From the opening
credits, the paint like texture of this film is created as the camera traverses
through landscapes into a room full of men playing ancient Chinese instruments
late into the night. Master Wong (Adam Cheng) takes his leave to go home
and on his way he sees a woman approaching him down this long shadowy alleyway.
It is Joey Wong in a white shrouded outfit and she tells him that she needs
a place to sleep that night as she has run away from her husband. Not being
crazy, he gladly gives his assent and takes her home where he asks his wife
if he can take her as his concubine. The wife wants to get a look at this
woman and so she pokes a hole through the paper wall and much to her horror
sees Joey take off her human face.
Joey tries to
explain that she is "between Ying & Yang" – a wandering ghost unable to
go to either heaven or hell and she has escaped from the evil Ghost King.
She enlists the help of two Taoist priests in an attempt to kill the Ghost
King so that she can be reincarnated, but their powers are not strong enough
and so they journey to find a powerful priest to help them. They find him
in the form of Sammo Hung. Don't expect much in terms of martial arts; it's
primarily magic that is used but much of it is done very well. And Joey as
usual makes a very lovely ethereal ghost.
This is King
Hu's final film and it is considered by most to be one of his weakest films
- slow and very mannered. After seeing some of his earlier films it seems
evident that he had not changed his style with the times. Time had passed
him by for the 90's audience. Tsui Hark had reinvented this type of film (though
Tsui was very influenced by Hu) with his surreal images and kinetic action
but Hu was doing it as he always did. But I loved the attention to
detail and the slow paced mood of the film.
Rated: 7.5
