Wild At Heart
There is something special about a truly epic Chinese film with it’s over the top action, connection to the historical past and brilliant choreography. Of course, when Asian films hit our shores, we are seeing the supposed best (or cult worst) so that perhaps colors my perception of their cinema. Whatever the reason, I truly love watching great Asian cinema and the latest film to arrive on our shores is the 2010 epic detective thriller “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame” which is a fictional account of Di Renjie, one of the most celebrated officials of the Tang Dynasty.
Born in 630, Di Renjie worked in public service and the honorable Confucius, who was judging a case against him, once said of Di Renjie “You can tell a man's kindness by his failure. You are a pearl from the coast and a lost treasure of the southeast". He was one of the most celebrated officials of Wu Zetian's, the only woman to rule in China as Emperor, reign and was credited with moderating her reign from being considered one of terror to one of greater efficiency and honesty. I recommend reading up about this engaging character upon which Robert van Gulik based his famous Detective Dee.
The movie takes place around this time frame of the inauguration of Empress Wu Zetian as workers toil on building a giant Buddha outside the palace walls. Two people connected to the project burst into flame and the construction looks to halt. The Empress summons infamous Detective Dee back from the prison into which she cast him eight years earlier for speaking against her. His skills not diminished, he takes the job believing that while slightly cruel, the Empress can unite and bring prosperity to the land. However, he must carefully tread a path with two assistants with different loyalties and ideas, an Imperial rival to the Empress as well as a mysterious assassin who comes and disappears at the merest whim.
The film has some gorgeous choreography (the Buddha statue is beautiful), excellent high energy fight scenes (choreographed by Sammo Hung) and a very fun story that is part fiction and part historical fact. Dee needs all his detective, fighting and forensic skills to track down the killer and spoil the plot against the Empress. One almost gets the feel that he might be the Chinese equivalent of Sherlock Holmes (that is if Holmes could do some high flying martial arts moves). Director Tsui Hark is probably best known for his “Once Upon A Time In China” movies which are excellent films in their own right and this falls right in line with the best of the best in Asian martial arts cinema. Right now, this might be my favorite movie of the year. If nothing else, see it for the kung fu deer (yes you are reading that correctly and they are pretty cool).
My grade is an A+
"Detective Dee" opens Friday, Sept 23rd at the Maple Art Theatre.