Westerners have a Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. The Japanese have Conan and Kindaichi. Then the Chinese got what? The answer is to have in Ren Jie, or more popular called Detective Dee. The figure that exists in this ancient history was a servant of the kingdom of China in the Tang dynasty. Just as Sherlock Holmes Robert Downey Jr. version, Detective Dee is not only a great deduction skills but also accompanied by a formidable martial arts. Played by Andy Lau and directed by Hong Kong's Tsui elders, the film is selling well in mainland China there. How good is that?
When the Chinese emperor and empress Wu Zetian death will be appointed as the next leader of China, many servants in the kingdom who opposed the peak power in the hands of women. One of the opponents it is Detective Dee who later ended up in prison. Lapse of years later when koronasi Wu Zetian will soon take place. Wu Zetian also asked the people and army build him a giant statue that signifies kemahsyurannya.
In this development something mysterious happens, good luck when the seal was moved by the head of a surprise inspection just his body burned by the sun! This mysterious deaths investigated by the police chief who arrogantly ripping good luck because the seals do not believe in superstition. Again, he is mysteriously burned by the sun! What the hell happened? There is no other way for Wu Zetian besides freeing Detective Dee to investigate this case. The Empress does not just believe in the detective who had opposed it and put his faith aide: Shangguan Jing Er to monitor his movements. Can the detectives find a solution to the mystery of this accomplished?
Ah Tsui Hark film taste is rarely disappoint me. Even after a long retirement to make the film even once come down the mountain elder one is presenting masterpieces by Detective Dee. Action dibesut fighting in this film by Sammo Hung and he seems quite able to polish Andy Lau, Li Bing-Bing, and his friends for the action scenes (although Hong Kong actor-artist about it ever menjabani resume action scenes in their films.) I am also pleased that in this film the characters who are competent not only a Detective Dee. Although Shangguan Jing'er and Pei Donglai may not be as smart as the main hero, they are also pretty smart - unlike most movie detective sidekick who whacky-whacky.
So my verdict is ... a bit much Detective Dee reminded me of his Sherlock Holmes Guy Ritchie. More or less similar plot: there are mystical auras that turned out to be explained scientifically, the hero rather quirky and good at fighting, the last is the plot that turned out to threaten the state or empire as a whole. The success of this film than the Reign of Assassins also can be spelled out revenge Andy Lau to John Woo who earlier beat Samkok his film version.