Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame

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Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame

PG-13

Released Sep 2, 2011

2h 3m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

62%

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2,500+ Ratings

During the Tang Dynasty, China's future empress (Carina Lau) frees an imprisoned detective (Andy Lau) to solve the deaths of two courtiers who burst into flame upon exposure to sunlight.

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Amy Taubin

Film Comment Magazine

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame is vintage Tsui Hark, filled with virtuoso aerial fight sequences and soaring performances by glamorous veterans Carina Lau, Andy Lau, and Tony Leung Ka-fai.

Aug 27, 2019

Full Review

Steve Erickson

indieWire

Detective Dee brings back the excitement of great pop cinema that drew cinephiles to Hong Kong in the first place.

Mar 5, 2018

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Chris Chang

Film Comment Magazine

The film's visual style is at times so dense it simply overwhelms (ditto the plot).

Oct 9, 2011

Full Review

Ed Travis

Hollywood Jesus

The quality and entertainment value of Detective Dee is high. But I so appreciate films coming from places where honesty and freedom are able to shine through in the story telling.

Apr 1, 2020

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

Detective Dee is a sweet little cotton candy confection -- but certain parts might stick to your teeth.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jun 27, 2019

Full Review

Stephen Saito

Moveable Fest

The kind of escapist entertainment that they just don't make anymore, which also makes its allusions to real-world concerns such as political hegemony and torture feel a bit misplaced in this movie fantasia.

Jan 9, 2019

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Devils A

If we had not stepped beyond the limits of reality, then there *is no way* for a girl to turn into a man, and that's the biggest mystery of this movie...

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Lee W

The look of the film as amazing. Sammo Hung does the Action Direction, so 'nuff said there, and a good mystery to boot. Great flick.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/14/22

Full Review

Liam D

A great start to a franchise This Adventure was a fun watch and I might check it out again soon

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Captivating and epic. Shows that China can successfully do Hollywood level film-making.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Interesting with twists and suspense.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Big, beautiful, exciting Tsui Hark adventure.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Hark Tsui

Director

Andy Lau

Detective Dee

Carina Lau

Empress Wu Zetian

Li Bingbing

Shangguan Wan'er

Chao Deng

Pei Donglai

Tony Leung Ka Fai

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Synopsis

During the Tang Dynasty, China's future empress (Carina Lau) frees an imprisoned detective (Andy Lau) to solve the deaths of two courtiers who burst into flame upon exposure to sunlight.

Director: Hark Tsui
Producer: Peggy Lee, Nansun Shi, Hark Tsui
Screenwriter: Kuo-fu Chen, Jialu Zhang
Distributor: Indomina
Rating: PG-13 (Violence|Some Sexuality|Disturbing Images)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action, History, Drama
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 2, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 11, 2017
Runtime: 2h 3m

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