In Love With The Dead (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
Shawn Yue (Actor)
| Stephy Tang (Actor)
| Danny Pang (Director)
Our Price:
US$10.99
Customer Review of "In Love With The Dead (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)"
Average Customer Rating for this Edition:
(3)
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Rhoda
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April 10, 2009
See all my reviews
April 10, 2009
Unexpected story!!!
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The turn of events especially in the ending is really unexpected. I am so glad i got myself a copy. You will also loved the way Shawn is dedicated to his sick wife and being a devoted husband and a good provider at the same time. But his straying is something is happening because of the inability to be loved back.... but the ending is really something. GET a copy, worth buying. |
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Lulu
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April 23, 2008
See all my reviews
April 23, 2008
Pang in love with the dead...
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I was disappointed when I first realised this was a pang brothers movie. I've noticed that in their recent films they have been increasingly strange and non sensical. In Love with the Dead certainly made sense even with it's strange elements, but I have to say the result made me sick to my stomach. I recently watched 'Diary' and the characters in that film portrayed the same manic role. Ahem, alot of issues in both these films seem to be 'Recycle'd from another certain Pang Brothers film... In Love with the Dead keeps you guessing until the end, but it's not really worth it. I wouldn't watch it again. Not for the squimish either. |
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numinair
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February 11, 2008
See all my reviews
February 11, 2008
2 people found the following helpful
Shawn of the Dead
Shawn of the Dead
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Considering some of the more manic roles that Shawn portrays, I thought by his character Ming here and of his loving concern for the health of his sick girlfriend Wai, that this was to be Shawn in a more tender and loving mode. Which his character certainly is here, but considering this is also a Danny Pang film, I also considered that Shawn might still be in manic role again here, too? And..eh?......yes, he certainly is...and when you get to the dramatic and 'in your face' revelation of the truth behind this dark tale of horror...you'll find it to be the most manic and twisted part Shawn has played yet. For a Danny Pang film, this time, this is also quite a juxtaposed genre mix, that in one respect is like a sad TV melodrama by the fatal situation of Wai's terrible disease; a romantic affairs type by Ming having a passionate fling with Chu Fong (an old school friend of Ming and Wai) and the 'sad love story' issues by Fong's need for a heartfelt loving man, and Ming's own deeply frustrated feelings for Wai, as he cares for her with her life threatening illness. It features the creepiness of an horror ghost flick by the inclusion of Wai's kid sister, Ping, and her scary comic and visions of ghosts. And finally, a fatal attraction element when all goes a bit fragmented glass at the latter part, after Wai's disappearance and Ming's car accident (and another bit that I cannot say, as it would be a spoiler), where after this, you're not quite sure who is sick, dead or alive. With the blender then switched to fast mix, you get here a schizoid plot of sickness dependency, closet sex, love, ghosts and displacement issues. It certainly isn't a mere dark tragic romance, TV style. So, although the white back ground cover to the DVD and the loving embrace of Stepy and Shawn's characters could seem like serious romantic aesthetics - it certainly isn't that! Well, its a Pang brothers film, of course, but here there is also a bit of a beast under the bonnet, and a grim film indeed, when you reach the final conclusion. Its not a gory horror flick, but certainly psychologically disturbing (Stephy has some hard bits to project here with her illness) and in essence, is a love story triangle with the supernatural blended into the sombre minds of the there main characters. Most of the movie is filmed in a subdued dark atmosphere in Ming and Wai's flat which give this an excellent creepy feel, certainly relating to Wai's illness. But as the more unusual factors come into play (when Ming begins losing his hair, vomiting worms and suffering physical effects mirroring Wai's own side effects to her chemotherapy), you begin to think speculatively (considering this a Pang Bros film), that not all these guys may be in the land of the living. Elements of Jacob's Ladder and the 'Hill' creep in (and Ming isn't far off a James Sunderland!). Its very dark and moody, with very little light relief. But all of this stays mostly under a psychological chiller mode, than ever really being a full out horror. Steph's vomiting scene is nasty, though (don't watch this when you're tucking into your favorite tum food). Acting here is excellent! And like the highly impressive acting talents of Charlene Choi and Isabella Leung in Oxide's "Diary", Stephy really acts her heart out in one bloody good role here as Mai, too! Her performance as a cancer sick woman certainly isn't relishing or easy going stuff to perform, and a hard nailed bit of acting. The scenes where Mai refuses her chemotherapy, her vomiting at meal time, her hair loss and a bed scene with Ming when her sickness kicks in, is top notch acting credibility. I really hope that Steph does more varied and serious acting parts, like this (although in moderation, as they can be harsh to act!), than her regular dizzy comedy romance ones. Both forms of movies are great, but this type widens Stephy's talent a lot! Kudos, Stephy! I can't hep thinking that both Danny and Oxide must have some 'magic dust' of how they direct HK popsters to such high quality acting levels. In fact, this trend of polar opposite areas of Canto pop sensibilities contrasting with psychological horror is interesting. Fascinating - as Mr Spock might say! Shawn also gets a bit more Pang Bros air time here, than his gagged and bound chair scenes in "Diary", and plays really well as the frustrated (I won't say any more) Ming. Sorry I didn't mention Shawn in the "Diary" review, as I got so wrapped up in fascination with Charlene's role. Actress Yoka Yue performs well in the role of Fong. Chu Fong does have a more substantial character along with the two main protagonists, and the psychological edge to the plot makes Fong an interesting addition. Although this film has a good premise and terrific acting from Stephy and all the cast, I found the pacing a bit slow at times, and all of what is contained here could have probably happened in 65mins, than the 98mins that it is. The main plot substance is restricted purposefully to enable the suspense and twists to all work at a reasonable rate at the finish, causing an unfortunate sluggishness with this film. Some scenes, too, may confuse a little to also keep the plot illusive and the element of surprise under lock and key, until the revelatory end. One loose thread is a bit dangly, too, when the end is revealed....an 'element' I dare not mention as to spoil. The dramatic finale is also....eh?....a bit on the subtle side. In fact as subtle as a brass band performing in a Universities student's revision library, when it all gets thrust into your vision! But, nevertheless, its a good film and I definitely recommend you seeing this, especially for Stephy's excellent acting and it certainly being a decent psychological drama horror. The premise to this is also that the 'dead' of the title are not entirely related to the passed away, but the 'dead' nature of the sinful soul. And even Mai's illness itself, could be a form of expression of what is going on in Ming's mind. Interesting that Ming being a comic artist himself relates to the horror ghost comic that Ping constantly reads, and for unusual reasons, seems to reflect Mai and Ming's related happenings around her. Could this have also been called 'The Girl with the Deadly Comic'? The 2 disk set is fully subtitled as per usual with the main film, but the second DVD also features an English and Mandarin subtitled "Making of" featurette, which is nice - and there are some good MVs. Sadly, the other features (apart from some trailers) don't have any subtitles, but as with many bits and pieces, they can be watched comfortably without them. Its really interviews that are the niggly ones when sub less. You also get 5 printed postcards as a fold out card sheet with perforations to separate the postcards with key scene film stills. Recommended - but don't get the munchies out until after mid way through, will you. Or as Dell Boy once said, you might be doing some 'psychedelic yodeling' of your own! |
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