Jason KingRed Cliff ($13-)
July 31st 2009 08:31
:
REVIEW BY SEAN
Category: No Category
Red Cliff ($13-) REVIEW BY SEAN
From John Woo, the acclaimed director of Mission Impossible II, Face/Off and The Killer, comes a dazzling, visionary epic based on the legendary Battle of Red Cliff, in which a force of fifty thousand defeated an army of nearly one million.
In 208 A.D, in the final days of the Han Dynasty, shrewd Prime Minister Cao Cao convinced the fickle Emperor Han the only way to unite all of China was to declare war on the kingdoms of Xu in the West and East Wu in the south. Thus began a military campaign of unprecedented scale, led by the Prime Minister, himself. Left with no other hope for survival, the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu formed an unlikely alliance. Numerous battles of strength and wit ensued, both on land and on water, eventually culminating in the Battle of Red Cliff.
During the battle, two thousand ships were burned, and the course of Chinese History was changed forever. Thanks Icon Film Distribution Australia.
Released as two two-and-a-half hour films in China, we only received the condensed single three hour version down under. But none the less, this film was still an awesome experience. Red Cliff is entirely based on true events (although many actions were stylised for cinema). But the film certainly doesn't suffer as a result. If anything, this makes it better for Western culture to watch and understand. The film is entirely subtitled (and if you're like me, and hour and a half of subtitles is difficult) but again, this doesn't weaken the overall story of the film.
It's easy enough to follow. Tony Leung (Lust, Caution, Internal Affairs (Chiu Wai - his full name)) plays Zhou Yu, the Grand Viceroy and Leader of Red Cliff. He fights like Tyson with a sword. In one scene, he rides out of a cloud of dirt on the back of a horse, spears flying at him, and catches one mid flight, sending it speeding back to its owner. This guy is the reason the Southern Army is so powerful.
John Woo has directed this beautifully, not only capturing China's beautiful landscape (without having to use the Great Wall), but he has also honoured his country's rich history. He replicates actual battle formations perfectly and presents the majority of the characters with a near spitting image of the people they are based upon.
The only flaws I can pick in this film are these. Because the film was cut down from five ours to three, you loose a lot of story, which was filled with chopped up discussion scenes using transitions not seen since A New Hope, and a lot of establishment of characters and locations was lost - again due to time. This second point is a real shame. John Woo has these extravagant sets built and they were hardly seen.
But overall, the film was excellent. Definitely worth a watch. $13.
Sean
From John Woo, the acclaimed director of Mission Impossible II, Face/Off and The Killer, comes a dazzling, visionary epic based on the legendary Battle of Red Cliff, in which a force of fifty thousand defeated an army of nearly one million.
In 208 A.D, in the final days of the Han Dynasty, shrewd Prime Minister Cao Cao convinced the fickle Emperor Han the only way to unite all of China was to declare war on the kingdoms of Xu in the West and East Wu in the south. Thus began a military campaign of unprecedented scale, led by the Prime Minister, himself. Left with no other hope for survival, the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu formed an unlikely alliance. Numerous battles of strength and wit ensued, both on land and on water, eventually culminating in the Battle of Red Cliff.
During the battle, two thousand ships were burned, and the course of Chinese History was changed forever. Thanks Icon Film Distribution Australia.
Released as two two-and-a-half hour films in China, we only received the condensed single three hour version down under. But none the less, this film was still an awesome experience. Red Cliff is entirely based on true events (although many actions were stylised for cinema). But the film certainly doesn't suffer as a result. If anything, this makes it better for Western culture to watch and understand. The film is entirely subtitled (and if you're like me, and hour and a half of subtitles is difficult) but again, this doesn't weaken the overall story of the film.
It's easy enough to follow. Tony Leung (Lust, Caution, Internal Affairs (Chiu Wai - his full name)) plays Zhou Yu, the Grand Viceroy and Leader of Red Cliff. He fights like Tyson with a sword. In one scene, he rides out of a cloud of dirt on the back of a horse, spears flying at him, and catches one mid flight, sending it speeding back to its owner. This guy is the reason the Southern Army is so powerful.
John Woo has directed this beautifully, not only capturing China's beautiful landscape (without having to use the Great Wall), but he has also honoured his country's rich history. He replicates actual battle formations perfectly and presents the majority of the characters with a near spitting image of the people they are based upon.
The only flaws I can pick in this film are these. Because the film was cut down from five ours to three, you loose a lot of story, which was filled with chopped up discussion scenes using transitions not seen since A New Hope, and a lot of establishment of characters and locations was lost - again due to time. This second point is a real shame. John Woo has these extravagant sets built and they were hardly seen.
But overall, the film was excellent. Definitely worth a watch. $13.
Sean
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Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
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I might wait until Blu Ray as I would love to see the 5hr version with subs.
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Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
By the way................. or else