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東方奇幻傳說首部曲 3億4千萬特技瑰麗巨製
【陳凱歌作品】

故事簡介:

從一個承諾開始。

窮女孩傾城遇上了一個尊貴的男孩，答應做他的奴隸來換取食物。但當女孩奪得食物後便逃走。路上，她遇上掌控命運的滿神，滿神問她：『你想成為世上最美的王妃，身披萬千寵愛，享盡榮華富貴嗎？代價是你永遠無法得到真愛。』女孩一口答應。

戰無不勝的大將軍光明(真田廣之 飾)遭遇到人生最艱難的戰役，幸得奴隸昆侖(張東健 飾)襄助而成功。此時，王城傳出北公爵無歡(謝霆鋒飾)挾持國王，大將軍遂準備回朝救駕，遇上滿神，滿神預言國王將被身穿將軍盔甲的男人所殺。那豈不是指自己﹖大將軍不信，神秘人刺殺大將軍，令他重傷，大將軍只能命昆侖穿上自己的戰衣返宮救駕。

北公爵要脅國王交出王妃傾城(張柏芝 飾)，國王為保性命不惜出賣自己的女人，傾城拼力反抗，昆侖竟鬼使神差地為救傾城而殺死國王，二人因而被公爵追殺。大將軍涉嫌殺死國王引起手下叛變，而他亦同時愛上傾城，主僕為傾城奮勇殺敵……終於，昆侖因承認行刺國王將被處決，傾城此時才知道自己已愛上奴隸。大將軍為救二人，決定與眾為敵。大將軍的命運將如何﹖奴隸與傾城的亡命天涯路又何去何從？真愛真的能夠改變命運的詛咒……

導演的話：

《無極》是我的傾心之作，而我不願意把它稱?"嘔心瀝血之作"。"傾心"的意思是說我用心跟觀�摯竣@次交流。這個期許就是獲得很久很久沒有獲得過的幸福感，因為大家都生活得很辛苦，能不能在兩個小時的時間�媕Y你能放下一切，坐在我們所稱之?黑暗的電影院�媕Y去享受兩個小時的幸福，這就是《無極》能提供給大家的。

但是我自己相信能夠讓你的精神得到滿足，你的情感能夠得到充分的宣泄，其實看電影的過程未必是一個吸收的過程，同時也是一個釋放的過程。跟著這些人物，跟著這些人物的喜怒哀樂，跟著這個情節一塊走，最後的結果大家好象洗了澡一樣。走出電影院的時候有一個心情舒暢的感覺，身心舒暢的感覺，這個就是我對《無極》的期許。

其實一言兩語很難把《無極》這個故事的面目、輪廓講清楚，這個電影來說是它的故事，是它的人物，是它的情節，其次才是陳凱歌的理念。我自己感覺好的作品，或者說是一個超越的作品它是可以兼顧兩方面的，我自己本人非常相信《無極》是這樣一部電影。

製作龐大 史無前例

投資高達3億4千萬人民幣，歷時三年的《無極》是中國電影有史以來規模最巨、富有東方特色的奇幻超級鉅製，光主創陣容就可稱霸群雄。陳凱歌是唯一得過金棕櫚大獎的中國大導演，而鮑德熹和葉錦添是「奧斯卡」最佳攝影與最佳美術得主。《無極》雲集亞洲多位頂級著名演員，包括來自韓國的張東健、日本的真田廣之、香港的張�曭菕B謝霆鋒及中國的劉燁等，陣容極之強勁。

陳凱歌把《無極》視為傾心之作，凝聚了全世界頂尖電影創作者三年心血，每一個環節都力求做到精益求精，世界一流。單是取景，製作人員就走訪了中國主要的名山大川，結果決定於雲南元謀、香格里拉、內蒙、浙江、北京等地取景，並搭建海棠精舍、魔幻王城、元老院、北公爵住所等，配合影片拍攝。導演陳凱歌為求力臻完美，雖然在香格里拉花了數百萬元搭建海棠精舍的佈景，不過因為質素不合乎規格，毅然放棄，下令將整個海棠精舍搬往蒙古拍攝。

服裝設計方面，數目已超過一萬六千多件、道具大概也是有上千件東西，從兵器到旗幟，由室內陳設到主要演員手上的武器等，林林種種，眼花繚亂。
臨時演員方面則近千人，大部份都是來自浙江武警總部，每次出動都是場面壯觀，聲勢浩大。

為了拍攝富有東方特色的奇幻超級鉅製，曾為《功夫》做電腦特技的先濤數碼特技有限公司，拔刀相助為《無極》製造大量的視覺效果，採用了大量的高超電腦特技，令電影的奇幻元素升級，增加視覺上的刺激，單是用作電腦特技的鏡頭已經超過3000個，製作如此認真，相信是中國最優秀的電腦特技電影。

導演陳凱歌

在1993年，陳凱歌導演憑《霸王別姬》獲得第46屆「康城國際電影節金棕櫚獎」，成為首部中國電影獲得此項殊榮，此獎項令陳凱歌一躍成為舉世矚目的導演，風芒一時無倆。

身為著名導演陳懷皚之子，陳凱歌遺傳父親在電影裡的才華，並在1978年，獲北京電影學院收錄成為第一批在該校修讀的學生，這批學生中包括現在叱吒中國電影壇的張藝謀導演，亦被喻為「中國第五代導演」。1984年首次作正式執導，曾於北京電影製片廠當過導演。1987年他毅然到美國進修並於1990年回國。

