Promise, The

aka: Wu ji
China / Hong Kong / Japan 2005, 98 minutes
Dir. Chen Kaige
In Mandarin with English subtitles
Rating: [M]
Genres: Foreign Cinema, Action/Adventure / Fantasy, Epic, Martial Arts

Feat. Hiroyuki Sanada, Dong-Kun Jang, Cecilia Cheung, Nicholas Tse, Liu Ye, Hong Chen, Anthony Wong

Aroview: Visually exquisite, if utterly frivolous Golden Globe-nominated romantic epic from the director of FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE relays the story of two warlords competing for the love of a princess while in the midst of war.

For what is reputedly the most expensive Chinese film ever made, the rather crude CGI effects leave a lot to be desired; by contrast, the impressively lavish sets, elaborately-staged fight scenes and kaleidoscopic costumes mount up to an extravagance at times bordering on campy ridiculousness.

Audiences prepared to indulge in dir. Kaige’s grand-scale vision will have a hoot; others will likely pinch their nosebridges in dismay.