CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Kodie Bird True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Hayleigh Joseph This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

tenshi_ippikiookami "Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Phantom Flame" is an entertaining movie that couldn't be mistaken for anything else but what it is: a Hark Tsui's movie.Detective Dee, an all-charm Andy Lau, has been in prison for 8 years because he opposed the wife of the deceased Emperor and her growing power. But after some mysterious killings happen just before she is to become Regent Empress, he is called back to help.And little more. The plot is just empty air. You have some betrayals, some mysterious deaths, some investigation done by detective Dee, but really, the plot is little less than an excuse. There is almost zero detective work and little tension.What it lacks in plot or character development (it doesn't help that everyone is overacting, something typical on the other hand in this type of movies), it more than makes up for in flashy set ups, nice fights and colorful environments (even if the CGI work can be... well, lacking). Tsui Hark knows how to make everything look amazing and the atmosphere is just great, and all the set ups are really cool (as the underground city). It all looks so good that it ends up leaving the viewer with a feeling of a wasted opportunity. Tsui Hark doesn't care much for pace or plot, more about set ups, pieces and fights. The movie could have been much better if it was more balanced. As it is, it is an enjoyable time in front of the screen, but don't go expecting much more.

Derek Childs (totalovrdose) When it comes to this particular movie franchise, I viewed the 2013 prequel Young Detective Dee first, after being wowed by the unanimous praise showered upon it. Although the action sequences were very well accomplished and the special effects were above par, the focus on these listed aspects appeared to sacrifice characterization and mystery, a flaw that the original, Detective Dee, does not suffer from.It's 689 A.D., and Empress Wu (Carina Lau) is set to be coronated, and though a series of mysterious deaths, which involve internal combustion, are striking fear throughout the land, she is adamant that nothing affect her ceremony. Contemporary investigative methods will inevitably fail to achieve results, and so, she calls upon the assistance of Dee (Andy Lau), a brilliant detective she had jailed for treasonous offenses. Although the Empress has faith in Dee's abilities to bring order in this time of chaos, she doesn't trust him, appointing her right hand woman Jing'er (Li Bingbing) to assist, while penal officer Pei (Deng Chao) accompanies them in their quest for answers.Mr. Lau is fantastic in the role of Dee, appearing as equally likable as he is intellectually and physically competent, vying for truth and justice, while the always attractive Ms. Bingbing's depiction of Jing'er is as comparatively confident and adept in her abilities as the male lead. Ms. Lau's interpretation of the Empress proves to be frighteningly cold, though at the same time she is capable of feeling a variety of warmer emotions.Unlike the prequel, which seemed to contain one action scene after another, Detective Dee has an equal focus on plot, which not only develops the characters and makes us genuinely care for their well-being, but the world in which they inhabit. Also unlike the prequel, the lead antagonists behind the plot are shrouded in mystery until the end, this tactic entrenching the viewer in a suspenseful action packed thrill ride that never ceases to keep the viewer's interest.The acrobatic fight scenes are a joy to watch, their flawless execution being as mesmerizing as they are brilliant, many of the scenes not only looking fresh and unique, but feeling so as well. The special effects are a visual treat for the eyes, and where the prequel seemed to become infatuated with drowning the viewer in such beauty, Detective Dee appears to provide an equal blend of live action and computer generated scenes which compliment the material.A very intelligent, gripping and entertaining action mystery, which is as sublimely magical as it is dark and poignant, Detective Dee is a fantastic movie that not only doesn't compromise the quintessential Chinese features often present in similar action films, but proves to be just as immersive as American features of the same genre, if not even more so.

g-buch Detective Dee is an enjoyable romp without much substance, kind of like that cheerleader you dated back in high school with the great looks and bubbly personality but nothing whatsoever important to say. Director Hark Tsui's film does a commendable job creating a period piece that puts the viewer in the middle of the Tang dynasty when China's empire rivaled that of Ancient Rome. The visuals are stunning and the towering Empress Wu statue adds a mystical aura to the film despite the small special effects budget.The mystery plot however is not fully developed with too many leaps in logic and petty motives to please most fans of the genre and the action sequences fail to add any new twists, just more unbelievable "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" wire tricks that seem out of place in the historical setting.I'm sure this movie would have been more enjoyable in Mandarin - the English voice-over dialog was stilted and shallow and strangely enough the subtitles varied considerably from the voice-over so "fire beetles" becomes "fire turtles" in the voice-over. Perhaps the word for "beetle" is "turtle" in Chinese but I was personally disappointed to see that the vicious flaming snapping turtles I had visualized turned out to be harmless-looking creepy crawlers!

Kuma As far as wire trick movies go... this was actually rather good in my opinion. I really enjoyed the action scenes, the maneuvers seemed rather plausible and life like, no major glitches or hang ups, and for once you couldn't see the wires (big yay there!) As for the story plot.... neh not that real impressed, I got hung up a lot with story line, about surviving the shot through the chest... with the fire beetles, with the fight scenes that defy gravity and all that.Characters were interesting... Not sure what to make of the acupuncture/transformation bit. Kind of weirded me out, although it wasn't the worst thing I've ever seen.As for the name... I think its rather lame and/or something got lost in the translations.Over all this was an interesting movie, though I'm not sure I'd watch it again.