A Chinese Ghost Story (2011 film)
Encyclopedia
A Chinese Ghost Story, alternatively known as A Chinese Fairy Tale, is a 2011 film directed by Wilson Yip
and starring Louis Koo
, Liu Yifei
, Yu Shaoqun, Kara Hui
, Louis Fan, and Wang Danyi Li. The film is adapted from one of the tales in Pu Songling
's Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio
, a collection of supernatural stories set in ancient China.
Yan Chixia participates in battle after battle against the demons and spirits. The villagers in the vicinity are fearful of entering Black Hill and a nearby Lanruo Temple. Yan's sword and skill become more powerful and he is confident that he can defeat everything, until that day, he meets her and a tragedy begins. Many years later, all the rivers around the hill are hit by a serious drought and the villagers are forced to find a new water source on the haunted hill. It is here where human civilization meets primeval demons and a romance starts between a young scholar and a female ghost.
directed by Ching Siu-tung
and produced by Tsui Hark
. The end credits mention that the film is dedicated to the memory of the late actor-musician Leslie Cheung
, who starred as Ning Choi-san (Ning Caichen) in A Chinese Ghost Story (1987). Besides, the song played in the end credits is the theme song of A Chinese Ghost Story (1987), which was performed by Leslie Cheung.
gave the film a negative review of two stars out of five, stating that in comparison to the original film, A Chinese Ghost Story (2011) was "in the same spirit as the original so to speak, it seems to be targeted at a younger audience brought up on Hollywood movies, perhaps he hopes the film will be Hong Kong's answer to Twilight
."
Wilson Yip
Wilson Yip Wai-Shun is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker and screenwriter. His films include Bio Zombie, The White Dragon, SPL: Sha Po Lang, Dragon Tiger Gate, Flash Point, Ip Man, and Ip Man 2.-Early career:...
and starring Louis Koo
Louis Koo
Louis Koo is a Hong Kong actor. He was once a notable local television series actor, winning TVB's Best Actor award in 1999 for Detective Investigation Files IV. In recent years, he has focused on film...
, Liu Yifei
Liu Yifei
Liu Yifei is a Chinese actress and singer. Her legal name is Liu Ximeizi. The "茜" is from the German film Sissi .-Early life and education:Born in Tongji Hospital in Hubei, she was originally named An Feng...
, Yu Shaoqun, Kara Hui
Kara Hui
Kara Hui Ying-Hung is a Hong Kong actress of Manchu ancestry.-Biography and career:Hui's family moved to Hong Kong in 1966 and she started working at night clubs at fourteen. In her interview on Be My Guest, Hui revealed her family lost their savings from her father's business acquaintances...
, Louis Fan, and Wang Danyi Li. The film is adapted from one of the tales in Pu Songling
Pu Songling
Pu Songling was a Qing Dynasty Chinese writer, best known as the author of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio.-Biography:Pu was born into a poor landlord-merchant family from Zichuan...
's Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio
Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio
Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio or Liaozhai Zhiyi is a collection of nearly five hundred mostly supernatural tales written by Pu Songling in Classical Chinese during the early Qing Dynasty.Pu borrows from a folk tradition of oral storytelling to put to paper a series of captivating,...
, a collection of supernatural stories set in ancient China.
Plot
Many years ago, Yan Chixia aspired to become an excellent demon hunter, so he chose Black Hill as his place of training and fulfilling his dream. At that time, Yan was still young, and in the old Black Hill lived several demons and spirits who have existed even longer than the hill itself. Although these creatures lead a simple and primitive lifestyle, they are enshrouded in a strong aura of death and killing.Yan Chixia participates in battle after battle against the demons and spirits. The villagers in the vicinity are fearful of entering Black Hill and a nearby Lanruo Temple. Yan's sword and skill become more powerful and he is confident that he can defeat everything, until that day, he meets her and a tragedy begins. Many years later, all the rivers around the hill are hit by a serious drought and the villagers are forced to find a new water source on the haunted hill. It is here where human civilization meets primeval demons and a romance starts between a young scholar and a female ghost.