隨後執導的《黃土地》獲得「瑞士洛迦諾電影節薩特蘭杯導演獎」及「夏威夷國際電影節東西文化技術文流中心電影獎」。稍後更憑《霸王別姬》一片於1993年獲得第46屆「康城國際電影節金棕櫚獎」。其他重要作品包括：《荊軻刺秦王》、《邊走邊唱》、《呂布與刁嬋》、《風月》、《和你在一起》等。

監製韓三平

韓三平?推動中國影視事業不遺餘力，出任多個影視集團的高職，包括北京電影廠廠長、中影集團總經理、世紀英雄公司總經理等。由他出品、導演、監製的電影包括電視230套及電視劇100套，深刻影響了中國影視業的發展。

《無極》乃是韓三平第三次跟陳凱歌攜手合作，早前合作的作品有《荊軻刺秦王》、《和你在一起》。

監製陳紅飾演滿神

除了是當今中國著名的女演員外，陳紅於2001年始已經開始從事電影及電視製作，有關的製作並獲得驕人的成績。在短短的四年間，陳紅已製作了超過六套的電視劇集及五部電影，包括與丈夫陳凱歌聯合製造的《和你在一起》，而《無極》乃是她製作的路程最具挑戰性的電影。

出生於江西省的陳紅，從小學開始她就是學校的文藝骨幹，高中時擔任了校學生會的文藝部長。1986年陳紅考入了上海戲劇學院表演系，畢業後分配到
北京青年藝術劇院。陳紅第一次走上銀幕是17歲，在影片《這�埵閉u水》中扮演角色。畢業後，陳紅也參與不少電影，包括《紅樓夢四部》、《紅樓夢五部》、《紅樓夢六部》。

由於演技精湛、樣子討好，陳紅九三年被觀眾選為中國四大女星之一，其後更多次被提名角逐國內電影大獎中最佳女主角的殊榮，風頭一時無倆，及後當過多本國內暢銷雜誌及報紙的封面人物，亦替不少高質素的產品做代言人。

張柏芝飾演王妃傾城

98年中，剛從澳洲高中畢業回港的張柏芝在經理人的安排下，接拍了陽光檸檬茶的廣告，當這個廣告出街後，其清純可愛的形象令觀眾驚為天人, 更惹來不少片商垂青。其中周星馳便搶先在99年賀歲片《喜劇之王》鐵定張�曭菗偎q影女主角，此片最後成為當時賀歲片中的票房冠軍，成績達三千萬港元。其後, 張柏芝片約不絕，接拍了不少叫好又叫座的電影，包括《星願》、《東京攻略》、《12夜》、《老夫子》、《蜀山》等。張柏芝更憑《忘不了》首度獲得第二十三屆香港電影金像獎最佳女主角殊榮，奠定她在影壇的實力。

張柏芝演而優則唱，99年推出首張EP《任何天氣》，唱片一推出後反應極之熱烈，短短數週便達白金數量，成績彪炳。廣告方面，柏芝亦先後為無數化�菻~、飲品擔任代言人。

張東健飾演奴隸昆侖

張東健在韓國是一個多才多藝的男星，曾擔任過時裝模特兒、歌手、電視藝員，紅遍整個亞洲區，並在國際影壇嶄露頭角。

自九七年首次參演電影Repechage後，觀眾被其俊朗的外表及精湛的演技所吸引著，引來不少片商垂青，片約不絕，包括《Holiday in Seoul》、《強捕》、《2009迷失記憶》。二零零一年接拍電影《朋友》，票房成績驕人，並奠定張東健在影壇一哥的地位。

去年年初推出的《太極旗飄揚之生死有情》更打破當時的票房紀錄，入場人次超過一千二百萬人，成為一時佳話。最近韓國報章調查選舉選出張東健為最有票房的男明星。除了《無極》外，張東健的近作有《颱風》。

真田廣之飾演大將軍光明

真田廣之是日本資深的演員，曾演出超過五十部電影，包括全亞洲賣座的《午夜凶鈴》，與宮澤里惠合演電影《黃昏清兵衛》更橫掃全日本獎項，他亦憑此電影獲得最佳男主角獎。去年更憑著與湯告魯斯合演的《最後武士》，初踏足荷李活光影世界，成為國際知名電影明星。

此外，真田廣之亦是實力派的舞臺劇藝員，曾在日本及國外演出無數。八六年在日本演出「羅密歐與茱麗葉」舞臺劇，又在英國倫敦參演著名的舞臺劇<Fool>，更獲英女皇伊莉沙白二世頒發MBE勳章。

劉燁飾演鬼狼

劉燁是中國最具潛質的男演員，從影以來拍過十六部電影，不少作品闖往國際影壇，當中《那人、那山、那狗》獲蒙特利爾國際電影節最受觀�敷w迎故事片獎、《巴爾札克與小裁縫》獲參展康城電影節、《天上的戀人》獲得東京電影節"最佳藝術貢獻獎"、《戀之風景》入圍威尼斯電影節主競賽單元，以及《紫蝴蝶》入圍康城電影節。

2001年劉燁主演同性戀電影《藍宇》，由於演技超凡，影片不但獲法國康城電影節角逐金棕櫚?，劉燁更憑此榮獲台灣金馬獎最佳男主角獎、香港電影金像獎、香港金紫荊獎最佳男主角提名。另外，劉燁亦憑《美人草》榮獲第24屆金雞獎最佳男主角獎。

