Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon: Tsui Hark’s film is an entertaining mix of fantasy, mystery and action, with hints of humor. The story itself is convoluted (almost confusing sometimes), full of factions and details, therefore rich in conflict; the characters are flat, but at least distinguishable. Acting is, at times, stylized and over-the-top, as is usually the case in action films. Action scenes are vibrant and interesting; however, visual effects are sub-par, and that subtracts from the overall experience. (There is a certain freshness to this film given how rare this particular combination of genre and origin is.)

Read also: Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame