by 1987 hong kong have give the world such film a sammo hung ` encounter of the spooky kind chow yun fat in john woo iconic ` a good tomorrow and ` zu warrior and the classic ` mr vampire . jackie chan be have international success on video and but it be with ` a chinese ghost story that hk cinema have it first real crossover theatrical hit in the west for many year . western filmgoers have never see anything like it . it be a film that take various ingredient that hk cinema have use for year ( fly swordsman and wildly choreograph martial art and the supernatural ) and blend them to create a film that be unique in it look and feel and execution . forget the poor and unnecessary sequel it spawn and this be the original and best . director siu tung ching ( still best know a an action choreographer on such film a woo ` a good tomorrow 2 or the killer ) have and under the watchful eye of legendary producer tsui hark and create a masterpiece of fantasy or horror cinema . and with such an expert crew at his disposal ( no less than 6 martial art coordinator ) the chance of the film be anything but wonderful would be unthinkable . the editing by the amazingly prolific david wu ( who write or direct ` the bride with white hair 2 and edit such classic title a ` a good tomorrow half /3 and ` hardboiled and the cult hit ` the club ) be quite simply a work of genius . his crafting of the perfectly choreograph high flying and tree climb sword fight make them some of the best hk cinema have ever create . fast moving and outlandish but never confuse they be and even today and the pinnacle of their art . the crew of cinematographer have also do miracle . this be a film where every shot be an expertly craft painting . where wonderful blue ting night sequence and shroud in an ever present ghostly fog and be the breathtaking platform for our story to unfold . it a film where everything be use to weave a dreamlike beauty . even the silken robe and dress wear by hsiao tsing become living part of the movie and whether in romantic sequence or battle scenes the ever present silk flow across the screen . even a simple scene where hsiao tsing change rob be turn into a thing of flutter beauty a every skill on the set combine to create a most memorable scene from such a simple act . the set be also amazing and give an other worldly sense to the forest and and the temple and harshness to the scorch and flag fill wasteland of hell for the amazing finale . the production design by zhongwen xi deserve the high praise . another major factor to the film success be the music by romeo diaz and james wong . hong kong film have give u some fantastic music and song that have add so much to the success of a sequence and but on ` a chinese ghost story the music be and quite simply and vital . from the opening song onwards the music become as important a the character . the score be a perfect mixture of modern and traditional instrument . drum and bell and guitar pound away over the action sequence to great effect and but it in the slow and achingly romantic piece that it come into it own . here while flute and string and female choral effect create what be possibly the fine piece of music heard in an hk film . add to this the female vocal and stunningly beautiful song that play over tsau shen and hsiao tsing love making and ( nothing be ever see and but the effect be wonderful . this be lovingly innocent movie romance ) and you have a shining example of the power a film music can have . and we of course have the acting talent . leslie cheung ( ` a good tomorrow 1 and 2 and a very popular singer ) be outstanding a the innocent tax collector . his work in the ( thankfully mild ) comic sequence be never over the top and his scene with joey wang be play with just the right amount of passion and innocence . joey wang ( who would later be mostly relegate to support role in film like the chow yun fat or andy lau classic god of gambler ) have never look more radiant than how she do here . she be the epitome of ethereal beauty . her portrayal of the tragic hsiao tsing be stun . she show her character sadness at what she have become and what she be make to do and but also give off a subtle eroticism in the scene where she be lure the men to their gruesome death . veteran actor wu ma ( ` mr. vampire and ` swordsman ) be great fun a the wise and brave and but ever so grumpy and yen . he tread a fine line between the eccentric and the annoy with practised ease . and what so easily could have be a character that could have harm the film be actually wonderfully entertaining and memorable . but what about the monster and beasties . and i hear you cry . well they range from the rather crude but fun stop motion or animatronic zombie that inhabit the temple ( result in a great run gag with constantly thwart attempt to munch on the amusingly unsuspecting tsau shen ) and to the rather cheesy but surprisingly effective lord black . complete with an arsenal of vicious fly head and and quite outstanding wire work . most of which have and to this day and never be top . but the most outstanding effect and creation be the tree spirit killer tongue . we first encounter this thing with an ` evil dead style rush camera effect a it power down it victim throat to deliver a lethal french kiss that turn the victim into zombiefied husk . but later it show in all it crazy glory . it can grow so big and long that it shoot through the forest after prey and rip apart tree and wrap itself around building and coil it slimy length around people before pick them up and throw them against tree trunk . it can even split open to reveal a fang fill mouth . it an outrageous idea that give the deeply romantic main plot shouldn not work . but it do and to fantastic and unforgettable effect . so what all this add up to be a classic example of hong kong movie making . a true team effort that have give u a truly ground break movie . it a film pack with wit and invention and action and monster and martial art and ghost and fantastic idea and lush visuals and beautiful music and and most important to it endure charm and one of cinema most moving romance .