謝霆鋒飾演北公爵無歡

自小沉醉於音樂的謝霆鋒，夢想成為一位創作歌手，他十六歲的時候便全力投身樂壇。由於他的天賦條件及特別的家庭背景，香港各大唱片公司均向他招手，欲羅致他為旗下歌手。最後，謝霆鋒決定與飛圖簽下跨世紀合約，開始他的歌唱事業。

除了獲得各大唱片公司及傳播媒介垂青以外，香港商業電台亦對他非常器重，邀請他為一年一度的叱吒樂壇頒獎典禮出任開幕嘉賓。他當日在舞臺上的表現獲得一致讚許，而他所散發出的魅力，令台下的觀眾看得如癡如醉。

於一九九七年五月，謝霆鋒推出他的首張個人大碟【My Attitude】，成績斐然，旋即打入香港IFPI唱片銷量榜第三位。其中兩首主打歌更成功進佔香港各大流行榜位置。一九九九年最新大碟【Believe】，一推出馬上連續兩週佔據香港IFPI唱片銷量榜第一位，並取得白金銷量的佳績。

唱而優則演的謝霆鋒九八年參演首部電影《古惑仔之少年激鬥篇》，由於具有俊朗的面孔，而且演技超凡，憑著自己的實力謝霆鋒榮獲第十八屆香港電影金像獎最佳新演員獎。其後片約不絕，他曾參與的電影包括《中華英雄》、《特警新人類》、《順流逆流》、《我的野蠻同學》等。九九年憑《半支煙》獲多項提名，包括第三十六屆金馬獎最佳男主角、美國百事達娛樂大獎最受歡迎香港演員、第十九屆香港電影金像獎最佳原創電影歌曲獎。

奧斯卡最佳攝影鮑德熹

憑《臥虎藏龍》勇奪�芫等d最佳攝影獎的鮑德熹出身於演藝世家，從小熱愛藝術，在廣州讀完中學後去美國三藩市藝術學院就讀。1984年回港，執導了影片《爵士駕到》，1986年在方平監製的影片《喜寶》�媥嵽蠙廒v。

鮑德熹曾被李安導演讚揚為香港影圈中最具荷李活味道的攝影師，得到此稱讚也非浪得虛名，其實鮑德熹入行以來共獲十二次提名最佳攝影，憑《不脫襪的人》、《九一神雕俠侶》、《白髮魔女傳》、《臥虎藏龍》奪得香港電影金像獎的最佳攝影獎，又憑《臥虎藏龍》奪得波士頓影評人團體最佳攝影、芝加哥影評人協會最佳攝影和紐約影評人聯會最佳攝影等獎項，並是首位香港攝影師捧走奧斯卡小金人，實力非凡。

縱橫影壇近二十年，鮑德熹曾與不少著名導演合作，包括吳宇森的《喋血雙雄》、徐克《笑傲江湖》、于仁泰的《嘩鬼新娘》等。

製作設計葉錦添

自86年參與吳宇森《英雄本色》後，葉錦添就展開在電影及舞臺界擔當美術指導的生涯，他曾替不少著名導演效力，包括陳凱歌、蔡明亮、田壯壯、關錦鵬、羅卓瑤及陳國富等。葉錦添繼於93年憑《誘僧》獲金馬獎最佳美術設計，2000年擔任李安電影作品《臥虎藏龍》之美術指導與服裝造型設計以雙項入圍奧斯卡、英國電影金像獎、香港電影金像獎及金馬獎，並獲得2001年奧斯卡及洛杉磯影評人協會獎之最佳藝術指導，且獲得英國電影金像獎最佳服裝設計。

葉錦添不僅替電影從事製作設計，他的創作層面更伸延到舞蹈、歌劇、戲劇、戲曲、傳統樂舞、音樂劇場，創造了恣意於古典、前衛間的造型世界。1996年赴奧地利葛拉茲歌劇院?林懷民導演之歌劇《羅生門》擔任服裝及造型設計；次年再度應邀返葛拉茲歌劇院為德國名導演Lutz Graf華格納歌劇《崔斯坦與伊索德》擔任服裝與道具設計。

視覺效果先濤數碼

成立於1985年的先濤數碼特技有限公司是香港甚至亞太地區電腦動畫和視覺效果製作領域的先驅。迄今為止，先濤一共獲得5次臺灣金馬獎最佳音效獎，是香港金像獎首個最佳音效獎的獲得者。最近在《標殺令》中的出色表現還贏得英國學院獎提名。

先濤先後投資了二千五百萬美元用於更新技術和提升170名全職員工的專業技能，這170名員包括了從電腦動作、程式設計、動態捕捉、合成、編輯到掃描和輸出的整過數位視覺效果製作過程。先濤比較有名的電影作品有：《風雲》、《鬼眼》、《少林足球》和《功夫》。

動作設計董瑋

自七三年參演李小龍的《龍爭虎鬥》後，董瑋開始其演員及武打師傅的生涯。七八年起，董瑋替不少電影當動作指導，包括《刀槍不入一憎侶》、《七劍》、《英雄》等，相信今次參與《無極》的動作指導，必定令此電影生色不少。

動作設計林迪安

在電影圈打滾了27年的林迪安，幕前幕後共參與過百部電影，為人熟悉的有《風雲之雄霸天下》、《中華英雄》、《古惑仔》、《22世紀殺人網絡》系列等。近期的南韓電影《Daisy》及即將在港上映的西片《毀滅戰士》都是由他擔任武術指導 。

