Tsui Hark's Vampire Hunters
In 17th century Asia, "zombies roamed the lands," which in turn led to many vampires roaming the lands, because the zombies turned into vampires. Or soTsui Hark's Vampire Hunterswould have us believe. This lively, wisecracking movie is a little short on narrative logic (actually, it's short on the kind of logic that leads one shot naturally into the next). But it has the staples of the Hong Kong ghost story, with plenty of gravity-defying fights and putrescent zombies. The prolific Tsui Hark wrote and produced this one, but decidedly did not lend his often thrilling directorial touch. Still, there are moments within the generally bewildering mayhem that soar:  a zombie-vampire dragging a group of hunters by chains along the treetops, for instance. If you want to see what would happen if a Hammer Film were dropped into an acid bath, this is the movie for you.--Robert Horton