Overview: Shih Erh (Yuen Biao, Knockabout), a Taoist monk disciple, takes in a scholar named Tsui Hung-Chuen (Lawrence Ng, To Be Number One) after he inadvertently burned down his house after battling a demon. Shih Erh and his master Wu Men-Chu (Ma Wu, Kickboxer) house and attempt to protect Tsui from the demons and spirits that lurk nearby.

However, Tsui encounters a benevolent female ghost named Mo Chiu (Joey Wang, A Chinese Ghost Story), who is confined to the hands of the wicked King Ghost (Elizabeth Lee, Widow Warriors). As Tsui falls in love with Mo Chiu, he paints a portrait of her, which the spirit uses to conceal herself from the King Ghost’s clutches.

Blu-ray Verdict: Picture Of A Nymph was actually released in Hong Kong less than a year after the iconic, and absolutely fabulous A Chinese Ghost Story. A similar film, this story deals with Taoist monk disciple Shih Erh (Biao Yuen), who takes in a scholar named Tsui Hung-Chuen (Lawrence Ng) and protects him from the demons and spirits that lurk in the woods.

However, Tsui encounters and falls in love with a benevolent female ghost named Mo Chiu (Joey Wang), who is confined to the hands of the wicked King Ghost (Elizabeth Lee). Therefore, Tsui hides the ghost in a painting he drew of her.

While it is nice seeing the martial arts action and Joey Wang portraying another beautiful spirit, this is not one of the more exciting ghost/fantasy films I’ve seen come out of Hong Kong. The plot is very slow and focuses too much on the subplots between Shih Erh being at odds with his master (Ma Wu) and Tsui trying to make ends meet.

Indeed, the ghost scenes play second fiddle in the movie, popping up in and there, and are not emphasized enough, especially the plot device about the ghost hiding in the painting. There is little genuine chemistry between the Tsui and Mo Chiu characters, not much suspense, and a non-captivating villain.

But that doesn’t deter from the fact that the film is still charming and pretty but just lacks the intensity and heart-wrenching melancholy of its predecessor. Its action scenes are well handled but are few and far between and not as frenzied as in the earlier film. Lawrence Ng plays too comical a character in contrast to Leslie Cheung’s vulnerable, lovestruck scholar in the earlier film. Overall, it’s a much gentler film and more family-friendly, shall we say.

In short, I thought this movie tried too hard to be similar to A Chinese Ghost Story. That film was a masterpiece with attention-grabbing scenes, heartfelt drama and romance, spectacular martial art fights and special effects, and memorable characters.

That all said, Picture Of A Nymph does have potential as a well assembled cast did their best here, the settings were good, the plot device of the ghost in the painting intriguing and the visuals were breathtaking. It just reeks of trying too hard to capture what the former film did, instead of trying to stand on its own cinematic legs. [O.S.]

Bonus Features:
LIMITED EDITION RIGID SLIP CASE WITH NEW ARTWORK BY SEAN LONGMORE
LIMITED EDITION 40 PAGE PERFECT BOUND BOOK
LIMITED EDITION PREMIUM ARTCARD
BRAND NEW 2K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL NEGATIVE
REMASTERED ORIGINAL CANTONESE MONOAURAL SOUNDTRACK
NEWLY TRANSLATED ENGLISH SUBTITLES
AUDIO COMMENTARY BY FRANK DJENG (NY ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL)
AUDIO COMMENTARY BY DAVID WEST
IMAGE GALLERY
ORIGINAL TRAILER

www.88-films.myshopify.com