PROMISE, THE (WU JI)

2006 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

THE PROMISE (Wu ji) [2005]

        After a foray into English-language cinema (the little-seen KILLING
ME SOFTLY) and a semi-autobiographical contemporary drama (2002's
TOGETHER), Chinese director Chen Kaige returns to the epic, mythic
tales that established his reputation with THE PROMISE (Wu ji).

        A visual and aural feast with a sumptuous production design and
costumes, painterly cinematography (by Academy Award winner Peter
Pau) and a lush score (by Klaus Badelt), THE PROMISE also features
an intriguing cast that includes Korean star Jang Dong-Gun
(BROTHERHOOD), Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada (THE TWILIGHT
SAMURAI) and up and coming Hong Kong performers Cecilia Cheung
and Nicholas Tse.

        THE PROMISE begins on a battlefield with a young girl scavenging
for food and whatever else she can obtain. She is caught by a slightly older
boy who makes her promise to be his slave in return for allowing her
to keep the booty. Almost immediately, though, she breaks her word and
flees. She next encounters the goddess Manshen (Chen Hong) who offers
the child an astounding proposition: a life of plenty. The catch is the young
girl will never be able to love, for she will lose the person with whom she
falls in love.

        Some twenty years later, the leader of the Crimson Army (Sanada)
buys a group of slaves to sacrifice, among them Kunlun (Jang) who
possesses an almost magical ability to run. He eventually becomes the
general's slave. When the military man is wounded by an assassin (Liu
Yeh), Kunlun dons the general's armor and heads off to the Imperial City
bent on rescuing the king from the advancing army of Wuhuan (Tse), the
Duke of the North. Instead, Kunlun assassinates the King who was trying
to kill the grown-up girl, the Princess Qincheng (Cheung), setting off a
chain of events that include mistaken identities, love, and action.

        Chen has directed with skill and verve. Except for a couple of
sequences in which the special effects look cheesy, THE PROMISE is
a helluva ride. Anyone who liked CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN
DRAGON or the more accomplished HERO or HOUSE OF FLYING
DAGGERS will enjoy THE PROMISE.


                           Rating:        B+