Red Cliff
Director John Woo heads back east to helm the most expensive Chinese language film in history, set during the rule of the Han Dynasty in 208 AD.
Director John Woo heads back east to helm the most expensive Chinese language film in history, set during the rule of the Han Dynasty in 208 AD.
The scale of his historical epic is jaw dropping with battle sequences featuring a cast of thousands and more aerial shots of arrows raining down upon legions of unsuspecting victims than the entire Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
Certain breathtaking sequences, like a naval stockade of two thousands ships sailing up the Yangtze River, can only be accomplished with digital trickery.
The computer-generated visual effects don't always pass muster but when Woo's camera is in the midst of the meticulously choreographed hand-to-hand combat, Red Cliff is truly a feast for the eyes.
In Asia, the film was released in two parts, clocking in at just under five hours.
Thankfully for the sake of sensitive British buttocks, the subtitled version cleaves Woo's ambitious vision in half, condensing all of the political intrigue and tactical warfare to 147 minutes.
A growling voiceover distils key historical facts over opulent opening scenes at the court of weak Emperor Han (Wang Ning), who quakes in fear at the approach of Prime Minister, Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi).
The scheming politician proposes that the Emperor's vast army invades the land to the south and west under the control of Liu Bei (You Yong) and Sun Quan (Chang Chen), thereby unifying China.
Liu Bei and his three plucky generals, Zhao Yun (Hu Jun), Guan Yu (Ba Sen Zha Bu) and Zhang Fei (Zang Jingsheng), are quickly overwhelmed by Cao Cao's military might.
Beating a retreat, Liu Bei despatches his brilliant strategist Zhu-Ge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) to seek help from the young and impetuous Sun Quan via his powerful viceroy, Zhou Yu (Tony Leung).
Through music and conversation, the two men forge an unshakeable alliance.
The massed forces of the two armies congregate on the banks of the Yangtze River at Red Cliff where Sun Quan's loyal general Gan Xing (Shidou Nakamura) galvanizes his men into action.
Meanwhile, two women - Zhou Yu's wife Xiao Qiao (Chiling Lin) and Sun Quan's sister Sun Shangxiang (Zhao Wei) - assume pivotal roles in the mission to undermine Cao Cao's assault.
Red Cliff is surprisingly easy to follow despite the constant distraction of subtitles amidst all of the beautifully orchestrated carnage, which includes a tortoise formation set piece that gives each of the generals a chance to shine in blood-soaked slow motion.
You can almost feel the singeing heat of the fiery climax that takes the battle to the water.
Woo's visual trademarks are in evidence - a fluttering dove, face to face stand-offs - while his script hammers home the underlying themes of nobility and fraternal bonding with lots of lingering glances between Leung and Kaneshiro, including a final meeting when they are close enough to kiss.
That may be taking brotherly love one step too far.
Release Date: Friday 12 June 2009
Certificate: 15
Runtime: 147mins
