Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Mr. Vampire Blu-ray Movie Review

An action-packed genre flick for fans of Chinese cinema.

Mr. Vampire is an action-packed kung-fu film with plenty of exciting thrills for fans of classic Hong Kong cinema. Produced by Mun-kai Ko, Mr. Vampire stars an ensemble cast including Ching-Ying Lam, Siu-Ho Chin, Ricky Hui, Wah Yuen, and Moon Lee. The story by Ying Wong (Return of the Demon, The Swordsman) has surprising twists, turns, and amped-up action to keep fans of Chinese cinema entertained from start to finish.

Master Gau (Ching-Ying Lam) is a priest who leads spiritual tasks to guard off evil spirits and vampires. With his two assistants, Sheng (Siu-Ho Chin) and Choi (Ricky Hui), Gau fights the overwhelming evils of the spiritual world. When a dangerous vampire (Wah Yuen) enters the equation, Master Gau, Sheng, and Choi must fight off the villain while protecting their shrine and the city around them. The beautiful badass Ting-Ting (Moon Lee) also joins in on the fun. Can the team defect the evil vampire and save their community?

The ensemble cast does an excellent job with their respective roles. Given the genre nature of kung fu films, the acting can sometimes be a bit spotty, but the performances in Mr. Vampire are effective and help to tell the story. Ching-Ying Lam has plenty of comedic chops while delivering on the action quotient while Moon Lee has beauty and grace in equal measure. A strong effort by all involved.

The cinematography by Peter Ngor (Lost in Wrestling, Chinese Odyssey 2002) proves to be one of the best elements of the production. The visuals are terrific for genre fare and the entertaining style works wonders for the cinematic landscape of the story: vampires, demons, and unexpected danger within an undeniably slick kung-fu world.

"Kool-aid?"

The production design by Sai Kan Lam (Long mao shao xu) is another compelling element of the film. The design efforts showcase fantastic set designs and compelling landscapes for the action scenes to unfold with ease. These sequences are further enhanced by the production merits at each turn of the story. The costumes by Chi-Man Chan similarly fit the mold and work wonders. Outstanding.

The special effects designed by Chap-Hung Chan and Wai-kok Dun also make a big difference on the film and its overall success. The traditional effects work impresses with good make-up for the unique vampire creations. These effects make the genre filmmaking even more fun and worthwhile. Fans of classic genre fare will be enormously pleased.

Another compelling element on display in Mr. Vampire is the music score composed by Melody Bank (Millionaires' Express, Final Justice). The score gives the filmmaking a sense of whimsy and action packed excitement. The music helps set the tone and bring out the best of the filmmaking. The fun adventure and comedy-thrills of the film are heightened through the excellent effort by Bank.

One of the greatest elements of Mr. Vampire is the action. The action sequences are outstanding from start to finish. There is so much fun to be had with these sequences. The stunts by Yun-Chiang Peng (Heroes Shed No Tears, Heart of Dragon) impress and give the filmmaking a sense of style that is exceptional. As the characters duke it out with the vampire, the stunts excel and thrill. Bravo.

The screenplay by Ricky Lau alongside co-screenwriters Cheuk-Hon Szeto (Dragons Forever, Armour of God) and Barry Wong (Hard Boiled, Fight Back to School) is entertaining fun from beginning to end. The storytelling is over-the-top but that is why it works wonders. The silliness of the film is entertaining to behold. Director Ricky Lau (The Romance of the Vampires, Taoist Priest) tells a compelling and action-packed story while remembering to showcase the action in good measure. Enthusiasts of international cinema will delight in the kung-fu fun. Don't miss it.

Mr. Vampire Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment, Mr. Vampire is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The release is impressive. The presentation quality is crisp and clear throughout the encode. The print is strong (showcasing the evocative cinematography) and has no visible damage (such as scratches, warps, burns, and other significant video-based deficiencies). Color reproduction is excellent throughout.

Mr. Vampire Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release has a selection of audio options: Cantonese uncompressed PCM 1.0 mono in 24 bit high-resolution, English dub (European) in uncompressed PCM 2.0, and English dub (American) in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The lossless audio quality sounds crisp overall. Some parts of Mr. Vampire are a little less crisp and have a slight harshness to them but this is unexpected given the age of the elements. The majority of the presentation is effective (with both the music and dialogue being clear and easy to hear).

Mr. Vampire Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release includes a selection of bonus features as highlighted below:

Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng

Interview with Chin Siu-ho (SD, 42:17)

Interview with Moon Lee (SD, 17:40)

Interview with Director Ricky Lau (SD, 12:44)

Textless End Credits (HD, 1:24)

Mr. Vampire Original Hong Kong Trailer (HD, 4:08)

Mr. Vampire Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Mr. Vampire is an entertaining kung fu gem. The fight scenes are spectacular and are worth the price of admission alone. Directed by Ricky Lau (The Romance of the Vampires), Mr. Vampire is a gem which fans of classic Chinese cinema won't want to miss out on. The performances are surprisingly solid. A excellent production with plenty of surprises in store for audiences. The Blu-ray release features a strong presentation and a selection of extras. Highly recommended.