A Chinese Ghost Story III
1991
Director: Ching Siu-Tung
Stars: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Jacky Cheung, Joey Wong, Nina Li Chi
A pair of monks take refuge in an old church during a rainstorm, where a tree demon decides to take their souls, and sends out a pair of nymphs (Joey Wong and Nina Li Chi) to dispatch them. The monks manage to fight off the demons, but lose their prized (and magical) Gold Buddha in the process. Now, the young monk (Tony Leung) must join up with a wandering swordsman (Jacky Cheung) to try and stop the demons.
As you might guess, this is not really a continuation of the first two movies. Rather, it is more of a similar tale in the genre. It's effective for what it is: the special effects are suitably inventive and gruesome, the action is fast and lively, and there is also a nice bit of drama and romance and Joey Wong starts to have feelings for Tony Leung. It's nothing earth-shattering, but A Chinese Ghost Story III should please fans of the first two movies. Even if you haven't seen either of the previous films, it's still an entertaining way to kill ninety minutes.
RATING: 7