Scared Stiff

What a really bad movie, "Scared Stiff" has to be the worse movie I've ever seen by the Great Chow Yun Fat. When you consider such movies as "The Witch From Nepal" and "Replacement Killers" it's hard to believe that Chow actually made this "thing". In fact he isn't even in the whole movie. There is no plot, bad characters, bad acting, and bad editing. It's just bad. Avoid it if you can, especially if you've never seen any of Chow Yun Fats other movies.

This is not only a dreadful movie, it is confusing, and has the feel of several movies stitched together sloppily. I watched it at 1.5 speed and still the pain did not end quickly enough.

What was real? What was dream-state? I still don't know; worse, I don't care.

I don't know and cannot imagine why Chow Yun-fat made this movie (he does not appear until more than 50 minutes into it) because he was successful already...he should have done commercials and sold floor wash or denture cleaners, done anything except this movie.

If someone offers to give you this movie, decline politely.

First of all, I wonder if any of those people who voted for "1" are just merely watching this movie for Chow Yun-Fat.

The movie is not confusing at all. Maybe those who found it confusing was due to the fact they couldn't understand Cantonese. There might be some unnecessary misunderstanding when it comes to English Subtitles/translations. People who don't understand it may also due to they don't understand Hong Kongnese culture nor B movies from HK's 80's. Also, don't confuse this movie with Paul Verhoeven's "Total Recall". This is not a case that an ambiguity might exist. In fact, you have to understand it's merely a very simple story about an unusual person who has a special ability. Don't over-try while digging any meaning out of it. Not many HK movies have the subtleties that you are looking for.

The story is clearly told and the performances from the actors on average is quite good. Story goes smoothly but very tightly. Some of the shots create some ghosty look which donates quite an amount of tension and cliffhangers. The lighting and other cinematography are well used. Believe or not, I think it's a better piece than Chow's "A Better Tomorrow III".

For those who want to watch it because of Chow Yun-Fat, you should not expect a lot from him. This is not him having a leading role. He doesn't even appear until the 5/8 of the film has been spinned. Besides, in some way, it's good to see that he's not type-casted for a certain kind of his personal charisma. Moreover, it's not really an action movie. Mixed with a little comedic element with HK 80's mainstream ("Good-guy-bad-guy" kinda thing plus a little romance).

After watching so many good and bad movies from Hollywood, European and Oriental countries, I'm glad this one is not the one that completely wasted my time.

I rate it for 6.5.

Ugh. I hate this movie. I hate the fact Chow Yun-Fat is in this movie. If there is one film I wish I could obliterate from my consciousness, this would be a Top Ten candidate.

In a rip-off of a number of Hollywood movies, Miu Kiu Wai plays a guy who has the ability to enter the dreams of others. This is how he twigs to the fact that there is a crooked cop on the force. While mucking about in other peoples' dreams he encounters vampires, monsters and just general stupidity.

Eric Tsang, surely one of the most annoying individuals ever born, portrays the trouble-magnet buddy as well as a salacious robot. He looks like a demented Tele-Tubby.

Chow Yun-Fat plays the cop. Anita Mui plays a reporter with a boyfriend who should know not to eat birthday cake with a hunting knife. Emily Chu Bo-Yee plays a piece of wood. Well, it just seems that way.

Terrible, awful and good only for making fun of at parties, this film is solidly in my list of CYF's Bottom Five movies. If you must see this one, try and get a friend to spring for the disc so you won't feel bad about wasting your own money on it.