Jiang shi yi sheng

If you've seen a fair number of Hong Kong movies before, especially modern horror-comedies, then you probably know what to expect from "Doctor Vampire". If you *aren't* familiar with Hong Kong movies, then this movie will surprise and probably confuse you, although you'll likely think it's pretty funny.

Hong Kong movies are often a bit disorganized, by Hollywood standards, and "Doctor Vampire" is no exception. A few plot elements go nowhere; a few loose ends won't get tied up. Some scenes -- although worth seeing -- don't really seem to go with the rest of the film. It all adds up to a happy mess that's entertaining but may be a little disconcerting for newcomers.

The cast is pretty good, including HK hottie Ellen Chan as the female vampire, and with Crystal Kwok in a hilarious role as a sassy nurse. The two Caucasian actors don't come off as well, partly because of how poorly they're dubbed, but it just adds to the campy fun.

This is basically a romantic comedy, light on the romance and heavy on the comedy, with a little kung fu and horror thrown in for good measure. There are a number of surprisingly funny moments, many of which have little to do with the plot but are definitely worth having.

People looking for a more serious HK vampire film should check out "Mr. Vampire" or Sammo Hung's "Close Encounters of the Spooky Kind". Those who see and like "Doctor Vampire" will probably also like another HK vampire romantic comedy, "A Bite of Love".