A Chinese Ghost Story
1987, NR, 101 min.
Directed by Siu-Tung Ching, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, Wu Ma, Lau Shi Ming.

Oh, man. This Tsui Hark-produced classic is the real deal. A million times better than its two sequels, A Chinese Ghost Story asks the eternal question: Is it possible for a man and a ghost to find happiness in love, especially when thwarted by a vampiric transsexual spirit who is the ultimate in pure evil? The film’s effects are wonderful and the spirit world is made into a palpable presence. But the really amazing thing is how transcendent the love story remains amid all the flying through trees, finger-zapping, and the memorable 40-foot animated tongue. You are not really ready to see Ang Lee’s eagerly anticipated fall 2000 release, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon unless you have A Chinese Ghost Story already under your belt.

This article appears in September 22 • 2000.

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Marjorie Baumgarten is a film critic and contributing writer at The Austin Chronicle, where she has worked in many capacities since the paper's founding in 1981. She served as the Chronicle's Film Reviews editor for 25 years.