Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame [Blu-ray]

Director: Tsui Hark Tsui Hark

Overview

China's first master detective is looking for answers to some burning questions in this blend of historical drama and mystery from acclaimed director Tsui Hark. Di Renjie (Andy Lau), nicknamed Detective Dee, is a law officer of the Tang Dynasty who is legendary for his powers of deductive reasoning. Di Renjie finds himself on the wrong side of prison bars when he dares to publicly criticize Wu Zetian (Carina Lau), who has become China's first female emperor. While Wu Zetian doesn't care for Di Renjie's opinions, she can't dispute his skills as a detective, and after eight years in jail she has him released so he can get to the bottom of a mystery. Two members of Wu Zetian's court have died under bizarre circumstances -- after stepping outside, they suddenly exploded into flames. Are the gods angry with Wu Zetian and her underlings, or is a clever saboteur at work? Di Renjie Zhi Tong Tian Di Guo (aka Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame) was inspired by the exploits of the real-life Di Renjie, who is credited with pioneering modern detective techniques during the Tang Dynasty (618 A.D. to 907 A.D.).

Product Details

Release Date:	12/13/2011
UPC:	0883476061405
Original Release:	2010
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Indomina
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	2:02:00
Sales rank:	20,900

Special Features

The Making of Detective Dee; Weapons, Stunts and Action; Creating The Characters; The World of Dee; Stills and Poster Gallery; International Trailer; Exclusive QR Code for Additional Bonus Materials

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Andy Lau	Detective Dee (Di Renjie),Wu Zetian (The Empress)
Bing Bing Li	Shangguan Jing'er,Actor
Tony Leung Kar-Fai	Shatuo Zhong
Deng Chao	Pei Donglai
Jean-Michel Casanova	General Aspar
Richard Ng	Wang Lu (Before Face-Lift)
Yao Lu	Li Xiao (The Duke)
Jinshan Liu	Xue Yong (Crime Inspector)
Michel	Umayyad Ambassador
Sos Haroyan	Asst. to Umayyad Ambassador
Zhao Jialin	Interpreter
Qin Yan	Jia Yi (Construction Inspector)
Wang Deshun	Xiazi Ling (Blind Prisoner)
He Shenming	Prison Officer
Jiang Yanming	Undertaker
Huang Yonggang	Zhang Xun
Chen Xiao	Lu Li
Foo Liz Veronica	Wife of Jia Yi
Li Bingbing	Shangguan Jing'er
Teddie Kwan	Wang Lu (after face-lift)
Liu Jinshan	Xue Yong (Crime Inspector)
Veronica Foo	Wife of Jia Yi
Xu Nan	Chamberlain
Chai Jin	Qiu Shenji
Ka Ling	Actor
Tony Leung Kar Fai	Actor
Peter Kam	Composer

Technical Credits

Chang Chia-lu

Tsui Hark	Director,Producer
Chang Chia-lu	Screenwriter
Wang Zhonglei	Producer
Wang Zhongjun	Producer
Chen Kuo-fu	Executive Producer
Nansun Shi	Executive Producer
Sammo Hung	Action Director
Zhao Nan	Sound/Sound Designer
Wang Danrong	Sound/Sound Designer
Peggy Lee	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

The Mandarin-language equivalent of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes, minus the gravity, plus an intriguing dash of historical fact, Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame is proof positive that famed director Tsui Hark (The Blade, Once Upon a Time in China) still has what it takes to entertain an audience with compelling characters and style to spare. Di Renjie (Andy Lau) was a law officer during the Tang Dynasty when he dared to speak out against Wu Zetian (Carina Lau), the woman who was destined to become China's first female emperor. Despite his remarkable skill for deductive reasoning, Di -- more commonly known by his nickname Detective Dee -- was handed a stiff prison sentence for his insolence. But now, on the eve of the empress's coronation, an ominous curse appears to have been cast over Wu Zeitan's court. Just as a towering statue of the Buddha nears completion, a number of officials literally burst into flames from the inside out -- the apparent victims of spontaneous human combustion. Recognizing that Detective Dee may be the only man skilled enough to solve the explosive mystery, Wu Zetian releases him, returns his badge, and sends him out in search of clues. Together with Wu Zeitan's loyal servant Shangguan Jing'er (Li Bingbing) and the short-fused Pei Donglai (Deng Chao), the talented sleuth begins chasing leads and interviewing subjects. As assassins emerge from the woodwork, however, it quickly becomes apparent that someone is determined to stop Detective Dee before he can crack the case. As a visual stylist, Hark has always been second to none. Working alongside cinematographers Chi Ying Chan (DOA: Dead or Alive) and Chor Keung Chan, the veteran director gives Detective Dee a sumptuous look that gradually draws us into the mystery through a series of furtive visual clues. Meanwhile, each line of dialogue in Chia-lu Chang's screenplay falls into place with the expert pacing of a pulpy detective novel. Given that the character of Detective Dee is inspired by a real-life official of the Tang and Zhou dynasties, the history and politics in the film can be somewhat perplexing to American audiences unfamiliar with Chinese customs, though few are likely to let their attentions drift as seductive imagery, tight plotting, and exciting set pieces choreographed by the legendary Sammo Hung ensure that action always remains at the forefront of the story. The fantasy elements of Detective Dee, meanwhile, interweave with the historic realities of the film in a way that not only gives the film a unique atmosphere, but also ensures it will appeal to those who aren't necessarily familiar with the characters or politics of the era -- and Hark does a commendable job at playing up both for maximum effect. The painstaking attention to period detail is evident in everything from the sets to the costumes and the ways in which the characters interact, but when things start to get strange, Hark pulls out all the stops to give viewers a genuinely spooky spectacle. Charismatic as always in the title role, actor/pop icon Lau portrays Detective Dee as an endearingly eccentric sleuth with a remarkable nose for sniffing out clues, and the stalwart character of a man whose sense of justice hasn't been marred by his experience with corruption. Lau's chemistry with co-star Li helps to keep tensions high as Detective Dee chases leads that continually set him at odds with the court officials, and Deng uses his striking, albino-like appearance to maximum effect while carefully straddling the line between benevolent and bad as his explosive temper keeps his true motivations shrouded in mystery. Supporting player Tony Leung Kar-Fai brings a spellbinding complexity to his role as Shatuo Zhong -- a former co-conspirator of Dee's who now oversees the Buddha's construction, and Carina Lau displays a convincing air of benevolent royalty as Empress Wu Zetian. Though occasional uneven pacing makes Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame feel every bit its 120 minutes, Hark does his best to keep boredom at bay by making even the small scenes between action scenes gorgeous to behold. Whether you're a casual moviegoer who simply enjoys a solid fantasy mystery, or a history buff curious to witness the rebirth of a famed historical detective, Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame will not only keep you entertained and guessing, but also do it with sense of excitement, atmosphere, and adventure that only a master like Hark can dream up.