The Promise

Name: The Promise
Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy
Released: December 30, 2005
Duration: 121 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Cecilia Cheung, Dong-Gun Jang

2005

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Ratings

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5.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Ratings

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The Promise

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Independent Pictures (WIP) | Release Date: December 30, 2005 | PG-13

Starring: Cecilia Cheung, Dong-Gun Jang

Summary: This fantasy epic tells the love story between a royal concubine and a slave.

Director: Kaige Chen

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Fantasy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 121 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Tasha Robinson

For Kaige, The Promise can't exactly be called a return to form--it's more a return to "Hero" and "House Of Flying Daggers" director Zhang Yimou's form. Either way, it's still glorious. Read full review

Steven Rea

Whether or not the story makes any sense, The Promise promises to transport - and does. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chen Kaige clearly intended this Chinese fantasy-action spectacle to top Zhang Yimou's "Hero," and I must admit that I prefer it to the earlier movie: the digital effects are sometimes excessive, yet Chen's story of a loyal slave, his master, and a wealthy, seemingly doomed princess is more affecting, especially in the closing stretch. Read full review

Shawn Levy

Sumptuous and beautiful and as silly as a sack of nose glasses. Read full review

Staff (Not credited)

There's a nice Road Runner-cartoon moment when the slave runs really, really fast, carrying the wounded general on his back while dodging an attack of CG bulls. I can't imagine Road Runner was what Chen had in mind for the most expensive movie ever made in China, but then, I was born too late for the time of the snowy eagle. Read full review

Ty Burr

Has a daft sweep, and if you're in the mood for empty swordplay in baroque settings, purple dialogue delivered with straight faces, and romantic yearnings that never, ever resolve, The Promise may be your cup of oolong. Read full review

V.A. Musetto

The Promise employs laughable computer effects and second-rate martial-arts fighting to tell the hard-to-figure story of a princess and her three lovers. Read full review

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User Reviews

Violett

Apr 7, 2013

Very nice movie, by standarts of asian martial arts-fantasy movie. The plot is not so strong, but it is not the main thing. This movie is about bright fights, gods and legends. Light smooth moves, water and wind. Worth watching, if you like fights as in Crounching Tiger film.

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PaulK.

May 4, 2006

Don't believe the hype. While the story may be of interest to some, it is ultimately too cliche. That said, my biggest problem with this film were the visuals. Some of the effects are fine, but a majority are flat out bad. Consistency in the quality of effects would have made Kevin Don't believe the hype. While the story may be of interest to some, it is ultimately too cliche. That said, my biggest problem with this film were the visuals. Some of the effects are fine, but a majority are flat out bad. Consistency in the quality of effects would have made Kevin Thomas' quote about this being "one of the most beautiful films imaginable" valid. As it stands, this is not even close to Crouching Tiger, Hero, or Flying Daggers. Wait for video, if you must.… Expand

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KaiY.

Jan 4, 2006

Cheesy, tacky, corny and thoroughly unbelievable (even by fantasy standards). Tse's rant about how Cheung's theft of a bun from him set him down on the road of evil is the most laughably ridiculous piece of crap ever spouted on screen.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

JamesS.

Jun 28, 2007

Note that when it comes to Asian martial arts films, American critics tend to be more lenient because of its novelty, or the assumptions that the incoherent plot lines could be due to "lost in translation". So users should review the review and moderate it down a few grades to be objective. Note that when it comes to Asian martial arts films, American critics tend to be more lenient because of its novelty, or the assumptions that the incoherent plot lines could be due to "lost in translation". So users should review the review and moderate it down a few grades to be objective. Especially so if you are familiar with this genre of film before it caught on with the west.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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