By | Published December 14, 2009

DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME (2010)

News has been scant of late regarding producer and director Tsui Hark’s upcoming fantasy-martial arts-mystery film DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME so I thought I’d take the opportunity to present available production stills released since shooting began back in March. With a relatively sizable budget of $13 million, stunning production design, wuxia-style action direction by Sammo Hung, and starring roles filled by Andy Lau, Carina Lau, Li Bingbing, Tony Leung Ka-fai, and Lau Ching-wan this film looks to be one of the highlights of China’s 2010 lineup.

The film is a fictional account of famed Tang Dynasty official Di Renjie. Any Lau plays the title role, Detective Dee, who is called upon to investigate a series of deaths that threaten to delay the inauguration of Empress Wu Zetian, China’s only ruler.

This will be Tsui Hark’s first martial arts movie since SEVEN SWORDS arrived in 2005 to mixed reviews from critics and fans. Tsui has been struggling to regain his once mighty filmmaking mojo ever since his ill-fated, late-1990s Hollywood excursion that resulted in Jean-Claude Van Damme’s forgettable actioners DOUBLE TEAM and KNOCK OFF. DETECTIVE DEE looks promising but only time will tell if it becomes another hit like SWORDSMAN II or a clunker like THE LEGEND OF ZU. Let’s just say that after SEVEN SWORDS failed to kickstart a planned franchise, Tsui needs to succeed with this release. If John Woo could make an unlikely comeback with RED CLIFF, so can Tsui.

DETECTIVE DEE is currently scheduled for release in October of 2010.

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  • Rhythm-X

    A sizable chunk of the Tsui Hark mojo resurfaced in the form of the quite enjoyable ALL ABOUT WOMEN.

    And KNOCK OFF is a film that strikes me as absolutely unforgettable, whether you love it (raises hand) or hate it. There's just so much energy and insanity to behold, and I am predisposed to cut any movie about exploding pants a great deal of slack. Tsui knew that he had the freedom to go completely bonkers and over the top on what Sony saw as a disposable slice of Van Dammage. I'll defend KNOCK OFF 'till the day I die – it's just so much fun.

  • Rhythm-X

    Also, as to the subject of the posted article, which is not primarily about KNOCK OFF: what I'm seeing from DETECTIVE DEE is looking pretty stunning. I'm hoping for the best.

  • http://www.wopular.com/ wopular

    I actually liked Seven Swords. There's a lot of cheese and one too many love triangles, but Donnie Yen saved the film at the end. The production design is also pretty good. The film did well enough in China to warrant sequels, but tanked in HK. With Donnie Yen's new-found leading man status, I still think it could happen.

  • Rhythm-X

    A sizable chunk of the Tsui Hark mojo resurfaced in the form of the quite enjoyable ALL ABOUT WOMEN.

    And KNOCK OFF is a film that strikes me as absolutely unforgettable, whether you love it (raises hand) or hate it. There's just so much energy and insanity to behold, and I am predisposed to cut any movie about exploding pants a great deal of slack. Tsui knew that he had the freedom to go completely bonkers and over the top on what Sony saw as a disposable slice of Van Dammage. I'll defend KNOCK OFF 'till the day I die – it's just so much fun.

  • Rhythm-X

    Also, as to the subject of the posted article, which is not primarily about KNOCK OFF: what I'm seeing from DETECTIVE DEE is looking pretty stunning. I'm hoping for the best.

  • http://www.wopular.com/ wopular

    I actually liked Seven Swords. There's a lot of cheese and one too many love triangles, but Donnie Yen saved the film at the end. The production design is also pretty good. The film did well enough in China to warrant sequels, but tanked in HK. With Donnie Yen's new-found leading man status, I still think it could happen.