Hairy adventures with a bitter bride

THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR 2, with Bridgette Lin Ching-hsia, Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing and Nonie Tao. Directed by David Wu. Showing now at the Mandarin Circuit. Category II.PRODUCER Ronnie Yu has already likened the relationship between The Bride with White Hair (which successfully broke through into the non-Chinatown market overseas) and this sequel as being like a gourmet banquet and a gourmet snack.

The original cost $30 million to make, used Dolby sound and enjoyed both critical and commercial success. The sequel cost just $20 million.

Picking up the story several decades on, after the break-up with her lover (Leslie Cheung), the bride with white hair (Bridgette Lin) becomes invincible and obsessed with killing all those who have done her wrong.

The finest swordsmen decide to take her on, but are no match for the powerful siren.

In the end, they turn to the only person who can help, Cheung, who has become a recluse guarding a rare flower on a snow-capped mountain. The flower can turn the bride's hair black again.

Even with the dramatic substance stretched wafer thin, the film lasts less than 90 minutes, although the story could have been comfortably told in half that time.