Red Cliff – Review

 

Plot

John Woo’s adaptation of the popular story Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Thoughts on the film

Ryan

Many fans, including myself, have patiently waited for the day when John Woo would leave the Hollywood studio system behind and return to Asia. Well, that day has finally arrived. John Woo makes a triumphant return to Asian cinema with Red Cliff, the excellent first film in his two film adaptation of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. All of Woo’s trademarks and themes are present, from beautiful slow motion action shots, emotion driven freeze frames, to the themes of brotherhood and honor. Yes, Woo does also use pigeons in the film, but they are shown very few times. Red Cliff also contains some great acting. Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro are perfectly cast, and both are equally amazing in their roles. Also, the supporting cast here is terrific. I didn’t find one performance that wasn’t solid in the entire film. Action wise, there are only two battles, one at the beginning and one at the end. Both battles are beautifully choreographed and photographed, and they run about twenty minutes each. Having only two battles does not hurt Red Cliff  at all. In between the battles we are treated to a great story with excellent characterization. Red Cliff  keeps you engaged with every detail. John Woo fans rejoice, Red Cliff  is the film we’ve been waiting years for, and it succeeds on every level. If the second film lives up to everything that has been set up before Red Cliff’s to be continued end, then Woo will have one giant masterpiece on his hands. All I can say is bring on part two, I’m ready. Red Cliff  is a must see film!!

Mark

With Red Cliff, John Woo’s long awaited return to Chinese cinema, is a triumph. Giving the film a great balance of action and story, Woo delivers a classic tale of brotherhood and honor. What helps matters even more is the solid contributions of the great actors and actresses involved this picture. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai is very impressive as Zhou Yu, a war strategist and honorable leader. He brings a quiet resilience to his character that speaks volumes to the audience. Also, Takeshi Kaneshiro’s perfomance as Zhuge Liang is very solid as well. While, Chang Chen is very admirable as Wu leader, Sun Quan. However, the two actors that completely steal the show are Hu Jun and Shido Nakamura. While, both Jun and Nakamura aren’t in a abundance of scenes, they effortlessly shine in every one their involved in. Nakamura and Jun handle their action sequences brilliantly, bringing strength and determination into the fold. Both Lin Chi-Ling and Vicki Zhao Wei are absolutely beautiful and mesmerizing in their roles as the two female leads. Each actress brings their character to life. Ling is stunning as Xiao Qiao, while also being Tony Leung’s love interest in the movie. Their few scenes together in the film are very beautifully shot and cleverly paced. Vicki Zhao Wei is very cute as the tom boy, Sun Shangxiang. She brings a delightful charm to every sequence she is involved in. When talking about Red Cliff, one would be hard pressed not to talk about the films action sequences. Even though the film only contains two action scenes, they are two extremely well made action sequences. With each battle clocking in at 20 minutes, every shot is expertly mapped out with exquisite precision, making Red Cliff one of the best action epics to come out in the last ten years. Both Cory Yuen and Patrick Leung did an absolutely fantastic job of choreographing the action scenes. Also, John Woo’s direction as a whole is top notch. It’s very good to see Woo making films again. While, I’m not the biggest fan of his American ventures, I must admit Woo is an expert when it comes to directing action pictures. Red Cliff includes all of Woo’s trademarks: brotherhood, honor, great action set pieces, and bloodshed. With Red Cliff, John Woo proves that he hasn’t lost one ounce of his talent over the years, making the film a must see for any movie fan. Red Cliff is a required viewing at least once. I assure you, you won’t be disappointed. I found there was very little to complain about the film. Although, it does become slow in some parts, it is still a break through film. I believe Red Cliff will stand the test of time as one of the greatest martial arts epics ever made. A perfect companion piece to Hero, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and House of Flying Daggers. The last great film of 2008. Bring on Part 2!

Ryan

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Mark

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