image courtesy of Canton Kid
Rating:
7
Year of release: 2002
Company: Milkyway
Genre: horror/comedy/romance
Running time: 98 min.
Director: Johnnie To, Wa Kai-Fai
Script: Wa Kai-Fai, Yau Nai Hoi, Au Kin Yee
Producer: Johnnie To, Wa Kai-Fai
Cinematographer: Cheng Siu Keung
Editor: Law Wing Cheong, Law Chi Wai
Music: Cacine Wong
Stars: Sammi Cheng, Lau Ching-Wan, Simon Yam, Lam Suet, Kelly Lin, Lee Shan-Shan, Cherrie In
Rated IIA for mild violence and crude humor
Related links:
DVD review
Lau Ching-Wan biography
Simon Yam biography
Movie Review index
Main Page
This DVD is available for purchase at Sensasian
My Left Eye Sees Ghosts
Sammi Cheng. Image courtesy of Mei Ah.
I will admit that this kind of movie isn't my usual cup of tea. Sammi Cheng is kind of like the Meg Ryan of Hong Kong -- a cute actress best known for her "touching" romantic comedies, something which long-time readers of this site will know isn't exactly my favorite genre. However, things have been pretty slow this year for Hong Kong movies, so I decided to check out My Left Eye Sees Ghosts and it's actually pretty funny, and even a bit touching.
In the movie, Sammi plays a gold-digger who marries a rich man shortly before his death. Inheriting a fortune, she spends her days drinking and shopping until a car accident causes her to see ghosts out of her left eye. She becomes friendly with Lau Ching-Wan (who plays a ghost who was killed as a boy and still acts like one) and turns her life around.
There is nothing particularly original or mind-blowing about My Left Eye Sees Ghosts; in fact, minus the ghostly bits, it would fit in right beside your usual Hollywood romantic comedy. But Lau Ching-Wan and Sammi Cheng make a likeable duo. Even if the viewer most likely knows what's going to happen (exasperated by a predictable finale that drags on a bit long), the performances and solid script help move things along and create an enjoyable time. If you want a break from your usual diet of HK ultra-violence, My Left Eye Sees Ghosts is a good place to start.
