THE PROMISE GOING GANGBUSTERS IN CHINA

A sharp-eyed reader reports that THE PROMISE has broken box office records in China. Chen Kaige's poorly-reviewed period fantasy film has taken in a staggering US$9 million in its first four days of release, breaking the previous opening day record held by KUNG FU HUSTLE.

With no competition this week it looks like it'll keep raking in the yuan, until it piles into Zhang Yimou's RIDING ALONE FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES which opens this coming weekend. While Zhang's movie is a medium-budget, character driven kind of film and Chen's movie is a big-budget special effects extravaganza, I have to say that I'm pulling for Zhang's movie because it not only stars Japan's Ken Takakura but it also laid out a 900 foot long dinner table for guests when it premiered. 900 feet! Check that out.

(and click on the image for a larger view of THE PROMISE's French poster)