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Mr. Vampire
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List Price: $9.98
Our Price: $9.98
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
Starring: Ching-Ying Lam, Siu-hou Chin, Ricky Hui, Moon Lee, Billy Lau
Directed By: Ricky Lau
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0024543120506
Format: Closed-captioned
Label: 20th Century Fox
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2004-09-07
Running Time: 97
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release Date: 1986
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Editorial Reviews:
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Master Ko (Lam Ching Ying, stunt master in Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon) faces the daunting task of re-burying a rich man's father - in the hope that the new tomb will bring further prosperity. The frightening twist comes when the corpse comes back to life with a foul and vengeful netherworld gang. Desperately trying to right his wrongs, Master Ko finds himself sinking in deep trouble as apprentices Dan (Ricky Hui) turns into a vampire himself and Harry (Chin Siu Ho) is reduced to a weak soul posseses by a fierce ghost.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Hopping Vampires???
Comment: My wife came across this video on Netflix and when I watched it at her suggestion I decided it was a "must have". I couldn't believe the slap stick Chinese "goofiness" I saw in this movie. You may have to put a few brain cells on hold but sit back and allow yourself to loosen up and laugh.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: At Times A Very Funny Chinese Horror-Comedy!
Comment: There was a time when I believed this to be a 5-star film, but I let my bias of the film influence my rating of "Mr. Vampire." This film brings back a lot of memories to me, therefore, I have deleted the original review, and given this newer review so that other amazon reviewers will have a truly honest depiction of this film. The only other time I have deleted a review was with "Boxer's Omen," which I initially gave a 3-star rating to, and changed to a 2-star rating. It is great to see parody in any genre. Moreover, it is necessary at times. Which brings us to this unique film, "Mr. Vampire." Having first seen the film many years ago, I originally owned the VHS tape which was pretty choppy and bad to say the least. The film has action, horror, and comedy. Those who are into action based films, however, will not find the martial arts as action based as you might like, but the film does serve as a parody of Martial Arts.
I don't wish to spoil the film for those of you who have not viewed the film, therefore, I will leave out the more funnier scenes. The film centers on one Master Ko (Ching-Ying Lam) and his two assistants, Chou (Siu-hou Chin) and Man Choi (Ricky Hui) Master Ko is in the business of controlling vampires. Both he and his assistants [bumbling ones at that] are in for one funny romp. They are trying to control the reawakened corpse of a man who has been dead for many years. However, things backfire, and the viewer is in for a somewhat funny romp, as the use of slapstick is employed in this eastern version of vampires. The film spoofs Kung Fu and gives a slightly comedic twist to the horror genre. Also, the Chinese bureaucracy and the police are lampooned in a funny way.
Yes, there are silly parts to the film, but it is done in a comedic way, and never tries to take itself seriously. Which is one of the reasons I initially liked this film a lot. Also, while garlic is the recipe in the West for controlling vampires: English and American films in particular, in China--it's sticky rice. Some will find this film entertaining. With Master Ko up to his elbows in trying to help his two assistant's Man Choi and Chou from falling prey to the vampire curse they now battle, he also finds himself up against one tough super powerful vampire. I recommend the film with caution. Upon recent viewing, I realized that the film was not as funny as I once though it was. It is for required tastes only, therefore, rent it first.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Temporarily Hold Your Breath
Comment: Don't let the title mislead you. The film title should have been translated as Mr. Zoombie instead of Mr. Vampire as these hopping ghosts are what we called zoombie. When the film was first released in the 80's, it was titled as Temporarily Stop Your Breathing. It was an enormous hit throughout Asia. 2 or 3 sequels were made afterwards. It also created a zoombie sensation in Japan. Among the Chinese zoombie movie, this one stood out the most as it succeeded in all three genres that it tried to achieve: action, comedy and horror.
Mr. Vampire, along with Chinese Ghost Story 1, is among my favorite films from the 80's.
Hop, hop and hop.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sticky rice!
Comment: "Mr. Vampire" is a movie for people tired of angsty, gorgeous vampires with thick Transylvanian accents.
Instead, this hilarious supernatural comedy has a different kind of vampire -- the superstrong, zombielike "hopping vampire." And dealing with the hopping vampires are a long-suffering Taoist priest and his bumbling assistants, who add all sorts of wacky twists.
Master Gau (Ching-Ying Lam) agrees to help the wealthy Yam family move their patriarch's body -- until he sees the undecayed body. Turns out Grandpa is a vampire. And after his bumbling assistants fail to properly restrain the vampire, it gets loose, kills its son, and now the vampire hunters are facing TWO vampires instead of one.
To make matters worse, Man Choi (Ricky Hui) has been infected with vampire toxin, which will turn him into a vampire if they can't cure him with sticky rice, and Chou (Siu-hou Chin) is being seduced at night by a ghost. Master Gau must cure one, save the other, and somehow destroy a superpowerful vampire that invades the Yam household.
"Mr. Vampire" was such a success in China that it started a whole trend of "hopping vampire" movies. But as with most trends, the original is still the best and more entertaining example. And it incorporates traditional vampires and succubi from China, as well as little-known mythical trivia (such as sticky rice being the "garlic" for a Chinese vampire).
Expect lots of Peter Jacksonish twisted humor (Man Choi having his fangs filed down) alongside the more typical kind (Chou and Man Choi cast a spell to make their romantic rival strip in public). But when the vampires show up, there are plenty of wild, undignified action scenes. And lots of property damage -- they break every piece of furniture they come across.
The late Ching-Ying Lam became a star thanks to this movie, and his staid, unibrowed priest is a likable guy when you consider everything he has to deal with. Hui and Chin are hysterical as a pair of earnest but hormonal guys. They're kind of an annoyance when Gau isn't actually fighting vampires, but perhaps they're good for doing errands.
(Fortunately they also cleaned up the subtitling on this movie. The original subtitling was comically bad, but the new ones are are very well done)
"Mr Vampire" is one of China's better supernatural comedies, with weird vampires and lots of sticky rice. Hysterical and warped.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A classic film of undead martial arts tomfoolery
Comment: Very good.
The performances are excellent, and the broad humor is genuinely amusing. There's also a heck of a weird story with hopping vampires and a ghost lover. The Asian sensibility of these elements is what pushes this into the forefront. These are not Bram Stoker's undead, and even the ghost is much more physical than you'd ever see in an American film. And she can even shoot off her head, which is pretty damn neat.
This is an excellent movie for anyone looking for monsters, martial arts, and a healthy dose of humor. Can't recommend it enough. So see it already.
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