Master of the Crimson Armor

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Master of the Crimson Armor

PG-13

Released Dec 30, 2005

1h 42m

Romance

Fantasy

Action

Drama

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30%

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77 Reviews

44%

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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.

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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

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.

May 25, 2006

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

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.

May 5, 2006

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Stephen Hunter

Washington Post

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

May 5, 2006

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Mattie Lucas

The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)

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.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 5, 2019

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

More risible than poetic

Aug 30, 2009

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Brandon Fibbs

BrandonFibbs.com

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.

Rated: 3/10

Feb 28, 2008

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Mainly to see Cecilia Cheung

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/03/23

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Liam D

While it has a great score by Klaus Badelt (Anything for Her, Point Blank) beautiful cinematography by Peter Pau (Special ID, The Killer) and Hiroyuki Sanada (Ringu, The Railway Man) giving his all but the bland writing, Choppy Editing and bad CGI makes it a mediocre but not awful film

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Audience Member

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Audience Member

Aside from Sanada-san, snore...

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

was goood mmovie i loved it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

Too much stupid dramas visual effect abused like crazy

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Chen Kaige

Director

Hiroyuki Sanada

Gen. Guangming

Jang Dong-Kun

Kunlun

Cecilia Cheung

Qingcheng

Nicholas Tse

Wuhuan

Ye Liu

Snow Wolf

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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, 21 Century Shengkai Film, Moonstone Entertainment, China Film Group Corporation
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

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