Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- mythic
- operatic
- melodramatic
- fantasy movie night
- wuxia double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film visually ambitious but undermined by an incoherent plot and conspicuous CGI effects.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Qingcheng accepts Manshen's promise of beauty and prosperity in exchange for a curse governing every man she loves.
The Kingdom, Land of Snow, magical armor, and supernatural figures are presented through highly stylized production design and effects.
Kunlun wears Guangming's crimson armor, while Qingcheng falls in love with the man she believes is the general.
After recalling Wuhuan's murder of his mother and sister, Kunlun returns to confront the duke while protecting Qingcheng.
Films like The Promise, and why
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
mythic wuxia romance, ornate fantasy worldbuilding, and heightened visual spectacle
Hero
Chinese fantasy action, supernatural destiny, and elaborate period-inspired production design
A Chinese Ghost Story
tragic romantic fantasy built around curses, fate, and impossible promises
Movie Details
- Director
- Chen Kaige
- Release Date
- 2005-12-15
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (133)
Cast
- Cecilia Cheung
- Liu Ye
- Chen Hong
- Cheng Qian
- Jang Dong-gun
- Hiroyuki Sanada
- Nicholas Tse Ting-Fung
- Yu Jinwei
- Guan Xiaotong
- Shi Lei
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Promise about?
- A visually extravagant wuxia fantasy turns a cursed promise, mistaken identity, and a slave's quest for justice into a tragic romance.
- What is The Promise like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Promise as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Promise violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Promise as brutal.
- What did critics think of The Promise?
- Critics broadly found the film visually ambitious but undermined by an incoherent plot and conspicuous CGI effects.
- Which films are like The Promise?
- Films with a similar feel include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, and A Chinese Ghost Story.
- How long is The Promise?
- The Promise runs 121 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Promise?
- In United States, The Promise is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
