first saw film transmitted around  bbc working uks ad pal steve parkhouse recorded vhs sent me till point id really seen shaw bros kung fu movies harsh lighting so audience could see moves clearly revelation see something looked like lit ridley scott coming hong kong also first exposure movies tsui hark pronounced apparently choy hukbr br yet smoky backlit exteriors ambitious special effects stopmotion hong kong movie heart chinese ghost story lies simple moving love story made real outstanding acting talent leslie cheung what tragic tragic waste life beauty elegance joey wong granted joey gorgeous balletic hand gestures give character unattainable eroticism thats hard analyse though joey almost  years older gawd us isnt always enduring image actressbr br some reviewers said film simplistic lacks surprises theyre missing fact movie based famous chinese story written pu songling around  thats bit like complaining romeo juliet predictable ending copies west side story just wanted get chestbr br for me chinese ghost story quintessential romantic tale high tragedy know chio sin sin seen never together becoming mature none us mature weve experienced great loss sacrifice sacrifice essential component true love comedy stylings wu hurt bit eitherbr br enjoy chinese ghost story trying view filter western culture get fine