Wu ji - The Promise

Wu ji - The Promise
China (2005)
Starring:  Cecilia Cheung, Dong-gun Jang, Hiroyuki Sanda
Awards:  Orient Express Section Special Jury Award (Fantasporto 2007)

I looked for this movie because I came across an old review from the LA Times I think that called it one of the most beautiful films imaginable.  The Promise was without a doubt visually striking.  It was worth getting the blu-ray version of it.  From the costumes to the scenes to the story itself this movie was cool all the way through.  It truly is a beautiful story.

In a world where men and gods live side by side a slave from the Land of the Snow and beggar turned princess pick their destiny.  Cheung was promised by a goddess a life of riches, but without love.  Jang was born a more noble human from the Land of the Snow and forced into slavery.  Their paths cross in a complex turn of events and the rest is the story that is worth watching.

This movie was awesome.  Just when I thought that I'd exhausted nearly every major cinematic release from the past decade I found a movie that made me wonder how I had missed it!

Quote:  Destiny can be changed, time sometimes does flow backwards, snow can fall in the spring, and even a frozen heart can come back to life.

Frostbiten - Frostbitten

Frostbiten - Frostbitten
Sweden (2006)
Starring:  Petra Nielsen, Carl-Ake Eriksson, Grete Havenskold
Awards: International Fantasy Film Award (Fantasporto 2006):  Best Film; Festival Trophy (Screamfest 2006):  Best music Score

Frostbitten is a slightly twisted vampire movie.  When I say twisted in this case it's because it is a uniquely strange vampire movie (as far as vampire movies go).  There is little about the movie that can be taken seriously; it is slightly off balance fusion of horror and comedy.  I guess if you're a vampire movie lover check it out... if you're not a vampire movie lover, I'd walk right by it at the movie store.

The Thief Lord

The Thief Lord
2006
Starring:  Aaron Johnson, Jasper Harris, Rollow Weeks

I do not recall if I watched this because I wanted to see a childhood adventure movie or because it is supposed to take place in my favorite city ever - Venice.  I can recall why I won't keep the movie though. . . The movie was kind of pointless to me it's as if there almost wasn't a story at all, just a bunch of orphaned kids doing what they have to do in order to survive....almost storyless.

Looking for subtitles

I got my hands on two different DVD's a while back and I'd love to watch them except they don't have subtitles.  Can anyone point me in the right direction for either of these?  Format of the file doesn't matter much.

The Samurai of Ayothaya
Don Quixote (2010 Chinese version)