Detective Dee & The Mystery of the Phantom Flame

"Men have weak points, just like weapons. They will also break when struck." Wu Zetian wants to become China's first Supreme Empress. While the stage and Buddah is being constructed for the inauguration strange things begin to happen. First Master Jia spontaneously com-busts, followed by more people bursting into flames. The empress wants this mystery solved before she takes over and there is only one person she can think of to solve it, Detective Dee (Lau) a prisoner in jail for treason. Can he put aside his feelings and solve the mystery of the phantom flame in time? This is not usually the type of genre I get into, but I did enjoy this movie. The tag-line says "Crouching Tiger meets Sherlock Holmes", it's hard to disagree with that statement. I will add that I think this is a type of modern Kurosawa film. The feel and the plot are something that he would do, and the ending very much reminds me of his style in the way that you aren't really sure if the ending is good or bad for those involved and makes you think. Overall, again this is not normally my type of movie but I did very much enjoy it. Good story and action. I give it a B+.

Tsui Hark is one of the most prolific directors in HK cinema history, and has churned out films like Seven Swords, Zu Warriors, the Once Upon A Time in China trilogy, Ashes of Time, and Peking Opera Blues. He's in top form in this movie, which is loosely based on a true story of an exiled detective who solves a series of murders that threaten to delay an Empress' inauguration. This movie is quite an achievement in visuals, with a great script and acting. Well worth seeing. This DVD is equally good with a crystal clear picture, and excellent sound and English subtitles.

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Tsui Hark is back, let the word be spread. Remember Robert Hans van Gulik's Judge Dee at Work: Eight Chinese Detective Stories (Judge Dee Mysteries) wonderful books ? DETECTIVE DEE is, if I'm not mistaken, the first full-length movie devoted to this character. If you like action movies, this one is clearly for you. Also note that the film was acclaimed by Positif as well as by Les Cahiers du Cinéma !! Masterpiece.

Read Best Reviews of Detective Dee & The Mystery of the Phantom Flame Here

I have to admit that I'm really getting tired of the proverbial 1 or 2 star ratings from people who, either have people over and talk during their movies, or work for a competing industry. This film is extremely entertaining and worth seeing for anybody who enjoys the assimilation of Kung-Fu and Sherlock Holmes...and who doesn't!

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Well one reviewer said they got a bootleg, another one didn't. I got a bootleg. There must be multiple versions being sold on this listing. I wouldn't take the chance. As of writing this, there are 6 or 7 sellers selling this. The official DVD is put out by VICOL ENTERTAINMENT and has both dts and Dolby audio tracks. I suggest ASKING the seller to confirm their DVD has the VICOL ENTERTAINMENT logo on it prior to ordering. There are two other versions on Amazon with a different reddish cover. That one is the official VICOL version, but there is a third VICOL release with a blue cover also as pictured on this auction. I would just ask the seller to make sure the product they are selling has the VICOL logo on the art in SHARP lettering. If you get it and the text or logos are blurry, it is probably a bootleg. What a headache to go through this....

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