THE PROMISE

Alternate Titles: Wu Ji (MandarinTitle) Mo Gik (Cantonese Title)
The Promise (International Title)
Country: Hong Kong, China
Release Year: 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Drama / Romance
Language: Mandarin
Running Time: 128 minutes (Original UNCUT Chinese Version)


[Cast]

Dong-Kun Jang
Hiroyuki Sanada
Cecilia Cheung
Nicholas Tse
Ye Liu
Hong Chen
Cheng Qian


[Director]
Chen Kaige



THE PROMISE (2005) is a movie that one will either LOVE or HATE.

It is a movie out of pure fantasy, that should not be taken seriously. In Asian Cinema, flying stunts are done tastefully for cinematic impact. Especially in modern Kung Fu movies, sometimes wire-works are used to lift the actors off the ground for continous often exaggarated action.

THE PROMISE incoporates the use of wire-works to send the actors high up in the sky.
There are tons of battle sequences especially in the beginning with the introduction of General Guangming played by Japanese Mega-Star Hiroyuki Sanada, and Kunlun the slave played by another Box-Office Star this time from South Korea, Dong Kun-Jang.

The battle scenes are extraordinarily massive, however there some obvious signs of computer generated soldiers but none too distracting. Guangming's fight scenes is simply spectacular, he's choice of weapon is the ball and chain 'ala GoGo's choice of weapon in KILL BILL (2003).

The special effects during Kunlun's race against the wild bulls is way-over exaggarated. His scene is the turning point in the movie whether one will continue to watch this flick, or not!

It all comes down to this, if the person watching is used to Asian Cinema, then they will continue to watch it. But, if the person watching is not used to Asian Cinema, and finds over-exaggarated movies just too unbelievable then that person might not watch the rest of the movie.

To be honest, to me this is more of an Art film, it is just so elaborately made. The careful attention to the colors of the environment, the costumes, set pieces, everything is coordinated.

The locale is jaw-dropping. The majestic waterfalls, the crimson sunset, the list goes on. Director Chen Kaige, appears to have had a certain artistic vision when making this film. It's almost as if you are watching a live-action Anime.

The casting of the ultra-sexy, mega-super-star goddess Cecilia Cheung as The Princess Quincheng is perfect. Actually, everyone that was casted including Nicholas Tse as Wuhuan, and Ye Liu as Snow Wolf, everyone was perfect for their role, and everyone did an excellent job in the acting department.

More importantly, the language spoken in the film is Mandarin, and everyone in the cast including Hiroyuki Sanada who is Japanese, and Jang Dong-Gun who is Korean, are both speaking in Mandarin. And they both speak it fluently! At least it appeared in the film anyway that they are because they did an awesome acting job. Very convincing, and very absorbing. Their efforts in speaking the language themselves instead of cheap voice-overs only heightened the films storytelling precision.

The soundtrack, the composition is truly a masterpiece of its own right. It perfectly sets the tone, to accompany the epic tale of what's being presented on screen.

THE PROMISE reminds me of another artsy but action-packed film directed by Zhang Yimou, HERO (2002). THE PROMISE has a very similar style in terms of the careful costume, and color selection. Even the action scenes are somewhat reminiscent of the actions scenes in HERO, but in much less occurences.

THE PROMISE after all is more of a romantic slash fantasy epic tale. It is based on a famous Chinese novel, it was only a matter of time before someone thought of making it into a major motion picture. What better director than Chen Kaige. He certainly did an excellent job with the execution of the production of this film.

From the moment the film starts you'll know right away that this movie had a very high budget pocket book. It has some of the best eye-candy ever conceived. The CGI effects is so clean, so crisp, that it must be viewed with a High Definition Television to be truly appreciated.

Like the scenes with Hong Chen, as the Goddess Manshen. The effects done on her is amazing, the effects are so real, so life-like it makes one realize we are truly in the next level when it comes to special effects at the movies.

The make-up, and the costumes that Cecilia Cheung, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Nicholas Tse wore on the set of the film is so spectacular, so stunning the team should win an oscar equivalent award for all of their efforts.

I must add that Cecilia Cheung looked so beautiful in this film, as she always does in all of her movies.

THE PROMISE is no exception.

Again, it is important to understand that THE PROMISE despite the early action scenes in the beginning of the movie, is more of a somewhat slow romantic melodrama. So action aficionados, don't expect a lot of high-flying action because Chen Kaige kept it to a minimum.

Also, the action in this movie is meant to be more artistic like, 'ala the high-flying action scenes in Ang Lee's CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2001) so if high flying action turns you off, then this movie probably isn't for you.

But if you do appreciate art movies, and don't mind over-exaggarated action scenes, and have an open mind when it comes to storytelling then don't waist another minute. Go see THE PROMISE as soon as possible!!!

To sum it all up, THE PROMISE is masterfully produced in terms of the technical, as well as the artistical skills of everyone involved. Thus, THE PROMISE is a modern classic, and a cinematic triumph.