Cast Member: Francis Ng

Although this movie was enjoyable from start to finish, it still lacked something to make it an above average thriller, while the few surprises in store make it unlikely to be viewed more than once.

Even though I was eager to like the film and the trailer helped make this seem a possibility, this is a major disappointment – even for the most forgiving fans of the Samuel Hui/Karl Maka classic.

Andrew Lau has a very obvious formula for making comic book adaptations and it’s one that is ultimately not very satisfying.

‘A Wicked Ghost’ is a vaguely interesting premise, let down by some rather pedestrian direction and generally wooden performances by its largely unknown cast.

It has to be admitted that there are some decent moments within the film and it certainly brings more smiles to the face than many a Chinese New Year comedy of the past.

Chow Sing-Chi completists may want to seek it out, but everyone else should divert their attention to his many more accomplished films.

The film is a flawed attempt that offers a pleasant 100 minutes of entertainment, but nothing more substantial.

Although the state of Hong Kong cinema is much approved now, it’s hard to forget the wretched state just a few years ago. ‘Big Bullet’ really stood out when it was released and remains a class act.

There is no doubt that this quirky and engrossing production has its faults; not all of the loose ends are successfully tied up and those that are seem to work out a little too neatly.

Full of humanity and interest, it remarkably manages to takes three or four strong sub-plots and amalgamate them together without letting any of them suffer.

‘Exiled’ is a riveting portrayal of a group of friends sticking by one another as their once chosen profession threatens to kill them all.

This, as you can tell from my gushing praise, is a film that has an obvious admiration and affection for the films that inspired it.