音樂作曲克勞斯巴特

克勞斯巴特是荷里活著名的作曲家，曾為廿多部荷里活大片作曲，包括獲得奧斯卡提名的《魔盜王:決戰海盜船》、《珍珠港》、《魔間行者》等著名影片。

克勞斯巴特在家鄉德國開始他的創作生涯，1998年他應以《獅子王》一片榮膺奧斯卡最佳電影配樂獎的漢斯森馬之邀，將他的工作室從故鄉搬到了南加州，從此開始了他的荷李活之旅。克勞斯巴特已與許多著名的製片人、作曲家、導演都有過非常愉快和成功的合作經歷。

服裝設計公子正也

國際知名繪卷及漫畫畫家的公子正也，1960年在日本岡山縣出生，畢業於日本中央大學理工學部物理學系。本想當科學家的公子正也，機緣巧合的情況下，公子正也遇上他的師傅寺澤武一，並當他的助手超過十年，同時亦展開其畫家的生涯。

89年，公子自立門戶，並於兩年後創立名為「A-ha」的彩色漫畫雜誌。94年出版首本漫畫集「龍?野」後，公子陸續推出一些與中國著名小說有關的繪卷及漫畫集，包括「繪卷三國志」、「繪卷水滸傳」等。今年秋季，公子將會推出「百花三國志」。

A Chen Kaige Film

Synopsis

In Chen Kaige's period extravaganza, set in Imperial China, destiny reaches out and dictates the fortunes of an orphan girl, a noble boy, an accomplished soldier and a slave whose exceptional ability to outrun the wind transcends fate.

The film begins as a little girl scavenges among the corpses splayed beside a battlefield, in search of scraps of food for her dying mother.

A slightly older boy of the noble classes makes her a proposition. If she agrees to be his slave, he will give her a few morsels of food. The little girl accepts. It is the very first promise she has ever made. But she breaks it immediately: Having received the food, she flees. Little does she suspect that years later she will pay the price.

Running in the darkness, the girl trips and falls. The precious food rolls from her hand and is swallowed up by quicksand. Before the little girl's astonished eyes, a miracle occurs. A beautiful Sorceress slowly rises from the treacherous sand, holding the food in her hands. The Sorceress informs the child that her mother is dead and that she is now an orphan. The girl bursts into tears.

"Do not cry, my dear," says the Sorceress. "If you so wish, you can become a princess. You'll grow to be the woman men the world over will most desire. Incalculable riches will be yours. But, in exchange, you will never experience true love or genuine happiness. Do you accept?"

"I accept..." replies the girl.

The Sorceress begins to laugh. From her outstretched hands unrolls the Map of Destiny. "You can still change your mind," says the Sorceress. "But once you have accepted your destiny, nothing can alter it unless rivers flow uphill, time runs backwards and the dead come back to life."

"I accept," the girl repeats. And without hesitation, she enters the painted scroll within which fate clearly indicates the rewards of their bargain: The girl will leave poverty and squalor behind. She will be guided toward wealth and nobility. She will admire and envied far and wide. She shall become the King's most cherished companion.

The Mighty General, who has never known defeat, prepares for the first battle he may not win. His blazing red armor, richly embroidered with floral patterns, is his trademark.

A recently purchased slave is decisive in the outcome of the battle: Thanks to the Young Slave's remarkable talent for running through the air, the general is once again victorious.

As the troops celebrate, word comes of treachery in the Imperial City. The Mighty General must return immediately to save the King from an enemy invader. He orders the Young Slave to accompany him, but while traveling through the dark forest, the two men become separated.

The Sorceress suddenly materializes before the General. She tells him that his return will not save the King. Quite the contrary. As thunder roars and lightening bolts illuminate the sky, the Map of Destiny unfurls:

The General is able to see himself, wearing his distinctive floral armor. As the Imperial City burns, the General wields his sword and kills the King.

The General has never believed in the power of fate, any more than he believes he could ever kill his King. With a laugh he draws his sword and points it at the Sorceress. But she vanishes as suddenly as she appeared. Only her solemn voice echoes: "No one believes in his own fate."

At that very instant, a frighteningly swift individual in a black cloak attacks the completely unsuspecting General.

The Young Slave surges to the rescue and saves the General, who is seriously wounded all the same. The Young Slave can't help noticing that the Killer in the Black Cloak shares many of his own physical characteristics and is just as swift. But his adversary's face is indistinct. Before taking off like a whirlwind, the Killer in the Black Cloak stares long and hard at the Young Slave.

As the rain beats down, the injured General instructs the Young Slave: "Put on my floral armor and hasten to the Imperial City to save the King."

The entire Imperial City is in flames. The palace is surrounded by the Duke of the North and his rebel troops. The Duke is a handsome but pale young man. Only his eyes betray his ferociously predatory nature.

The little girl we met earlier has indeed become a beautiful Princess. Her loveliness is complete as she stands on a windy rooftop, surrounded by soldiers, preparing to jump.

As she grew up, the girl obtained everything destiny had promised her. Only true love had been withheld. Heartbreak was her steady companion, as each hint of possible romance inevitably led to betrayal. Before she was forced to acknowledge destiny's overriding grasp, the Princess used to imagine in each new man the hope of a glimmer of true love. But every time, without fail, her hopes were cruelly destroyed. She had finally given up. She was imprisoned by fate and had taken to thinking of death - which was attainable - rather than love, which was not.

Sure enough, the King betrays the Princess - giving her to the Duke of the North at his enemy's request. When the Princess refuses to cooperate, the King takes chase, sword drawn.

