- Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
-
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame 
Film posterTraditional 狄仁傑之通天帝國（臺：通天神探狄仁傑） Simplified 狄仁杰之通天帝国 Directed by Tsui Hark Produced by Tsui Hark
Nansun Shi
Peggy LeeScreenplay by Chen Kuofu Starring Andy Lau
Carina Lau
Li Bingbing
Tony Leung Ka-fai
Deng ChaoStudio Huayi Brothers
Film WorkshopDistributed by Huayi Brothers
Emperor Entertainment GroupRelease date(s) 29 September 2010 (China)
30 September 2010 (Hong Kong)Running time 122 minutes Country China
Hong KongLanguage Mandarin[1] Budget US$20 million Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame is a 2010 epic mystery film that is a fictional account of Di Renjie, one of the most celebrated officials of the Tang Dynasty. A co-production between China and Hong Kong, the film was directed by Tsui Hark from a screenplay written by Chen Kuofu. The film stars Andy Lau as the lead role, and features art direction and fight choreography by Sammo Hung. The film's supporting cast includes Carina Lau, Li Bingbing, Deng Chao and Tony Leung Ka-fai. Principal photography for Detective Dee began in May 2009; the film was shot at Hengdian World Studios in Zhejiang, China. Detective Dee was released in China on 29 September 2010 and in Hong Kong on 30 September 2010. The film was nominated for the Golden Lion at the 2010 Venice Film Festival.[2][3] The film also made its North America debut by premiering at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.[1]
The character of Judge Dee was made famous in western countries by Robert van Gulik, who wrote 17 new Judge Dee mysteries between 1946 and 1967. The series is now being continued by French author Frédéric Lenormand.
Contents
Plot
In the year AD 690, when the mysterious deaths of a series of loyal senior officials from what appears to be spontaneous combustion threaten to delay the inauguration of Empress Wu Zetian, she summons the infamous Detective Dee back from the prison into which she cast him eight years earlier for speaking against her. Dee proves that his detective skills have not rusted by his time in prison, but his investigation is hampered by the distrust of his two assigned assistants, political maneuvering by a rival Imperial candidate, repeated assassination attempts and possibly by the Empress herself. Dee's search for the hidden truth behind the deaths and who is responsible will call upon all of his forensic and martial arts skills and his unswerving devotion to justice and the truth, no matter who gets in his way.[4]
Production
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phanton Flame is a co-production between Chinese production company Huayi Brothers (also the film's distributor) and production company Film Workshop. The film will be Film Workshop's 50th feature film as a producer.[5] The film was directed by Tsui Hark, who co-produced the film with his wife Nansun Shi. The screenplay was written by Chen Kuofu, the Chinese screenwriter of the 2008 films Forever Enthralled and If You Are the One. When asked to direct the film. Tsui said that he'll only direct the project if he gets to make adjustments to the script, which he did do. Tsui never told the public about what changes that he actually made to the original script but did mentioned that the character Shangguan Jing'er was in fact a male but he made the adjustment to make the character a female. Fight choreography and art direction for the film was handled by Sammo Hung.
Pre-production
Prior to filming Detective Dee, Tsui had spent years doing research on stories concerning real life Tang Dynasty official Di Renjie. Chen Kuofu first approached Tsui with a screenplay based on the life of Di Renjie.[6]
Tsui first announced production plans in 2008, while promoting his previous film All About Women at the 13th Pusan International Film Festival. At the time, Tsui had pondered on whether to make Detective Dee or remake the 1966 film Dragon Gate Inn.[7]
Casting
For the lead role as Di Renjie, Tsui originally had Tony Leung Ka-fai, along with Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, and Jet Li in mind. Jet Li mentioned while promoting Tsui's other film The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate that he had a chance to read the script though he wasn't able to be part of the project due to some unknown reason. Tsui commented on choosing an actor to play Di Renjie: "Who said that Di Ren Jie must be plump and old? He could also be very handsome. Wits and looks can balance one another."[8] On 5 January 2009, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Andy Lau would star in the lead role.[4] On 29 April 2009, it was announced that Carina Lau, Li Bingbing, Deng Chao and Tony Leung Ka-Fai would appear in supporting roles.
- Andy Lau plays Di Renjie, an exiled detective of the Tang Dynasty.[9] Lau felt that the character's psychic abilities was one of his greatest traits: "He is a forensic psychologist who knows what you're thinking, from your eyes, your breathing, the pauses in your speech, he could tell what you're withholding, a melancholic detective." To prepare for his role in the film, Lau studied criminal psychology.[10]
- Carina Lau plays Wu Zetian, the Tang Dynasty empress of China. The film marks Lau's first feature film role in four years. On her role in the film, she commented on the strength of the empress: "I feel that Wu Ze Tian is a 'superman', her fate is very tragic, but she would find opportunities to defy her fate, to bring her, step by step, closer to her dreams. She has very strong willpower and is very wise, unlike myself."[5] Lau had to practice horse riding for the film, accepting help from a professional trainer: "I have always been rather afraid of horseriding, afraid of such a large animal; but now I have overcome the mental obstacle and the lessons have been rather smooth."[10]
"He was someone very special, one possessing nerdiness, good deportment and great foresight. His mentality and philosophies were very different from Sherlock Holmes or James Bond. He can dwell forever in my heart, so I have a very romantic view on him, and must also be immaculate."
