developed in this film but at least the guide and villages fool was quite addicting. I thought he was rather funny because he reminded me of a person I had met in real life.

    The story is close but on the same level as the original feature. I would even say that the last third of the movie and the final battle scenes were maybe even better than the original. The problem for me was the ending that I didn't like at all. It felt a little bit random and rushed. I was expecting an epic ending or a happy end but any development got suddenly aborted. I think that this ending wasted a lot of potential.

    In the end, modern movie fans will like the special effects and fighting scenes of this movie and the popular love story. Personally, I think that the new version lacks depth, development, magic and uniqueness and doesn't come close to the original feature that had been a true milestone for Hongkong cinema. Fans of the original shouldn't waste their time with this movie even though it's rather entertaining. They will be disappointed comparing this to the original. Those who liked this film should immediately try out the three original movies and get a lesson in truly well crafted cinema. Fans of popular movies that mix monsters and romance in the key of Twilight might though really enjoy this film.
    helpful•4
    1
    • kluseba
    • Sep 7, 2013

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 28, 2011 (Hong Kong)
    • Countries of origin
      • China
      • Hong Kong
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • Cantonese
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • A Chinese Fairy Tale
    • Production companies
      • Asia Bright Investment
      • Beijing Forbidden City Film
      • CHS Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,216,990
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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