Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame

Movie: Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame

Genre: mystery-thriller

Chinese with English subtitles

Synopsis: The year is 689 and Empress Wu Setian (Carina Lau) is about to be coronated first female Chinese emperor.  To commemorate her coronation, she is having a 66 yard high statue of herself built.  As the coronation approaches, high ranking officials start dying by bursting into flame from within.  In a desperate attempt to solve – and stop – the murders, the empress orders the great Detective Dee to be released from prison – the prison she had sent him to eight years earlier.  Detective Dee’s investigation leads him through wild chases, attacks by mysterious assassins as well as government soldiers.  Along the way, more people are dying by the “Phantom Flame”.

My two cents: The movie had a lot going for it: huge sets, lots of martial arts fighting, supernatural enemies, an innovative storyline . . . My only wish was that the fighting had looked a little more realistic and less staged.  Some of the names in the English subtitles had interesting translations.  My favorite was the royal physician: Doctor Donkey Wang.  In retrospect – although not a bad movie, I would rather have waited for this to come around on TV.

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Love Crime

Movie: Love Crime

Genre: mystery-thriller

French with English Subtitles

Synopsis: Christine (Kristin Scott Thomas) is the head of the Paris office of a multinational company.  Her top assistant is Isabelle (Ludivine Sagnier).  When Isabelle witnesses Christine taking credit with the corporate headquarters in New York for Isabelle’s work, Isabelle is less than happy.  Christine is amused by this and tells her that it is all part of getting ahead – something Isabella needs to learn.  When Isabella takes Christine’s advice, Christine’s response is swift and brutal.  But Isabelle is a quick study.  To say more would give too much away . . . but the movie has twists right up to the end.

My two cents: I really enjoyed this movie.  Kristin Scott Thomas is one of my favorite actors and she did not let me down in this movie, although the real star was Ludivine Sagnier.  The plot really had me scratching my head trying to figure out what in the heck was going on.  This movie is definitely worth your time.

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