History Film / DetectiveDee

* HeroicAlbino: Pei Donglai is this, albeit leaning toward AntiHero status.

* BlackAndGrayMorality: Wu Zetian is hardly a virtuous ruler, and none knows it better than Dee, who has spent eight years in jail for opposing her rule. But the conspirators are worse.

* {{Fainting}}: Dee faints at least twice due to his illness.

* OrgyOfEvidence: The break-in at the painter Leung's house was this, tipping Dee off that someone was planting evidence at the house to lure him there.
* PerfectPoison: The poison

* RecycledINSPACE: Could be described as "''Film/SherlockHolmes'' [[AC: IN CHINA]]". Wu Zetian even acts a lot like Queen Victoria does in such stories.

* BlackMarket: After Shatuo suggests the poison that causes the combustions could be from type of beetle called Fire Turtles, the investigators search for more information on the beetles at the Phantom Bazaar, a market that was built by criminals in part of the city that had sunk into the ground.

* DwindlingParty: By the time the movie ends only a handful of named characters survive.

* GreatDetective: Dee is based on an actual historical figure, but his status as an ancient Chinese Sherlock Holmes is based on the 18th century novel ''狄公案'', and in the West on Robert van Gulik's ''Literature/JudgeDee'' stories.

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Di Renjie and Wu Zetian were real people, and Jing'er is based on a real person. Probably none of them were capable of WireFu in real life, however.

* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: The whole movie veers between rational historical fiction, and its own special brand of very, very weird.

The plot takes place shortly before the ascension of UsefulNotes/WuZetian, China's first female emperor, to the throne. An enormous Buddha statue is being built for the occasion when the director of its construction mysteriously bursts into flames and dies. The investigators are baffled until Wu Zetian calls on Detective Dee, a man whom she imprisoned eight years previously for opposing her rule. With the imperial agent [[ActionGirl Shangguan]] [[LoveInterest Jing'er]], and young policeman [[PragmaticHero Pei Donglai]], Dee has until the coronation starts to solve the mystery of the phantom flame.

* BittersweetEnding: Dee's heart has found peace, but [[spoiler: his love-interest and CowboyCop partner are killed, his best friend betrayed him, and the less-than-virtuous Empress Wu Zetian has succeeded the throne. Oh, and he can't go outside in the sun ever again, or else he'll burst into flames!]]
* BlackAndGreyMorality: Wu Zetian is hardly a virtuous ruler, and none knows it better than Dee, who has spent eight years in jail for opposing her rule. But the conspirators are worse.

* BodyguardCrush: Jing'er is ''quite'' [[LesYay devoted]] to Wu Zetian.

* ConspicuousCGI: Occasionally. The TransformationSequence comes to mind.

* PunnyName: Donkey Wang. Yes. Technically, it's [[TheyCallMeMisterTibbs Dr. Donkey Wang.]]

* RecycledInSpace: Could be described as "''[[Film.SherlockHolmes Sherlock Holmes]]'' [[AC: IN CHINA]]". Wu Zetian even acts a lot like Queen Victoria does in such stories.

* TheresNoKillLikeOverkill: The number of arrows fired at Dee and Jing'er would sink a boat.

* WholesomeCrossdresser: [[spoiler: Jing'er is the High Priest]].

* TheMole: [[spoiler:[[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal That one constable who's been stuck with guard duty for years]].]]

** One of the Dondo fighters wields what can be described as a [[Film/MasterOfTheFlyingGuillotine flying guillotine.]]
** Yuan Zhen's fate [[spoiler:is equal parts ComicBook/SwampThing and the Film/CreatureFromTheBlackLagoon.]]

* VoluntaryShapeshifting: An important plot point hinges on a certain acupressure point that allows you to completely alter the shape of your face. For Chinese audiences, the impact is heightened by [[spoiler: iconic character actor Richard Ng transforming into equally iconic character actor Teddy Robin]]. A Hollywood equivalent would be if SteveBuscemi [[LatexPerfection ripped off a rubber mask]] to reveal himself as ChristopherWalken.

''Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame'' is a 2010 People's Republic of China/Republic of China co-production. The title character is loosely based on the real-life Tang Dynasty magistrate Di Renjie, who also inspired the ''Literature/JudgeDee'' novels and short stories. The film is not based on those novels however, and relies primarily on ''[[{{Wuxia}} wuxia]]'' action.

The plot takes place shortly before the ascension of UsefulNotes/WuZetian, China's first female emperor, to the throne. An enormous Buddha statue is being built for the occasion when the director of its construction mysteriously bursts into flames and dies. The investigators are baffled until Wu Zetian calls on Detective Dee, a man whom she imprisoned eight years previously for opposing her rule. With the imperial agent [[ActionGirl Shangguan]] [[LoveInterest Jing'er]], and young policeman [[PragmaticHero Pei Donglai]], Dee [[YouHave48Hours has until the coronation starts]] to solve the mystery of the phantom flame.

* YouHave48Hours: Dee has until the coronation to solve the crime.

* YouHave48Hours: Yuchi is given 10 days to solve the mystery, Dee pleads to get a delay, and is given 24 hours.

* GreatDetective: Dee is based on an actual historical figure, but his status as an ancient Chinese Sherlock Holmes is based on the 18th century novel ''狄公案'', and in the West on Robert van Gulik's JudgeDee stories.

** Yuan Zhen's fate [[spoiler:is equal parts SwampThing and the Film/CreatureFromTheBlackLagoon.]]

The plot takes place shortly before the ascension of UsefulNotes/WuZetian, China's first female emperor, to the throne. An enormous Buddha statue is being built for the occasion when the director of its construction mysteriously bursts into flames and dies. The investigators are baffled until Wu Zetian calls on Detective Dee, a man whom she imprisoned eight years previously for opposing her rule. With the imperial agent [[ActionGirl Shangguan]] [[LoveInterest Jing'er]], and policeman [[PragmaticHero Pei Donglai]], Dee [[YouHave48Hours has until the coronation starts]] to solve the mystery of the phantom flame.

A second movie with the subtitle ''Rise of the Sea Dragon'' was released in 2013. It is a {{Prequel}}, with {{time shifted actor}}s for returning characters (Dee and Shatuo) except Empress Wu, focusing on Dee's first case in Luoyang. With the residing police chief [[InspectorJavert Yuchi]] in his way, and a new ally [[NaiveNewcomer Shatuo]] on his side, Dee must come to the rescue of [[WorldsMostBeautifulWoman Ruiji]], who is seemingly targeted by both a nomadic cult and a reptilian creature from the depths. Unfortunately the capital has an even bigger concern. [[{{Kaiju}} Big enough to sink an Imperial fleet, as a matter of fact.]]

''狄仁杰之通天帝國'' (English title: ''Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame'') is a 2010 People's Republic of China/Republic of China co-production. The title character is loosely based on the real-life Tang Dynasty magistrate Di Renjie, who also inspired the ''Literature/JudgeDee'' novels and short stories. The film is not based on those novels however, and relies primarily on ''[[{{Wuxia}} wuxia]]'' action.

* DyeingForYourArt: Donglai's actor even bleached his eyelashes to play a convincing albino.

** One of the Dondo fighters wields what can be described as a [[MasterOfTheFlyingGuillotine flying guillotine.]]

* SwordLimbo: Jing'er limbos under a flying ''tree trunk'' throw at her by the puppet.

* PerfectPoison: Since it [[PoisonIsCorrosive causes you to spontaneously combust]], there's not much forensic evidence left behind.

* ObfuscatingDisability: Dee fakes being blind while in prison.

* VoluntaryShapeshifting: An important plot point hinges on a certain acupressure point that allows you to completely alter the shape of your face.

The plot takes place shortly before the ascension of Wu Zetian, China's first female emperor, to the throne. An enormous Buddha statue is being built for the occasion when the director of its construction mysteriously bursts into flames and dies. The investigators are baffled until Wu Zetian calls on Detective Dee, a man whom she imprisoned eight years previously for opposing her rule. With the imperial agent [[ActionGirl Shangguan]] [[LoveInterest Jing'er]], and policeman [[PragmaticHero Pei Donglai]], Dee [[YouHave48Hours has until the coronation starts]] to solve the mystery of the phantom flame.