When the horseman in the floral patterned battle dress drives his sword blade into the King, he has no idea it's the King he has just killed. He has never seen the King before. He operates on pure instinct, driven by the thought that no man should threaten a poor weak woman. Only later on, when he learns that he hails from a noble tribe, will he fully understand his own gesture.

He is also ignorant of the fact that he has just carried out the Map of Destiny's prediction. The Mighty General refused to believe the Sorceress's prophecy. Had he accepted what the Sorceress said, the general would never have told the Young Slave to wear his unmistakable armor. Now it's too late. The damage is done.

The Queen begins to pine for the Mighty General, never realizing that the man in the floral armor who defended her honor is in fact a lowly slave.

The two figures make a spectacular escape, with the man in the floral armor running faster than the wind, covering ground at impossible speed. He zips across great stretches of earth in a flash.Racing through the air, the Princess experiences the greatest joy she has ever known.

But at the end of their dramatic flight, the couple is cornered by the Duke of the North who pushes the Young Slave into a ferocious waterfall and recaptures the Princess.

Based on reports incriminating the floral armor, the Mighty General's men believe their commander murdered the King. They desert him in disgust, but the Young Slave, having survived the icy waters, returns. The Mighty General insists that the slave rescue the Princess, who is once again the Duke of the North's prisoner, held in a giant birdcage fashioned of gold and ice.

But the Mighty General's motives are not chivalrous. He intends to exploit the Princess's hopeless love for him and deliberately break her heart. The Young Slave, meanwhile, has experienced a completely new sensation: He has fallen in love with the Princess.

Throughout a series of close calls requiring exceptional bravery, impossible speed and superhuman strength, the Princess will remain oblivious to the fact that her protector is not the Mighty General for whom she longs, but the Young Slave of whose existence she is barely aware.

Another entity can move even more swiftly than the Young Slave: the Killer in the Black Cloak helps the Young Slave travel back into the past where he is able to observe for the first time the catastrophic events of his own childhood. The Duke of the North came to the Land of Snows, demanding to learn the secret technique of aerial running practiced there. When the Duke fell short in his efforts, he slaughtered everyone with the talent he coveted. At age two, the Young Slave had been kidnapped and sold into a life of obedience to others.

The Young Slave realizes that the Duke of the North is his enemy. And he rankles at the evidence that the Mighty General has stolen the Princess's heart, which should rightfully beat for the Young Slave. Destiny demands that the Princess never enjoy true love, but the Young Slave is prepared to sacrifice himself for her continued well-being.

In the wake of life and death perils, the Mighty General makes a wager with the Princess. Although she is determined to leave and never return, he is confident that she will come back to him before the last blossom falls from a flowering apple tree. Should the Princess not return by dusk of the third day, the Mighty General will concede he has lost -- and offer his severed head to her as proof.

The Mighty General's relationship to the world is centered exclusively on victory and defeat. But after the Sorceress reminds the general that the Princess once wounded his pride, he finds jealousy and even stubborn affection take hold.

In a tense showdown in court, the Imperial City's judges must decide who is guilty of killing the King: the Mighty General, whose distinctive floral armor was seen by witnesses, or the Young Slave, who claims that he is the real assassin and that the general had loaned him his one-of-a-kind armor.

The Princess's testimony is decisive and the sly Duke of the North is greatly amused as fate has its way with our heroes and heroine. But before the sentencing can be carried out, the Imperial City is under sudden attack and every man is needed to defend her.

Although the Young Slave has dared to assert his independence, once more he and his former master exchange clothing. And once more, the Princess is unable to rewrite her role as prophesized in the Map of Destiny.

In the course of a vicious ambush, the Duke of the North takes the Princess hostage. The Mighty General and the Young Slave vie to save her. But it is the Killer in the Black Cloak who makes a final soaring act of selflessness possible.

The Epilogue echoes the Prologue. The Sorceress tempts the hungry little girl with future wealth and beauty if only she will renounce forever the possibility of experiencing true love or genuine happiness.

In a nearby field, tantalizing clues suggest that this time The Map of Destiny may unfold differently.

But will it?

Chen Kaige - Director/Writer

In 1993 Chen kaige won the first Palme D'Or for a Chinese language film at the Cannes Film Festival for his epic Farewell, My Concubine. The film went on to gather critical praise, an Academy Award Nomination and was a box office success throughout the world.

Prior to the Chinese Cultural Revolution of 1966, Chen, the son of a respected film director, attended a school for privileged children in Beijing. When the revolution took old, Chen, along with many thousands of his middle class contemporaries, was sent to the countryside for re-education and to work on the land; in his case clearing trees in the south of the country. From there he was inducted into the regional army and served five years before returning to Beijing.

In 1978 Chen was among the first intake of students at the newly reopened Beijing Film Academy. These talented students became known as the Fifth Generation Directors and included director Zhang Yimou, who originally collaborated with Chen as his cinematographer. As students, the Fifth Generation was influenced by Western European directors rather than Hollywood movies.

Yellow Earth, Chen Kaige's debut film, was hailed as the audacious beginning to a new era of Chinese theatre, and was awarded prizes in festivals from London to Hawaii. His following films The Big Parade, King of Children and Life on a String, were interspersed by sojourn at the American University of Columbia. Following the international success of Farewell, My Concubine, Kaige directed Temptree Moon (1996), The Emperor and the Assassin (1999) and Together (2002).

Chen Hong - Producer

In addition to her career as one of the leading actresses in China, Chen Hong began producing feature films and television in 2001, and became an over night success. Her productions have garnered critical acclaim as well as top awards in China. Within 4 years she has produced six television series (over 130 episodes) and five feature films, including her collaboration with her husband Chen Kaige on Together, which received worldwide critical acclaimed and is distributed by United Artists in the U.S. The Promise marks her most challenging production yet.

