Rent The Promise (2005)

Empty would-be epic promises more than it delivers - The Promise review by Alphaville

Typical Chinese faux-historical concoction of colourful costumes, hyperactive action, schoolplay acting and zero drama. The cgi action is unconvincingly madcap and soon palls, like Jackie Chan played straight. One prolonged battle set-piece features a bull stampede in a canyon, which our hero outruns at lightning speed with a general on his back. Oh, and there’s a flying goddess. Baddie Nicholas Tse is the only actor on view with any charisma, as he so often is. With over-obvious wirework and disjointed direction from ‘acclaimed director’ Chen Kaige, it’s a shame the imagination on show doesn’t add up to something more captivating.