Watches
December 21, 2013
Tsui takes the prequel route. After the success of his first Detective Dee film, a sequel was inevitable. Films/franchises like these have limitless opportunities for sequels, so why not go back to the beginning? This second film tries to distance itself a bit more from Ritchie's Holmes films and adds a serious dash of 80s Hong Kong fantasy.
A young Dee arrives in the capital, hoping to make it big. Eager to prove himself, he latches onto a rumor about a sea monster that attacks the city at night. The empress has hired Yuchi, her own investigator, to get on top of the problem. Yuchi isn't looking for any help, but Dee isn't willing to simply back down and let someone else solve the case for him.
This could've been another Hong Kong blockbuster classic, were it not for some overambitious CG. The sets, costumes, and action all look incredibly lush, but the CG cannot match that level and comes off as cheap and distracting. There's still quite a bit to look forward to, including a sprawling finale, I just wish Tsui had shown a bit more restraint where needed.