|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New
Mr. Vampire |
|
|
|
AKA: |
Kung
Fu Vampire Buster |
"Boy, this movie stinks." |
|
|
Year: |
1986 |
|
|
Director: |
Billy Chan
Wui-Ngai |
|
|
Producer: |
Leonard
Ho Koon-Cheung |
|
|
Action: |
Chiu
Yuet-Sang |
|
|
Cast: |
Chin
Siu-Ho, Lui Fong, Chung
Fat, Pauline Wong
Siu-Fung,
Guk Fung,
Wu Ma, Chin Yuet-Sang, Tai
Bo, Huang Ha, Shum Wai,
Fung Ging-Man |
|
|
The
Skinny: |
Yet
another variation on the popular Mr. Vampire series. Does
it add anything significant to the genre? In a word: no. |
|
|
Review by
Calvin
McMillin: |
Though
it might seem like a sequel given its title, New Mr. Vampire
isn't technically a part of the popular Mr. Vampire series.
Some cast members from the original return in this film (as different
characters), but the popular "one eyebrow priest" Kau
(Lam Ching Ying) is sadly missing from the proceedings. Instead,
we have the story of Wang Choi (Chin Siu Ho), a mischievous graverobber
who accidentally awakens not one, but two corpses in the opening
reel. The first spirit is a powerful vampire under the control of
a sleazy Taoist priest, and the second, the lovely Hsi Wan (Pauline
Wong), is a friendly female ghost who becomes supernaturally linked
to Wang Choi. Somewhere along the way, Wang Choi enlists the help
of the reputable Master Chin (Chung Fat) to vanquish the deadly
vampire and exorcize the beautiful spirit. Cue the explosive, slapstick-heavy
finale.
In the end, I really can't recommend
New Mr. Vampire. The film does have one truly inspired moment;
Pauline Wong mimics Chin Siu-Ho's every movement in a sequence which
boasts impressive comic timing. But for HK aficionados, the flick
will pale in comparison to the original, and for greenhorns looking
to experience a fresh slice of HK horror, New Mr. Vampire
serves as a poor introduction to the mythology (the vampire doesn't
even hop!). Though not all that engaging to begin with, the movie
really grounds to a halt about two-thirds of the way in, and never
really recovers. Much like a vampire, this movie sucks the very
life out of you. It's ninety minutes you'll never get back, so why
not just watch Mr. Vampire instead? (Calvin McMillin 2002) |
|
|
DVD
Notes: |
The
Ric Meyers' commentary on the Tai Seng DVD is satisfactory, but
often deteriorates into yet another endless recitation of an actor's
filmography. |
|
|
Availability: |
DVD
(USA)
Region 0 NTSC
Tai Seng Home Video
Pan and Scan
English dubbed
Audio Commentary by Ric Meyers |
|
|
|
image courtesy
of Tai Seng Video Marketing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| LoveHKFilm.com
Copyright ©2002-2017 Ross Chen
|
|
|
