Fresh
Has been criticized by some reviewers for its low-tech special effects. Curiously, I found this technical transparency part of the film's enormous charm.
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
The Promise
2005 · 2h 1m · PG-13
Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller
Directed by
Chen Kaige
Overview
An orphaned girl, driven by poverty at such a young age, makes a promise with an enchantress. In return for beauty and the admiration of every man, she will never be with the man she loves. This spell cannot be broken unless the impossible happens: snow falling in spring and the dead coming back to life. Now a grown and beautiful princess, she regrets her promise, for all of the men she's loved has always been met with tragedy.
Director and cast
- Chen Kaige Director
- Cecilia Cheung as Princess Qingcheng
- Liu Ye as Snow Wolf
- Chen Hong as Goddess Manshen
- Cheng Qian as The Emperer
- Jang Dong-gun as Kunlun
- Hiroyuki Sanada as General Guangming
- Nicholas Tse Ting-Fung as Wuhuan
- Yu Jinwei as Ye Li
- Guan Xiaotong as Young Qingcheng
- Shi Lei as Young Wuhuan
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
30%
Tomatometer
Fresh
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.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Rotten
The Promise is too full of frenetic disconnection and arbitrary comings and goings to connect meaningfully with the hearts and minds of its audience.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
Fresh
With The Promise Chen Kaige has proven enough of a professional that he can make the product. But he remains too much of an artist not to scribble on his signature.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Rotten
Chen's strength seems to be more with character-driven stories; here's hoping that his next film returns to more comfortable ground.
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
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