---
product_id: 6815431
title: "Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame"
price: "VT3209"
currency: VUV
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/6815431-detective-dee-and-the-mystery-of-the-phantom-flame
store_origin: VU
region: Vanuatu
---

# Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame

**Price:** VT3209
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
- **How much does it cost?** VT3209 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/6815431-detective-dee-and-the-mystery-of-the-phantom-flame)

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## Why This Product

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## Description

A bizarre murder mystery brings together the most powerful woman in China, the soon-to-be-Empress Wu Zetian and a formerly exiled detective, Dee Renjie at the infamous Imperial Palace. Hoping he will solve the crime before her coronation, Wu appoints Dee Chief Judge of the Empire and implores him to combine his indisputable wisdom with his unparalleled martial arts skills to save the future of her dynasty. Director Tsui Hark (SEVEN SWORDS) teams with stunt director Sammo Hung in this heart-pounding, epic thriller inspired by the incredible true story of one of the Tang Dynasty's most celebrated officials.

Review: Tsui Hark In Top Form Again... - Tsui Hark, founder of Film Workshop and producer and director of some of Hong Kong's best cinema once again delivers outstanding Asian entertainement. This review is about the so-called Director's Cut DVD, ASIN 7885142604. This award nominated Detective Dee story is a 7th century Chinese period combination of wuxia, mystery, drama and thriller. The Detective Dee character is based on Di Renjie, a famous 7th century official of Empress Wu Zeitan's Zhou Dynasty court. This story is based on one of a series of Judge Dee novels. The semi-fictional accounts of Judge Dee are China's equivalent to Britain's Sherlock Holmes. In this Dee story, he is tasked by the soon to be coronated Empress Wu Zeitan to discover why court officials are spontaneously bursting into flame from the inside out and the threat to her imminent coronation as Emperess. In the course of his investigation, Dee uncovers a complex of conspriacies, intrigue, and historical grudges. Even Dee doesn't escape suspicion since he was banished for over 8 years for his opposition to Empress Wu's ascension. Excellent plot, scripting, direction and acting with outstanding production weaves an entertaining film that deserves the awards for which it was nominated. The cast includes some of the best Asian actors with Andy Lau in the title role and supporting cast including Carina Lau, Li Bingbing, Deng Chao and Tony Leung Ka-fai. You can't have a good Chinese wuxia drama thriller without some martial arts action woven in. The venerable Sammo Hung, famous martial arts expert, actor, producer and action director provides outstanding martial arts choreography. Tsui Hark can add this film to his long pedigree as director and/or producer of some of the best of Asian cinema. Harks pedigree includes directing Time And Tide and Seven Swords; directing and producing Once Upon A Time In China I through V and A Better Tomorrow III; and producing the John Woo greats A Better Tomorrow, A Better Tomorrow II and The Killer.
Review: Detective "Judge" Dee and a modern, popular interpretation... - This review is intended for the standard DVD version of Detective Dee and The Mystery of the Phantom Flame. 1. Firstly, I wanted to remark that the associations I've seen for this film to be likened to a mashup of the (2009)Sherlock Holmes and (2003) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon to be surprisingly apt. I'm not necessarily pleased about the reality of that, but I do think it's accurate. 2. I am a huge fan of the Judge Dee adaptations and original works written by Robert Hans van Gulik. As noted elsewhere, this movie is a sizeable departure from what makes those stories great. That having been said... 3. This film is great. I love adaptations that do rediculous things (historically or otherwise), and this one has it all. Andy Lau is a terrific, energetic and careful interpretation of Dee, IMHO. I am very thankful that there is a plot, and a storyline that isn't rendered impotent with qualifiers, inadequate explanations, etc. Most of the non-scenic CGI is distracting and unhelpful, but I would say the same about every film I've seen this year. It was fun for me to see how the traditional folklore elements were woven in. Several supporting players are fantastic, including Carina Lau. 4. This film is very different from the plodding and thoughtful (1974) Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders (ABC Circle Films), but that film is amazing also (with Jeremy Kagan directing and an amazing cast). This other film is more in line with the van Gulik works... but lacks the vitality (largely because of the nature of the story) that is part of the Dee persona. I think this is a fantastic "go-to-the-movies" popcorn film.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Contributor | Andy Lau, Carina Lau, Carina Liu, Chao Deng, Chen Xiao, Deng Chao, He Shenming, Huang Yonggang, Jean-Michel Casanova, Jiang Yanming, Ka Ling, Lee Bing Bing, Li Bingbing, Liu Jinshan, Lu Yao, Michel, Qin Yan, Richard Ng, Sos Haroyan, Teddy Robin, Teddy Robin Kwan, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Tony Leung Kar-Fai, Tsui Hark, Wang Deshun, Wang Zhongjun, Wang Zhonglei, Yao Lu, Zhao Jialin Contributor Andy Lau, Carina Lau, Carina Liu, Chao Deng, Chen Xiao, Deng Chao, He Shenming, Huang Yonggang, Jean-Michel Casanova, Jiang Yanming, Ka Ling, Lee Bing Bing, Li Bingbing, Liu Jinshan, Lu Yao, Michel, Qin Yan, Richard Ng, Sos Haroyan, Teddy Robin, Teddy Robin Kwan, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Tony Leung Kar-Fai, Tsui Hark, Wang Deshun, Wang Zhongjun, Wang Zhonglei, Yao Lu, Zhao Jialin See more |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 397 Reviews |
| Format | Color, Dubbed, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen |
| Genre | Action & Adventure |
| Language | English |
| Runtime | 1 hour and 59 minutes |