Manshen - The Sorceress

Chen Hong has performed as a lead in more than thirty films and TV series, many of which have been tremendously successful in mainland China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Her career began while still attending high school, and as a college student she performed in the films Dream of the Red Chamber and Romance of the Three Kingdom (both based on classic works) as well as the China Central Television series Diao Chan. The success of these projects and others made her a rising star in China.

After graduation, Chen Hong became firmly established as a superstar in China and beyond with her roles in such films as: In a Place Far Away, The New Dragongate Hotel and others. Her versatility as an actress has allowed her to portray roles in of great disparity - from innocent girls, to rebellious women, to Kung Fu masters and more.

Chosen by the audience as one of the Top Four Actresses of China in 1993. Chen Hong has also been nominated for Best Actress by a major film award in China, and in Singapore was ranked among the top Most Noticeable Actresses of Asia in 1995. For her portrayals of diverse women, in 2002 the All-China Women's Federation appointed her Goodwill Ambassador of Chinese Women. Most recently, CCTV crowned her Best Actress of the Year.

In addition to her roles as an actress, Chen Hong's image has appeared on the covers of hundreds of magazines and newspapers throughout China as a quality ambassador of many prestigious commercial brands.

The Promise marks Chen Hong's second collaboration with her husband Chen Kaige, after appearing as the female lead, Lili, in Chen Keige's critically acclaimed motion - picture Together.

Han Sanping - Producer

Han Sanping serves as General Manager of the China Film Group Company, President of Beijing Film Studio, President of Chinese Children Film Studio and Vice Managing Director of the Chinese Film Producer Association.

As Producer or Executive Producer, Han Sanping has overseen more 230 feature film production as well as more than 100 Television Series (over 3,000 episodes) in the last 10 years. Television Series Credits include: Great Han Emperor Wu, Palaces of the Great Ming Dynasty, The Place Where A Dream Started, When Orange Turns Red, Bitter Wild Flowers, Zhu Yuanzhang, Administration in the Age of Zhenguan, Country and Love, and Fog, Rain and Wind.

Han Sanping's feature credits include: On the Beat, Stand By You, I Love Beijing, Hot Sky Summer, Fei (Starring Vivian Wu), Rainclouds Over Wushan (winner of directorial awards at Pusan, Torino, Vancouver and Fribourg International Film Festivals), Ruan's Song (winner of FIPRESCI Prize at the Singapore International Film Festival), A Lingering Face (nominated for the Global Leopard), Father (winner of the Don Quixote Award and Golden Leopard), Shadow Magic (winner of the Viewer's Choice Award and Golden Horse for Best Screenplay Adaptation), Song of Tibet (winner of the Interfaith Award at the St. Louis International Film Festival) and Beijing Bicycle (winner of the Silver Berlin and nominee for the Golden Berlin Bear.)

The Promise marks Han Sanping's third collaboration with Director Chen Kaige, having previously produced both The Emperor and the Assassin, which won Technical Grand Prize and was nominated for the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival and Together in 2003 which received worldwide critical acclaim.

Hiroyuki Sanada

Guanming - The Mighty General

Hiroyuki Sanada is an internationally renowned stage and screen actor. He has dazzled audiences around the world with his talent and versatility in such internationally acclaimed motion pictures as The Last Samurai, co-starring Tom Cruise, and Yoji Yamada's 2004 Oscar-nominated film, The Twilight Samurai and Sharaku, an official selection for the Cannes Film Festival in 1995. Sanada also starred in the original Japanese version of the modern horror-classic The Ring.

Sanada is also a celebrated stage actor in his home country of Japan as well as internationally. In 1986, Sanada starred in Romeo & Juliet directed by legendary Kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando. On the London stage, Sanada played the role of "Fool" in the Royal Shakespeare Company's millennium production of King Lear for which he was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.

Upon completion of his role as "The General" in director Chen Kaige's epic fantasy romance, The Promise, Sanada immediately began work on the Merchant Ivory Production of The White Countess, co-starring Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, and Vanessa Redgrave.

Jang Dong Kun

Kunlun - The Slave

Jan Dong-Kun is a multi talented artist - a fashion model, singer, TV star and movie actor. He is well known across much of Asia including Japan, Hong Kong, China and Vietnam, and has become as famous internationally as he is in his own homeland.

Jang made his film debute in 1997 with Repechage, followed by the visually stunning Holiday in Seoul the same year.

In 1999 he starred alongside Park Joong-hoon in the acclaimed Nowhere to Hide. With each new role Jang has achieved more praise and renown, and is currently one of the most sought-after lead actors in Asia. In 2001, director Kwak Gyeong-taek cast him in his semi-biographical film Friends. The film became an instant success and became the most successful Korean film ever made- rocketing Jang to stardom.

Jang also starred in the big budgeted sci-fri action film 2009: Lost Memories and The Coast-guard helmed by controversial director Kim Ki-duk. Prior to his work on The Promise, he starred in Taegukgi, which was released in early 2004 and broke all box office records in Korea, with over 12 million admissions.

Currently, Jang Dong Kun is filming Typhoon, one of the most ambitious film projects ever produced in Korea.

Cecilia Cheung

QingCheng - The Princess

Born in Hong Kong and educated in Australia, willowy beauty Cecilia Cheung speaks Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. She was discovered in a TV soft drink commericial by Chu Wing Lung, who is now her manager. Initially, Cecilia's family was reluctant to allow their daughter to enter the entertainment industry, but Chu promised her father that he would look out for her.

