Detective Dee - or, as history's wont to call him - Di Renjie - was a real person, a great statesman, who lived his life in the 7th century. As in his best costume fantasies (and even a couple of his not-so-best, such as LEGEND OF ZU), Tsui again conjures some of the most captivating scenery yet seen in a Chinese film, including a 200-foot tall statue-in-progress of Buddha (complete with scaffolding and suspension bridges connected to a central tower) that figures prominently into a spectacular plot to kill the wicked and divisive Empress Wu (Carina Lau), and the underground Phantom Market, a massive, forbidding, fire-lit city of caves wherein a key witness (Richard Ng) resides. [12] One of the sculptures was an 80-metre bust of Empress Wu Zetian, a key element of the film that cost $12 million HKD to design and decorate. Di catches up with Shatuo and spills the poison on him instead, causing him to burn to death in the sun. He points Di to Donkey Wang, who is hiding in a network of caverns called the Phantom Bazaar. The practical sets and period costumes are beautiful. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. During production, reporters were invited to enter the bust's interior, which included a 12 meter tall circular platform. He also took the late Prince Li's authority to use Li's army to invade the city and kill Wu if she survives. Wits and looks can balance one another. Lots and lots of CGI, most of it well done, but all of it fairly obviously unreal, but as well some surprisingly effective performances, and just enough depth of character to keep us interested. It doesn't take itself too seriously and is entertaining throughout. Fight choreography and art direction for the film was handled by Sammo Hung. The Empress promises to be a just ruler and to return power to the Tang Dynasty when her reign ends. DETECTIVE DEE carries on the tradition of exhilarating visual craftsmanship that Tsui Hark has demonstrated on many of his pictures over the years, only here it's fronted by a franchise-worthy leading figure in real-life Tang Dynasty forensic detective De Renjie (Andy Lau), and buttressed with Tsui's inimitable visual zest and a smart, politically-tinged and ultimately very satisfying mystery narrative in which senior government officials spontaneously combust from the inside out. I'd rather have Detective Dee on the case, a lofty guy what predates all three aforementioned sleuthing gents. Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and some sexuality. They are wonderful, imaginative mysteries/character studies set in ancient China. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? I can't say more than that except to say..Give it a viewing, you may well be pleasantly surprise. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Di maintains his political neutrality, and Li is assassinated soon after. They find nothing and Pei's superior also dies soon after by also erupting into flames. Andy Lau (who was so good in Infernal Affairs and House of Flying Daggers) is terrific, as is Li Bing Bing (who's great in everything). Prior to filming Detective Dee, Tsui had spent years doing research on stories concerning real life Tang Dynasty official Di Renjie. Di Renjie zhi tongtian diguo or Detective Dee and the mystery of the phantom flame is a Chinese fantasy movie that takes place during the Zhou Dynasty when the first and only Chinese empress Wu Zetian started her reign. Detective Dee: Mystery of the Phantom Flame Empress Wu assigns her loyal assistant Shangguan Jing'er to release the exiled Detective Dee from his imprisonment to investigate with Donglai and Jing'er the mystery of the deaths. [14], Tsui first announced production plans in 2008, while promoting his previous film, All About Women, at the 13th Pusan International Film Festival. Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon, Monkey King-Havoc in Heavens Palace [Blu-ray], Red Cliff International Version - Part I & Part II, Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings [Blu-ray + DVD], Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back. Di speculates that the Empress used the Imperial Abbot to justify her tyranny and eliminate her political opponents, possibly including the late Emperor. The Empress orders former detective and rebel Di Renjie be released from prison after the Imperial Abbot states that he must solve the mystery of the fire. Sammo Hung's choreography is impeccably designed and flawlessly edited, and loaded with the kind of soaring wireworked wuxia you may not realize you sorely missed in Hong Kong/Chinese action movies because so many people have knocked it nearly every time it has been used in the last decade. This item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location. A Hong Kong version of a summer blockbuster, this one is an enjoyable ride, as long as you don't approach with strict logic in mind. Di, Pei and Jing'er locate Dr. Wang At the Phantom Bazaar, but are attacked by a figure who seems to be the Imperial Abbot. There is an investigation of Pei Donglai and another investigator that also dies after withdrawing the amulets. Di meets Prince Li, who fails to recruit him into leading a rebel army. Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2020. The only mis-step here is the ending, which, like many HK films, allows space for a sequel – though in fact, Andy Lau did not show up for a sequel, the producers instead opting for a "prequel" with a different actor – when the logic of the script itself clearly indicates a full-stop ending. unfamilar with the "DEE" dvds, I cannot put my finger one what it is, Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2014, I probably should not be writing a review of this dvd because it has so many different things to judge....I have now 15 Asian dvds all of which I enjoyed and followed with subtitles .but this was a dvd that my grand kids could watch and then rationally explain it all to me while wondering why I did not "get it".. so O.K. Tsui chose Hung as a choreographer, feeling that his work had shades of Bruce Lee. I would pay to see this at the cinema. Any who were close to the girl have died in tragic ways, is this because of her ill fate or is this the work of ill intent? Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. The second time I could follow the mystery and Dee's logic to its conclusion (which ends with the open question of whether he lives or burns-up) so it literally cry's for a sequel to follow...must say now that I liked it and am recommending it as a good but unique buy...for you and the kids. And that's a fairly roundabout way to finally arrive at DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME. Was this review helpful to you? Detective Dee is forced to defend himself against the accusations of Empress Wu while investigating a crime spree. One of their fellow guardsmen goes bad. Before he dies, Pei directs Di to the diagrams, which implicate Shatuo. (Viewed at TIFF 2010). This is a fun, gorgeous, atmospheric film. The film tells the story of Di Renjie (Andy Lau), one of the most celebrated officials of the Tang dynasty, who is tasked by the Empress Wu Zetian (Carina Lau) to solve a series of inexplicable murders in which victims suddenly burst into flames. Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, A super-sized fantasy epic -- and a cracking good mystery story -- from a director who, for this viewer's money, has never completely lost his mojo, despite some box-office and critical misfires in recent years. I knew someone had to be around before Sherlock Holmes :), Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2012. Prince Li returns Di's mace to him, which was taken after he was imprisoned. Wu reinstates Di as the royal detective and assigns Jing'er to be both an assistant and spy. I have read all the Van Gulik Judge Dee books and loved them. essentially a cartoon, then you may enjoy the movie. The Best TV Shows About Being in Your 30s. Once again Andy Lau doesn't disappoint in a leading role and he really brought the character of Detective Dee to life. Tsui never divulged most of the changes that he made to the original script, but did mention that the character Shangguan Jing'er was previously a man. She stumbles into a trap set by the assassins and is mortally wounded. Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, directed by Tsui Hark, who is also a co-producer with his wife,[13] the Chinese production company Huayi Brothers (also the film's distributor) and production company Film Workshop (the 50th feature film produced by the company). If you are looking for CGI/acrobatics i.e. Despite being largely a Mainland production (as far as I know), this has the heart and soul of a classic Hong Kong fantasy, particularly those of it's ace director, albeit one made with much cooler modern filmmaking toys. Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2019. Wuxia detective story - Fun, gorgeous film. Di is able to divert the statue, and Shatuo heads to the coronation to poison Wu. An action-thriller centered on a vampire-like woman who eats the skins and hearts of her lovers. The film's original language is Cantonese, but it was then dubbed into Mandarin Chinese for Mainland China and international release. His former companions must now forget their ... See full summary ». The plot, the acting, the special effects make this movie great. During production, Tsui would reportedly work consistently on the set, barely getting enough sleep. When the engineer responsible for the construction mysteriously dies by spontaneous combustion, the superstitious workers are afraid since the man removed the good luck charms from the main pillar. In the year 690 A.D. a towering, sixty-six yard tall Buddha statue is in its finishing stages of completion, erected to commemorate the coronation of the Dowager Empress Wu. (2010). Discover what to watch this November including a Marvel docu-series, a '90s reboot, and a Star Wars holiday celebration. I don't know how many movies there are that combine a terrific wuxia narrative with a fun detective story, but this must be one of the best examples. Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2014. If you are looking for an absorbing story with interesting characters you won't find it here. A story focusing on a conflict between a People's Liberation Army squad and a bandit gang in north-east China during the Chinese revolution. They ride in a mystic and epic adventure to unravel the mystery. [20] Detective Dee has been described as one of Tsui's most personal films to date. Title: As Di and Shatuo fight, Di is drenched in the fire beetle poison. Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2017. this in particular is really excellent, mysterious characters, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2017, I only recently discovered Tsui Hark's films, this in particular is really excellent, mysterious characters, great fights, and much cleverer than, say, Crouching Tiger. Now here's a film that's a half-step outside your average martial arts Hong Kong flick. It features art direction and fight choreography by Sammo Hung, and co-stars Li Bingbing, Deng Chao with Tony Leung Ka-fai making a special appearance. Di finds Pei, but Pei has already been poisoned by the fire beetle venom and Di is unable to save him. One of Tsui HArk best films and definitely his best in years. In 689 A.D., the Empress Wu Zetian is building a 66 m high statue of Buddha for her inauguration as the first empress of China under the objections and conspiracy of the other clans. A touch of Gil Grissom with his quiet stillness yet underneath it all the man can move. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. And yet somehow, in this modern era, he's more celebrated for solving whodunits. Detective Dee & The Mystery of the Phantom Flame. Strange underground thieves dens where nothing is what it seems and some classic wirework as fighters pirouette off pillars and walls. Pei finds the first inspector had discovered something in his inspection and takes the diagrams, but he is captured.
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