Fighting with Accessories: The Promise
Saw the Chinese martial arts epic The Promise tonight. Yum.
I will have a proper nice review and pictures tomorrow, but for today, just scattered thoughts. I loved it. Sure, it's probably flawed. If you look for challenging characters, look elsewhere. But who cares, this is a dream-like, gorgeous fairy tale for grown-ups.
First off, before I get to anything else. Nicholas Tse is just beautiful. I know he was the nasty villain but I couldn't take my eyes off him. As my companion put it "I've never seen anyone wear white with such style." And he fights with steel-tipped fans. And he is fastidious and elegant and just graceful and... I need to get my hands on other Nicholas Tse movies. Pronto.
I loved the actor who played Kunlun. He was definitely hot and angsty and had the sexiest voice. Even though I wanted to give him a bath for most of the movie.
The General was not a favorite (how indicative that he just believed his second-in-command about taking him back as a leader, however unrealistic it would be).
And the costumes? Crazy beautiful.
I loved the openness of the ending. What will she choose now? That's one hell of a love, right there, what Kunlin gave her. Will they even meet now? Anyone want to discuss?
1. Kunlun rescuing the girl sequence. Ending with him jumping into the waterfall to save her life.
2. Wuhuan (Tse) killing the guards while saying "they stained my fan."
3. The fact that the General and the Girl both wear the same, cherry-blossomed clothes that match the screens in their house.
4. The moment during the trial when the girl realizes that it really was Kunlun and not the general who she fell in love with.
5. Wuhuan putting the girl in the cage and giving her a dress of feathers.
6. The look on Kunlun's face as he and the girl slowly spin around during their escape from Wuhuan and feathers from her costume rain on them.
7. Kunlun refusing to give up the feather from her dress.
8. The whole sequence where Kunlun gets her out of the cage. The red ropes and the white feathers? Beautiful. And then he sees her run past him to the General.
9. Dying Wuhuan saying to the Dying General "we are neither of us trustworthy."
10. Kunlun trying to get the General to be worthy of rescuing the girl and wearing the armor.
11. Wuhuan fighting his former slave and winning despite the latter's super speed.
12. Kunlun putting on the cloak to give the girl another chance.
I will have a proper nice review and pictures tomorrow, but for today, just scattered thoughts. I loved it. Sure, it's probably flawed. If you look for challenging characters, look elsewhere. But who cares, this is a dream-like, gorgeous fairy tale for grown-ups.
First off, before I get to anything else. Nicholas Tse is just beautiful. I know he was the nasty villain but I couldn't take my eyes off him. As my companion put it "I've never seen anyone wear white with such style." And he fights with steel-tipped fans. And he is fastidious and elegant and just graceful and... I need to get my hands on other Nicholas Tse movies. Pronto.
I loved the actor who played Kunlun. He was definitely hot and angsty and had the sexiest voice. Even though I wanted to give him a bath for most of the movie.
The General was not a favorite (how indicative that he just believed his second-in-command about taking him back as a leader, however unrealistic it would be).
And the costumes? Crazy beautiful.
I loved the openness of the ending. What will she choose now? That's one hell of a love, right there, what Kunlin gave her. Will they even meet now? Anyone want to discuss?
1. Kunlun rescuing the girl sequence. Ending with him jumping into the waterfall to save her life.
2. Wuhuan (Tse) killing the guards while saying "they stained my fan."
3. The fact that the General and the Girl both wear the same, cherry-blossomed clothes that match the screens in their house.
4. The moment during the trial when the girl realizes that it really was Kunlun and not the general who she fell in love with.
5. Wuhuan putting the girl in the cage and giving her a dress of feathers.
6. The look on Kunlun's face as he and the girl slowly spin around during their escape from Wuhuan and feathers from her costume rain on them.
7. Kunlun refusing to give up the feather from her dress.
8. The whole sequence where Kunlun gets her out of the cage. The red ropes and the white feathers? Beautiful. And then he sees her run past him to the General.
9. Dying Wuhuan saying to the Dying General "we are neither of us trustworthy."
10. Kunlun trying to get the General to be worthy of rescuing the girl and wearing the armor.
11. Wuhuan fighting his former slave and winning despite the latter's super speed.
12. Kunlun putting on the cloak to give the girl another chance.