Cecilia made her film debut in comedian Stephen Chow's 1999 Chinese New Year release King of Comedy, in which she plays a nightclub hostess who experiences an unhappy love affair. More than a dozen films have followed, including Master Q 2001, with Cecilia starring opposite Nicolas Tse. Most recently, Cecilia garnered the title of Best Actress at the 2004 Hong Kong Film Awards - among the most prestigious on the global Chinese-language cinema circuit - for her role in Lost in Time, in which she plays a young woman meeting a new love after the death of her boyfriend.

Aside from her motion picture career, Cecilia has made a name for herself in the recording industry. Her first CD, "Any Weather", was released in 1999 and was followed by several more including a Live in Concert recording and "Cecilia Party All The Time". She is also well known in the advertising world, having done both commercials and print ads for such internationally known companies as American Express, Benetton, and Marks & Spencer.

Nicolas Tse

Wuhuan - Duke of the North

Nicholas Tse Ting-Fung was born on August 29, 1980 and spent most of his formative years in Vancouver and Phoenix, Arizona. Hong Kong audiences, however, became acquainted with him as a childe due to his parents, veteran actors Patrick Tse and Deborah Li.

Initially starting out in music, Tse became a professional singer and performer after signing a long-term contract with Fitto Entertainment

Ltd. in 1996. In 1997, the Hong Kong Commercial Radio invited him as a guest singer on the Annual Ultimate Song Award Presentation. His debut album, My Attitude, released in May of that year became an immediate success. It hit Number 3 on the Hong Kong IFPI Chart making it the best - selling album for two consecutive weeks and was certified platinum for selling over 50,000 units in Hong Kong. Since that time he has become one of the top solo recording artists in the region, touring extensively in China and throughout Asia, including playing to sold-out crowds in Singapore, Tokyo and Osaka.

Tse made his first venture into motion pictures with his role as a young Chan Ho-Nam in Young and Dangerous: The Prequel (1998). His performance was rewarded with a Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Artist. He quickly followed up with strong outings in the drama Metade Fumaca (1999) and in commercial productions such as Gen-X Cops (1999) and My Schoolmate, the Barbarian (2001). In addition, Tse had a scene-stealing cameo in Comic King (2000) and wrote and co-directed a short with fellow actor Stephen Fung for the anthology film Heroes in Love (2001). The last few years have been a prolific time for Tse as an actor with roles in several feature films released in 2004 alone, including New Police Story opposite Jackie Chan.

When not filing or no tour, Tse keeps busy shooting commercials and print ads and has endorsement agreements with a number of internationally known companies such as Coca Cola, Puma and Sony.

Liu Ye

Guilang - The Assassin

A rising star in China, Liu Ye has acted in eleven films. Nearly all of his films, including Postman in the Mountains, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, The Love from the Heavens, and Purple Butterfly, have been nominated for awards at international film festivals.

Liu Ye won the Golden Horse for Best Actor in 2001 for his portrayal of the title character in Lan Yu, about a homosexual college student enamored with an older businessman.

His fan base and box office success extends well beyond China to Korea, Japan and even France, where Lan Yu was nominated for a Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival.

Liu Ye projects a unique disposition on screen with his inherent look of innocence, sorrow and sensitivity.

Peter Pau - Director of Photography

Peter Pau is the Oscar-winning Director of Photography who together with director Ang Lee reinvented the classic Chinese martial art tale with the multiple Academy Award winning, international blockbuster Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Pau avoided the clich�m of shooting action from very low or high angles because he wanted the action to be on a more intimate eye level or just a little lower. "That way," he says, "instead of observing the action, the audience becomes part of it." An interview with Ang Lee by David E Williams (American Cinematographer, Jan 2001) described Pau as: "probably the biggest and most Hollywood-like cinematographer in all of Hong Kong. In fact, he's probably more Hollywood in style than Fred Elmes (ASC), who shot my last two films…. He has directed films, and he even served as our assistant director - he's probably one of the few cinematographers in the world who can do all of that. What else can I say?"

Pau has been one of the top cinematographers in Hong Kong since his graduation from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1983. He directed his first feature "Misty" in the 90s.

Pau has been working with the top directors such as John Woo (The Killer), Tsui Hark (Double Team, Love in the Time of Twilight, The Chinese Feast), Ronny Yu (Bride With White Hair, Bride of Chucky, The Phantom Lover, Warriors of Virtue) and Patrick Lussier's Dracula 2000.

The Hong Kong Film Award have named Pau Best Cinematographer four times, with an additional twelve nominations for his work on over thirty features in the last 22 years.

In 2002, Pau directed his second feature, The Touch, starring Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Ben Chapplin (Murder By Numbers).

Tim Yip - Production Designer

Tim Yip kicked off his career by participating in John Wu's A Better Tomorrow in 1986. Over the past eighteen years, he has been involved with costume and art design in many movies and theatrical performances and has cooperated with prominent directors from Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, including Chen Kaige, Ang Lee, Tsai Ming-Liang, Tian Zhuang Zhuang, Li Shao Hong, Stanley Kwan and Chen Kuo-Fu. He has also impressed audiences in Austria, France, the United Kingdom and Singapore among other countries with his marvelous art and costume design for eminent Taiwanese theatrical groups such as The Cloud Gate, The Contemporary Legend Theatre, the Han Tang Yue-fu, the Tai-Gu Tales Dance and the U Theatre, while the toured and performed all over the world.

