Chinese Film
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (Chinese Film Review)
- Genre: Historical, Fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Martial Arts, CGI Galore
- Release Date: July 2018
- Film: China/Mandarin
Cast:
- Mark Chao as Detective Dee
- William Feng (Feng Shaofeng) as Yuchi Shenjin
- Kenny Lin (Lin Gengxin) as Shatuo Zhong
- Ethan Juan as Master Yuan Ce
- Carina Lau as Empress Wu Zetian
- Sandra Ma as Water Moon
There are four great reasons to watch this film. These reasons being the four heavyweights of handsomeness and manliness in Mark Chao, William Feng, Kenny Lin, and Ethan Juan. They are big stars of Chinese films and television dramas.
There is also a big bonus. There is an albino Kingkong.
Anyway, the story centers on the Dragon Taming Mace, which is an all-powerful sword/baton that can cut through pure evil.
In previous films, Detective Dee of the Bureau of Investigation had saved the Emperor countless times and as a reward, he gave the Dragon Taming Mace (DTM) to him, much to the displeasure of the ambitious and conniving Empress Wu.
The Empress instructed Yuchi, the palace’s military commander (?) to take back the DTM from Detective Dee, who happened to be a sworn brother of Yuchi.
Yuchi was perturbed, but he had to obey the Empress at all costs being a subject to the royal family. The Empress did assure him that she will not harm Dee and his family. She just wanted the DTM back.
She then told Yuchi to lead a band of sorcerers to get the DTM.
And here the story really progresses.
The film is fast-paced with plenty of action. The CGI is great.
Towards 3/4 of the film, an albino Kingkong appears as the protector of Master Yuan Ce, who has the power to ‘melt’ an evil heart.
Detective Dee needed Master Yuan Ce’s intervention to interpret some sutras that would defeat those renegade magicians and sorcerers overthrowing the crown.
There was a scene, which I did find rather uncomfortable. I have to warn those like me who suffer from trypophobia, the fear of clusters of small holes. The holes in this film were from a giant golden hominid, who was covered in thousands of eyes. When the eyeballs popped out I was literally covered in goosebumps. I had to look away from the film. The CGI was so good.
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