Movies

When I was a kid, going to the movies gave me a rush like nothing else, but for the last few years my movie-going experience has been one disappointment after another. "The Promise" was a very rare exception.I'm not saying this movie is for everybody. It's heavily stylized, and the mythical nature of the story requires a certain suspension of disbelief. BUT, if you crave stimulation for your eyes, your ears, and your imagination, this movie will deliver. The score is incredible, and every frame is stunning, visually. The story is a fairy tale. If you let yourself get lost in it, the experience will be magical. If you spend your time analyzing, breaking down the laws of physics, and worrying whether you're getting all the intended messages, you will most likely come away unsatisfied.

This movie is a beautiful fairytale. Everything worked,the music and scenery were top notch. The special effects were great. I must admit that the scene with the bulls running reminded me of the Lion King and that at that moment I thought this movie would be ridiculous. Instead it was the opposite. Most of the the themes are very serious ones like love,honor and betrayal. Only the ending was a bit confusing,but I think they did that to add some extra dimension or mystery to the story. I understand why many reviewers were a bit disappointed with this movie as they were expecting a martial arts movie. Although there is some martial arts this movie isn't about that. I enjoyed every minute of this movie and that is more than I can say about most of the Hollywood movies that came out this year (2006).

After having watched many Chines martial arts film, I was amazed that I could still be thrilled and surprised, but this film did just that.Writer/director Kaige Chen has put together a film that transcends countries and presents a tale of love and magic in a martial arts dance that is simply spectacular in its visual presentation.Starring Dong-Kun Jang (Typhoon) as the slave who seeks the princess (Cecilia Cheung) and saves her several times, and Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai) as the General who is both his boss and his rival.The magic and cinematography and costuming and music of this film all add together to present a timeless tale that will delight all.