Cast
- Louis KooLouis KooLouis Koo is a Hong Kong actor. He was once a notable local television series actor, winning TVB's Best Actor award in 1999 for Detective Investigation Files IV. In recent years, he has focused on film...
as Yan Chixia (燕赤霞) - Liu YifeiLiu YifeiLiu Yifei is a Chinese actress and singer. Her legal name is Liu Ximeizi. The "茜" is from the German film Sissi .-Early life and education:Born in Tongji Hospital in Hubei, she was originally named An Feng...
as Nie Xiaoqian (聶小倩) - Yu Shaoqun as Ning Caichen (寧采臣)
- Kara HuiKara HuiKara Hui Ying-Hung is a Hong Kong actress of Manchu ancestry.-Biography and career:Hui's family moved to Hong Kong in 1966 and she started working at night clubs at fourteen. In her interview on Be My Guest, Hui revealed her family lost their savings from her father's business acquaintances...
as Tree Demon (樹妖) - Wang Danyi Li as Xia Bing (夏冰)
- Louis Fan as Xia Xuefenglei (夏雪風雷)
- Elvis TsuiElvis TsuiElvis Tsui , also known as Tsui Kam-kong, is a Hong Kong-based Chinese film and television actor.-Biography:...
as the village chief (村長) - Gong Xinliang as Green Snake (青蛇)
- Lin Peng as White Snake (白蛇)
- Li Jing as Iron Teeth (鐵牙)
Connection to A Chinese Ghost Story (1987)
A Chinese Ghost Story (2011) is regarded as a remake of the 1987 film of the same titleA Chinese Ghost Story
A Chinese Ghost Story is a 1987 Hong Kong romantic comedy horror film starring Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, and Wu Ma, directed by Ching Siu-tung, and produced by Tsui Hark...
directed by Ching Siu-tung
Ching Siu-tung
Ching Siu-tung , also known as Tony Ching, is a Hong Kong action choreographer, actor, film director and producer, who has directed over 20 films, including the critically acclaimed supernatural fantasy A Chinese Ghost Story .-Career:...
and produced by Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark , born Tsui Man-kong, is a Hong Kong New Wave film director and producer. He is viewed as a major figure in the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema .-Early life:...
. The end credits mention that the film is dedicated to the memory of the late actor-musician Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing , nicknamed elder brother , was a film actor and musician from Hong Kong. Cheung was considered as "one of the founding fathers of Cantopop", and "combining a hugely successful film and music career".In 2000, Cheung was named Asian Biggest Superstar by China Central...
, who starred as Ning Choi-san (Ning Caichen) in A Chinese Ghost Story (1987). Besides, the song played in the end credits is the theme song of A Chinese Ghost Story (1987), which was performed by Leslie Cheung.
Reception
The China PostThe China Post
For the article on the postal system based in the People's Republic of China, see China Post.The China Post is one of the three English-language newspapers published in Taiwan , the other two being Taiwan News and the Taipei Times. It was established by Mr. and Mrs. Y.P. Huang in 1952...
gave the film a negative review of two stars out of five, stating that in comparison to the original film, A Chinese Ghost Story (2011) was "in the same spirit as the original so to speak, it seems to be targeted at a younger audience brought up on Hollywood movies, perhaps he hopes the film will be Hong Kong's answer to Twilight
The Twilight Saga (film series)
The Twilight Saga is a series of supernatural romance fantasy films from Summit Entertainment based on the four Twilight series novels by the American author Stephenie Meyer. The films star Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner. The series has grossed over $2 billion in worldwide...
."
External links
A Chinese Ghost Story official website- A Chinese Ghost Story at the Hong Kong Movie DatabaseHong Kong Movie DatabaseThe Hong Kong Movie DataBase is a bilingual website that was created in 1995 by Ryan Law to provide a repository for information about movies originating from Hong Kong and the people that created them....
- A Better Synopsis at 24Framespersecond.net
- MOVIE PREVIEW : A CHINESE GHOST STORY at aforadio.com