I’ve always wondered why Chinese film is more visually risky than anything we Yanks ever do. It doesn’t seem fair does it? Shouldn’t we have the monopoly on creativity here in the land of the free? Maybe I’m a xenophobe, whatever, but as much as I enjoy the Chinese film I can’t help but wonder why no one outside of Cameron Crowe tries this purty stuff.
Here’s some trivia for you, this film cost $35m to make which evidently is the most expensive Chinese film ever. I’m not sure what the relevance is other than, yeah, it looks like a big budget film. Now, as for the story of The Promise it is way too intricate to get into without the help of a novella or one of those telestrator’s they use for TNT basketball. We’ve got to go mega short version to have a shot at completion. A girl named Quincheng is starving to death and is offered a deal by a floating goddess. The offer is this; live your life in eternal comfort with endless riches and astounding beauty but never experience true and everlasting love. I suspect this is a deal many of us would take if young, hungry, and vulnerable and she proves to be no exception. The consequences of this choice, and the story that evolves afterwards is the crux of The Promise.
Cecilia Cheung is tremendous in a role that requires nothing less than mopy yet brilliant looks. This is a had sell and she carries the film with her performance. Jang Dong-Kun is also effective as Kunlun, one of Princess Quincheng’s many suitors.
The strength of The Promise is also its greatest weakness. The fantastical nature of the film draws you in for the beginning scenes but begins to feel a little used up during the latter half of the film’s 108 minutes. You can only see so many people running super fast before you start to mentally check out. To the film’s credit it stays consistent throughout but perhaps some elements should have been shaken up as the emotional conclusion rounds the bend.
The Promise also has some length issues. The plot intertwines and weaves in and out about 20 times during the film, and while it makes everything somewhat unpredictable, the foreshadowing leads you to a certain conclusion that could have come about quicker. The Promise is a love story at heart which means hinting around it doesn’t really provide much suspense.
If you are a lover of Chinese cinema this is a must see because I’d imagine you don’t get a ton of chances to see the genre on the big screen. It has some nice fight scenes and some delicious scenery too. If you’re not a fan of the genre it’s a toss-up, it would be a fair to good date movie but a “no way in hell” single guy matinee. Good luck on your quest to decide.
