Chinese Ghost Story, A

By Tero Karppinen     February 07, 2002
Release Date: February 08, 2000



The Review!
This is my first review, and English is not my native language, but I hope that you can follow me. I also try to avoid spoilers, but I can not guarantee that there aren't any. ;)

The technique used for animation is not usual. Almost every background is computer generated CGI. At worst it looks adequate, but for most of the time they are simply beautiful and rich (actually, it reminds me little bit of that forest scene from Tenchi Muyo in love 2). The character design is quite simply, but I got used to it quite easily. Transfer from film to DVD is also very good; I didn't notice any flaws, but I also weren't looking for them

There are three different audio tracks : Cantonese, Mandarin and English. Sounds are DD5.1 and they are superb. The rear channels are in heavy use which creates good atmosphere. The music is beautiful, and the acting is also good.

I saw the original live action Ghost story from TV few years back. It was not an unusually exceptional movie, but was entertaining thing to watch; The Animated version is very different when compared to original. The story is a basic love story, where a boy falls in for a ghost girl, and then the boy. Uh, never mind. We see some wacky characters, a ghost hunting mecha, a really evil and scary old ghost lady, a Disney style small lap dog (goofing around) and there are some unexpected twists in the plot.

Sometimes the movie reminds me of Disney animations (because the small humoristic animals. urgh), sometimes Tim Burton's Nightmare before Christmas (because the ghost design). For most of the time though, it stands on it's own. The Film is also suitable for children. Personally I think it has earned a place between my copies of Lain and Tenchi. ;)

Review Equipment
Yamaha DSP-A2, Nokia 32" 100Hz wide TV, Pioneer DV-606D dvd player (modified) and speakers : Celestion 30i (front), celestion 12i (rear), celestion CC1 (center), Celestion SLi (LFE) and Whaferdale modus one (front effect).