## Product Details

- **Genre:** Action & Adventure
- **Format:** NTSC, Subtitled, Color, Multiple Formats, Widescreen, Dubbed
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}));  Lu Yao, Ka Ling, Jiang Yanming, Jean-Michel Casanova, Liu Jinshan, He Shenming, Teddy Robin, Chen Xiao, Huang Yonggang, Richard Ng, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Deng Chao, Andy Lau, Carina Liu, Tsui Hark, Carina Lau, Qin Yan, Zhao Jialin, Wang Zhonglei, Sos Haroyan, Chao Deng, Yao Lu, Tony Leung Kar-Fai, Wang Deshun, Michel, Lee Bing Bing, Wang Zhongjun, Teddy Robin Kwan, Li BingbingLu Yao, Ka Ling, Jiang Yanming, Jean-Michel Casanova, Liu Jinshan, He Shenming, Teddy Robin, Chen Xiao, Huang Yonggang, Richa…    See more
- **Language:** English
- **Runtime:** 1 hour and 59 minutes

## Images

![Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51jysEDkGQL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tsui Hark In Top Form Again...
*by J***M on June 10, 2011*

Tsui Hark, founder of Film Workshop and producer and director of some of Hong Kong's best cinema once again delivers outstanding Asian entertainement. This review is about the so-called Director's Cut DVD, ASIN 7885142604. This award nominated Detective Dee story is a 7th century Chinese period combination of wuxia, mystery, drama and thriller. The Detective Dee character is based on Di Renjie, a famous 7th century official of Empress Wu Zeitan's Zhou Dynasty court. This story is based on one of a series of Judge Dee novels. The semi-fictional accounts of Judge Dee are China's equivalent to Britain's Sherlock Holmes. In this Dee story, he is tasked by the soon to be coronated Empress Wu Zeitan to discover why court officials are spontaneously bursting into flame from the inside out and the threat to her imminent coronation as Emperess. In the course of his investigation, Dee uncovers a complex of conspriacies, intrigue, and historical grudges. Even Dee doesn't escape suspicion since he was banished for over 8 years for his opposition to Empress Wu's ascension. Excellent plot, scripting, direction and acting with outstanding production weaves an entertaining film that deserves the awards for which it was nominated. The cast includes some of the best Asian actors with Andy Lau in the title role and supporting cast including Carina Lau, Li Bingbing, Deng Chao and Tony Leung Ka-fai. You can't have a good Chinese wuxia drama thriller without some martial arts action woven in. The venerable Sammo Hung, famous martial arts expert, actor, producer and action director provides outstanding martial arts choreography. Tsui Hark can add this film to his long pedigree as director and/or producer of some of the best of Asian cinema. Harks pedigree includes directing Time And Tide and Seven Swords; directing and producing Once Upon A Time In China I through V and A Better Tomorrow III; and producing the John Woo greats A Better Tomorrow, A Better Tomorrow II and The Killer.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Detective "Judge" Dee and a modern, popular interpretation...
*by K***C on February 18, 2012*

This review is intended for the standard DVD version of Detective Dee and The Mystery of the Phantom Flame. 1. Firstly, I wanted to remark that the associations I've seen for this film to be likened to a mashup of the (2009)Sherlock Holmes and (2003) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon to be surprisingly apt. I'm not necessarily pleased about the reality of that, but I do think it's accurate. 2. I am a huge fan of the Judge Dee adaptations and original works written by Robert Hans van Gulik. As noted elsewhere, this movie is a sizeable departure from what makes those stories great. That having been said... 3. This film is great. I love adaptations that do rediculous things (historically or otherwise), and this one has it all. Andy Lau is a terrific, energetic and careful interpretation of Dee, IMHO. I am very thankful that there is a plot, and a storyline that isn't rendered impotent with qualifiers, inadequate explanations, etc. Most of the non-scenic CGI is distracting and unhelpful, but I would say the same about every film I've seen this year. It was fun for me to see how the traditional folklore elements were woven in. Several supporting players are fantastic, including Carina Lau. 4. This film is very different from the plodding and thoughtful (1974) Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders (ABC Circle Films), but that film is amazing also (with Jeremy Kagan directing and an amazing cast). This other film is more in line with the van Gulik works... but lacks the vitality (largely because of the nature of the story) that is part of the Dee persona. I think this is a fantastic "go-to-the-movies" popcorn film.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Whodunit?
*by N***A on February 6, 2016*

A well made and entertaining romp through period China. Obviously influenced by western "Big Bang" film styles exemplified by the likes of Indiana Jones and Robert Downey Jnr's Sherlock Holmes, the movie demonstrates that Asian directors can produce blockbuster type epics with the same skill as those from the US. Great sets, a maze-like plot, an interesting cast of characters, and plenty of action make for an enjoyable 2 hours of escapist Saturday matinee type of viewing.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
- Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon
- Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings

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*Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu*
*Store origin: VU*
*Last updated: 2026-06-04*