—Director Tsui Hark on portraying Di Renjie.[5]- Li Bingbing plays Shangguan Jing'er, a highly skilled martial artist, who serves as Wu Zetian's maid and right-hand "man". The character is loosely based on Shangguan Wan'er, who was a poet, writer and politician of the Tang Dynasty.[5] Director Tsui Hark decided to change the character, feeling that a more fictitious character would provide more room for creativity: "There're some things that Wan-er couldn't do, like being a top-notch martial arts expert."[5]
Filming
Principal photography for Detective Dee began in May 2009, with a budget of $20 million;[6][4] the film was shot using Red One digital cameras[11] in Zhejiang, China at Hengdian World Studios, which is one of the largest film studios in the world.[12] Detective Dee has been described as one of Tsui's most personal films to date. During production, Tsui would reportedly work consistently on the set, barely getting enough sleep.[13]
Action direction
Sammo Hung served as an action director for the film and his stunt team built eight platforms (12 meters tall) in the cave for three days of wire work. The record was over 70 wires for one scene.[10] One of the sculptures was a 80 metre bust of Empress Wu Zetian, a key element of the film that cost $12 million HKD to design and decorate. During production, reporters were invited to enter the bust's interior, which included a 12 meter tall circular platform. Outside of the platform hung red and white drapes that were full of scriptures.[14]
Fight choreography
Detective Dee's martial arts sequences will be choreographed by Sammo Hung, who worked extensively alongside actors Andy Lau and Li Bingbing. Tsui choose Hung as a choreographer, feeling that his work had shades of Bruce Lee. Of the fight sequences for the film, Tsui commented that they would be similar to that of Ip Man, as they would aim for realism with actual punches and kicks. This would prove difficult for actors who had no martial arts experience.[15] Of the two actors, Li Bingbing had no experience in martial arts, and her role required that she use various weapons in the film such as a whip and a sword.[15]
Reception
China Daily placed the film on their list of the best ten Chinese films of 2010.[16]
Awards and nominations
30th Hong Kong Film Awards
- Nominated: Best Film
- Won: Best Director (Tsui Hark)
- Won: Best Actress (Carina Lau)
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (Tony Leung)
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (Deng Chao)
- Nominated: Best Cinematography (Chan Chi-ying, Chan Chor-keung)
- Nominated: Best Editing (Yau Chi-wai)
- Won: Best Costume Design (Choo Sung-bong)
- Won: Best Production Design
- Nominated: Best Action Cherography (Sammo Hung)
- Nominated: Best Original Score (Peter Kam)
- Won: Best Sound Effects
- Won: Best Visual Effects (Phil Jones)
5th Asian Film Awards
- Nominated: Best Production Design (Choo Sung-bong)
- Nominated: Best Visual Effects (Phil Jones)
- Nominated: Best Costume Design (Bruce Yu Ka-on)
See also
References
- ^ a b "Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame". Toronto International Film Festival 2010. http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2010/detectivedeeandthemy.
- ^ "Venezia 67". labiennale.org. 2010-07-29. http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/festival/lineup/off-sel/venezia67/. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ "Venice unveils 2010 competition lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i87635330f49d1b31fc9976eedacf8be1.
- ^ a b c Detective Dee Investigates Mysterious Deaths in Tsui Hark's Upcoming Film - Wu-Jing.org
- ^ a b c d e "Detective Dee Press Conference in Hengdian - Wu-Jing.org". Sina.com, Baidu, Sohu. June 13, 2009. http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/654-Detective-Dee-Press-Conference-in-Hengdian.html. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
- ^ a b Tsui Hark to Direct Judge Dee in May 2009 - Wu-Jing.org
- ^ Tsui Hark Ponders Over Doing New Dragon Inn or Di Ren Jie First - Wu-Jing.org
- ^ Tsui Hark: Di Ren Jie is “internationally known” | AndyLauSounds
- ^ Detective Dee Cast Announced - Wu-Jing.org
- ^ a b c HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office: [2009.06.12 ANDY LAU STUDIES CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY]
- ^ [1]
- ^ Di Ren Jie started shooting in Hengdian | AndyLauSounds
- ^ Detective Dee Concept Art - Wu-Jing.org
- ^ HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office: [2006.06.13 SAMMO HUNG HOPES TO PROVIDE THE BEST VISUAL ENTERTAINMENT]
- ^ a b HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office: [2009.06.04 DETECTIVE DEE CAST HAS TO TAKE A BEATING BEFORE GIVING A BEATING]
- ^ Zhou, Raymond (December 30, 2010). "Top 10 movies of 2010 in China". China Daily. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-12/28/content_11762716.htm. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
External links
Films directed by Tsui Hark 1970s The Butterfly Murders (1979)1980s Dangerous Encounter - 1st Kind (1980) • We're Going to Eat You (1980) • All the Wrong Clues (1981) • Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) • Shanghai Blues (1984) • Aces Go Places 3 (1984) • Working Class (1985) • Peking Opera Blues (1986) • A Better Tomorrow 3 (1989) • The Master (1989)1990s The Swordsman (1990) • King of Chess (1991) • Once Upon a Time in China (1991) • The Raid (1991) • Once Upon a Time in China II (1992) • Swordsman II (1992) • Green Snake (1993) • Once Upon a Time in China III (1993) • The Lovers (1994) • Once Upon a Time in China V (1994) • Love in the Time of Twilight (1995) • The Blade (1995) • The Chinese Feast (1995) • Tristar (1996) • Double Team (1997) • Knock Off (1998)2000s Time and Tide (2000) • The Legend of Zu (2001) • Black Mask 2: City of Masks (2002) • Seven Swords (2005) • The Warrior (2006) • Missing (2008) • All About Women (2008)2010s Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010) • The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011)Collaborating director Categories:- 2010 films
- Chinese films
- Hong Kong films
- Chinese action films
- Hong Kong action films
- Films directed by Tsui Hark
- Martial arts films
- Mystery films
- Films set in the Tang Dynasty
- Wuxia films
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