Deadful Great

Yes, it really is called Deadful Melody - and I think it's pretty great. The setup for this 1993 kung fu movie concerns a magical guchin (or lyre, as it is called in the subtitles). It is so powerful, only those with strong kung fu can use it. Young security specialist Yuen Biao is given the job of guarding it by lovely and mysterious Brigitte Lin. That's the setup. this leads to several gangs of of ghosts, bandits, and tough guys trying to steal it, including Carina Lau.

The fighting style is fantastic - in the sense of "fantasy". Much wirework, so that people never walk offstage, they always fly up into the sky. The guqin shoots little animated bolts of light, which kill people, and so on. The acting style is pretty goofy as well. At one point the "magical lyre" is mentioned, and everyone onscreen leans in and says, in unison, "the magical lyre?!!?". Not exactly a comedy, but not very serious.

So, this isn't Bride with White Hair. I liked it.