| “Once a year the hell gate opens--if we don’t appease the ghosts--if they feel frustrated, what do you think will happen?”
I think you will get a very good Hong Kong movie about a Taoist Cop with Lam Chi Ying.
The great Lam Chi Ying plays “Uncle Fung Zee” a Taoist Sorcerer who choses to work a day job as a cop because; "Both Cops and Taoist Priest’s serve the people"
Uncle Fung has to deal with a Fox of Japanese Witch (Michiko Nishiwaki) from the evil Nine Lotus Cult who is using oafish body builders, black magic and Zombies to move and sell drugs. Uncle Fung also has to contend with his two young police department protégés, Hong Kong hipster cops who are fond of technology, live in a bachelor pad complete with giant fish tank don‘t believe in magic and are after his cute sexy niece. Uncle Fung trash’s their batcholar pad puts up a Kwan Kung alter, adjusts their Feng Shuey and makes sure they behave themselves arround his neice. Uncle Fung is very tactical he makes great use of everyday objects to manipulate time and space. Michiko Nishiwaki is a intense actress and plays well as the enemy witch who uses ‘ice magic’. She is quite something to watch. As a witch though she should have known better. If you are a Japanese witch, you just don't- look into a ba gwa mirror. It will be a 'bad hair day" for you for sure- if you do.
Lam Chi Ying performs popular Taoist ritual and magic with the élan and skill of a real Tao-Shih- making you wonder if he was really trained in such arts. His kung fu is excellent and he puts it to good use in action against “thunder leg” Billy Chow is some amazing fights. The film is fun to watch and one of the better Hong Kong Occult/ Kung fu action films available. The special effect in the last scenes or not that great- low budget late 80’s claymation.
Good movie reccomended- late 80’s kung fu and occult magic action. One of Lam Chi Ying’s last films. You may enjoy watching it on holloween with some friends! After all that is when-- "The Hell Gate opens"
Some quotes from the script.
Young hipster cop to Lao Fung,“You are superstitious”. Uncle Fung “And you are superficial”
“If it was not a strange case- they would not have sent me- someone is using Chinese zombies to move drugs”
“If we can solve cases by worshiping why don’t we hire Taoist priests as cops?”
Why indeed? Even in the west scientific detectives have consulted psychics- often with surprising effective results! |