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Master of the Crimson Armor

Play trailer Master of the Crimson Armor PG-13 2005 1h 42m Romance Fantasy Action Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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30% Tomatometer 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.
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Master of the Crimson Armor

Master of the Crimson Armor

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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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Critics Reviews

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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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion 08/30/2009
More risible than poetic Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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. See more 12/24/2012 Aside from Sanada-san, snore... See more 11/22/2012 was goood mmovie i loved it See more 10/24/2012 Too much stupid dramas visual effect abused like crazy See more 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. See more 09/01/2012 an astonishingly beautiful chinese fairytale. the first film i've cried watching in a long time. See more Read all reviews
Master of the Crimson Armor

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Cast & Crew

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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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Master of the Crimson Armor

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Movie Info

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
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