A Chinese Ghost Story II
1990
Director: Ching Siu-Tung
Stars: Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, Jacky Cheung, Michelle Reis, Lau Shun, Ng Ma
Beginning from when the first film left off, this installment sees Leslie going back to his hometown after losing his beloved. The town has been overrun by pirates and the cops mistake Leslie for one when they sweep the town and toss him into jail. After escaping, he meets up with Taoist priest Jacky Cheung, a mess of new evil ghosts and a woman who bears a striking resemblance to his lost love.
Like most sequels, A Chinese Ghost Story II isn't as good as the original, but happily in this case, it isn't a total wash-out. There is actually some movement of the story -- building upon the first movie without depending too heavily on it. The romance is de-emphasized in this installment in favor of supernatural action, which might disappoint some viewers, but I liked the fresh approach this film took. As could be expected under Ching Siu-Tung, the action sequences are imaginative and well-done, including some early use of CGI.
RATING: 7.5