Master of the Crimson Armor

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Master of the Crimson Armor

PG-13

2005

1h 42m

Romance

Fantasy

Action

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

30%

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77 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In ancient China a fleet-footed slave named Kunlun (Jang Dong-Kun) becomes personal servant to great Gen. Guangming (Hiroyuki Sanada). Posing as his master on a mission to save their king from evil invader Wuhuan, Kunlun meets Qingcheng (Cecilia Cheung), a princess who is fated to lose every man she loves. Both Kunlun and Guangming fall for the beautiful princess, while Wuhuan plots a series of evil acts.

Critics Consensus

An incoherent plot and ridiculously obvious CGI effects doom this effort from the usually outstanding Chinese director Chen Kaige.

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Andrew Sarris

Observer

05/25/2006

Has been criticized by some reviewers for its low-tech special effects. Curiously, I found this technical transparency part of the film's enormous charm.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

05/05/2006

Chen Kaige clearly intended this Chinese fantasy-action spectacle to top Zhang Yimou's Hero, and I must admit that I prefer it to the earlier movie.

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Stephen Hunter

Washington Post

05/05/2006

The Promise is too full of frenetic disconnection and arbitrary comings and goings to connect meaningfully with the hearts and minds of its audience.

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Mattie Lucas

The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)

06/05/2019

2/4

Takes place in a sterile, computer-generated dream world that seems more like the work of amateurs than an artist like Chen, who seems woefully out of his element.

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

08/30/2009

More risible than poetic

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Brandon Fibbs

BrandonFibbs.com

02/28/2008

3/10

The Promise is an over-wrought and laughably goofy film, an empty and pale imitation of the far better films that have gone on before it.

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05/28/2018

While this film definitely has it's flaws, and they are numerous. I cannot give it anything short of fully-fledged 5 stars because of it's raw emotional impact, simply astounding visuals and very powerfull score. An odd, fragmented and misunderstood masterpiece from Chen Kaige.

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12/24/2012

Aside from Sanada-san, snore...

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11/22/2012

was goood mmovie i loved it

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10/24/2012

Too much stupid dramas visual effect abused like crazy

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10/07/2012

An epic story, visually very impressive, not surprising considering it is supposedly one of the most expensive movies ever made in China. There is not much character development though. Qingchen made a promise that meant she would always lose any man that loved her; we did not get to experience any of the torment that would go with such a deal. The love story was shallow: love being based on meeting someone for a few minutes. Not to be taken too seriously, it can be enjoyed as a fairy tale.

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09/01/2012

an astonishingly beautiful chinese fairytale. the first film i've cried watching in a long time.

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Chen Kaige

Director

Hiroyuki Sanada

Gen. Guangming

Jang Dong-Kun

Kunlun

Cecilia Cheung

Qingcheng

Nicholas Tse

Wuhuan

Ye Liu

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Synopsis

In ancient China a fleet-footed slave named Kunlun (Jang Dong-Kun) becomes personal servant to great Gen. Guangming (Hiroyuki Sanada). Posing as his master on a mission to save their king from evil invader Wuhuan, Kunlun meets Qingcheng (Cecilia Cheung), a princess who is fated to lose every man she loves. Both Kunlun and Guangming fall for the beautiful princess, while Wuhuan plots a series of evil acts.

Director: Chen Kaige
Producer: Chen Kaige, Ernst Etchie Stroh, Chen Hong, Sanping Han
Screenwriter: Chen Kaige, Zhang Tan
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Capgen Investment Group, Moonstone Entertainment, China Film Group Corporation, 21 Century Shengkai Film
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexual Content|Martial Arts Action|Stylized Violence)
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Action, Drama
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 30, 2005, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 5, 2006
Release Date (Streaming): May 2, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $668.2K
Runtime: 1h 42m