If you like your Zhang Yimou films and you like your Guy Ritchie version of Sherlock Holmes, what if you were to mesh them together and then strap on a little extra TNT? You might get Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame. At least, that’s what I get after seeing this trailer today preceding (of all things) Another Earth. This one stars the great Chinese action hero Andy Lau and is directed by Hark Tsui – no stranger to martial arts and wuxia films himself.
The film has been getting generally positive reviews out of TIFF, Fantasia and other festivals and I know our own MAMO! boys took a look at it some time ago as well. So I really look forward to this one hitting my neck of the woods at some point soon.
And yes, there is a deer on the receiving end of some high flying kung-fu in here. God knows why it makes the sound of a goat. Watch this trailer and maybe you can tell us!
ahemm…
Dark Bridges Film Festival
That’s more of a modified corkscrew kick.
Looks awesome. Hope that music is in the film (very chavy/Skins-esque.
I caught this at TIFF last year. The visuals were good and the mystery aspects worked in parts. Yet the film was rather disappointing on the whole. I would recommend going in with moderate expectations.
Yep, caught it at TIFF last year, like a Kung Fu and CGI Scooby Doo episode, and I mean that it the most awesome way. Sure it’s not a game changer, but it was fun as hell, and 1000x better than the craptacular Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen.
BONUS: Teddy Robbin in a small role.
I was actually quite bored with it when I saw it at TIFF. Possibly it just fell into a bad timing slot (I do remember being really tired during that screening), but I fall more in line with Courtney’s comments above. I really expected more. It should’ve had zip and life to it, but I never felt that energy.
dubstep? WTF!
I can’t believe I’ve not heard more about this, it’s out on DVD/Blu-Ray in the UK and I recognise the name, but didn’t realise it was Tsui Hark and that trailer sold me, it looks like barrel-loads of handsome-looking fun. I expect from some of the comments above it’s a bit messy and not wholly satisfying, but I still want to give it a whirl.
David it comes out this weekend! It was a lot quieter than I expected…but it was pretty massive overall
It’s been out in the UK for a while. I’ve got myself a copy now so I’ll get to watch it soon – after I’ve waded through my pile of screeners I have waiting for me at home!