In 2001, Tim Yip was honored with dual crowns for best Art Direction of the Academy Award (Oscar) and the best Costume Designer of the British Academy Film Awards for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Tim Yip's costume design for movies and theatre in recent years such as the Medea, Oranges Turn Ripe, Temptation of a Monk and Double Vision, have achieved worldwide fame.

Tim Yip's craft represents Oriental art in a variety of forms and has received international attention and acclaim in recent years. Some of his major exhibitions include: "Faces of Time" held in the National Palace Museum in 2002, "The World of Yip Kam Tim: Visions and Creation" held in Centro Cultural Antiguo Instituto Jovellanos, Gijon, Spain and "Rouge - The Art of Tim Yip" presented by Maison de la Culture, Bourges, France in 2003. Through these exhibitions, Tim Yip has introduced more facets of Oriental art to the West. Moreover, he has recently entered the literary arena with the publication of his works including "Lost in Time" (2001), "Flower of the Wind" (2002), "Red" (2003) and a series of novelistic write-ups.

Tim Yip's achievements have won him global applause and world status. His works have not only merged modern and classic art forms in various fields, but are also perfect combinations of art and commerce. Recently, Tim Yip's artistic flair was employed in the handover ceremony of the Olympic flag at the Closing Ceremony of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games.

Frankie Chung / Centro Digital Pictures - Visual Effects Supervisor

Centro Digital Pictures was founded in 1985 by John Chu, initially as a post-production company and later evolving to become Asia's leading animation and visual effects studio.

Centro has received five Golden Horse Awards for Best Visual Effects in feature films, is the recipient of the first-ever Hong Kong Film Award for Visual Effects and, most recently, earned a British Academy Award nomination for its effects work on Kill Bill: Volume I.

Centro has invested over US$25 million to date in technology, and the expertise of its 170 full-time members cover the entire pipeline of digital visual effects from computer animation, programming, motion-capture, composting, editorial, to scanning and outputting Centro's feature film credits include highly acclaimed hits such as The Stormriders, Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle - the highest-grossing Hong Kong film of all time.

Centro' 100-member effects and animation studio is led by Frankie Chung, who has been with the company for nine years. Frankie is recognized as one of Hong Kong's leading creative talents in animation and visual effects and has overseen most of Centro's major projects. His latest project before The Promise was the visual effects supervision of Kung Fu Hustle starred and directed by Stephen Chow.

Klaus Badelt - Composer

With top box office Pirates of the Carribean and over 25 other major Hollywood films, Klaus Badelt has established himself as one of the most sought after composers in Hollywood.

Badelt's approach generates original scores with an authentic production value while maintaining the integrity of a film score. His devoted team spirit in combination with his personal drive to explore new ideas and push the creative envelope make Klaus Badelt a filmmaker whose distinctive music and intimate style are unique in the industry.

Badelt first came to Hollywood's attention by his collaborations with composers like Hans Zimmer and Michael Kamen, including the Oscare nominated score to Gladiator (which he also produced). The Thin Red Line, Mission: Impossible 2 and X-Men.

His composer credits include Constantine, The Recruit, The Time Machine, K-19: The Widowmaker, Ned Kelly, Basic, Catwoman, and Werner Herzog's Invincible. Upcoming films include Disney's Annapolis, Sony's Ultraviolet and Universal's animated feature Curious Geroge, in collaboration with multi-platinum selling recording artist Jack Johnson.

Wei Tung - Action Choreographer

Wei Tung's career began as an actor in the 1973 Bruce Lee action classic Enter The Dragon. Trained as an actor and martial artist, Tung has worked on numerous film and television production in both capacities.

Since 1978, Tung has also worked as an action and fight choreographer on many feature film projects. Most recently, Tung choreographed the impressive fight sequences featured in the action-adventure Bullet Proof Monk starring Chow Yun Fat and served as stunt-coordinator for the hit-film comedy Scooby-Doo

The Promise has proven to be another opportunity for Wei Tung to work his magic on location in mainland China with famed director Chen Kaige in this epic fantasy romance.

Dion Lam - Action Choreographer

Dion Lam began his career in the film industry in 1979. Trained as a martial artist, Lam worked on numerous film and television productions, first as a stuntman, later as assistant stunt coordinator and finally as stunt coordinator.

Since 1992, lam has served as action and fight choreographer on an impressive array of films, including the smash hit Spiderman 2, as well as the blockbuster Matrix trilogy.

Following his work on Chen Kaige's The Promise, Lam served as fight unit director on the eagerly awaited Doom.

Kimiya Masago - Costume Designer

Internationally renowned artist Kimiya Masago is a mster of illustration, Emaki (Japanese illustrated text or narrative picture scroll) and of Mango (comics). Born in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, Kimiya studied science and engineering at Tokyo's prestigious Chuo University, obtaining has bachelor's degree in 1983. During this period, he studied under Terasawa Buichi and launched his career as director of Terasawa's production.

In 1989, Kimiya set off on his own as an independent artist, making his debut a year later in the Color Comic Magazine A-ha with the serial publication "Clown With Blue Nose". Among his published print collections are Ryu Tou Ya, published by Treville (1994), Emaki Sangojushi, published by Koei Publishing (1997), and Suiko-One O Eight Outlaws, published by Graphic-sha Publishing (1999). He has also had a CD -Rom of The Water Margin - A Traditional Chinese Story published by XSIV in 2001 (USA). His upcoming print collection Romance of Three Kingdoms will be published by Media Factory in 2005.

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