John Woo sets the historic The Battle of Red Cliff in motion

[Jerry007]

Info from comingsoon.net:

John Woo has cast Chow Yun-Fat, Ken Watanabe, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Taiwanese supermodel Lin Chi-Ling in his Chinese costumer, The Battle of Red Cliff, a co-production with the China Film Group.

Based on the classic Chinese novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," the film is set in the final days of the Han Dynasty in the year 208 and covers the war that established the Three Kingdoms period, when China had three rulers.

Historians reckon 1 million soldiers took part in the original battle of Red Cliff. Woo plans to set up six units to simultaneously shoot various scenes for the war epic.

Woo is again teaming with longtime associate Terence Chang to make the film, which is aiming for release in the runup to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

"Red Cliff" is due to start shooting in March from a screenplay by Wang Hui-ling (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).

[n6a2wh6k]

i would prefer something like a drama series being put out (dvd episodes) instead of just focusing on the battle of red cliff

[Tokieda]

can't wait...see whether it rocks or bombs...

[Jerry007]

Info from http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=features2007&content=jump&jump=story&dept=berlin&nav=Nberlin&articleid=VR1117959156&nid=2853

John Woo's forthcoming epic "The Battle of Red Cliff" -- the most expensive Asian movie ever made -- has just gotten a whole lot bigger.
Pic has seen its budget balloon from a previously announced $50 million to $75 million. It's being touted here by Summit Entertaiment, which has set up shop off-Market in the Hyatt.

In Asian territories where the Han Dynasty (Third century) source material "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is very familiar, pic will now be released as two movies of two hours each. In the rest of the world it will be offered as a single pic of two and a half hours.

"We are selling one Asian version and one non-Asian version," Summit chief Patrick Wachsberger said. He added that he has already inked multiple deals during the first days of Berlin, but said his company does not disclose contractual details.

"It was impossible to condense all this material into two hours," producer Terence Chang said. "Asian audiences know all the 10 main personalities and all the battles. The split gives us room for the set pieces and the character development."

Chang said that the split was proposed by China Film Group chief Han Sanping and makes use of a narrative cliffhanger moment when the heroes celebrate their victory, before crossing the river for a further fight near the title's red cliffs.

Screenplay is by "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" scribe Wang Hui-ling.

Production now is set back by two weeks. Lensing starts March 28 and continues until late September. Locations will mostly be around Beijing and set building is already under way.

For the river battle scene producers intend to use 2,000 boats in addition to CGI effects. While production will be continuous, Asian release for the part is being skedded to preem ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and the second closer to the end of that year's holiday period. Dates for the international version have not been fixed.

Summit holds world rights outside the five Asian territories that Chang and Woo's Lion Rock Entertainment will retain and outside North America, where the film is repped by CAA.

The expansion has seen all the partners increase their investment, though the bulk of the budget inflation falls to the Asian partners and distributors.

"Everyone seems happy with this," said one of the Asian financiers. "For a bit more money they get two movies instead of one."

Coin comes from China Film, which has bankrolled pre-production so far, Japan's Avex Group and its allied Chinese talent and production company Chengtian plus the distribbers that Chang has arranged. These include Rentrak of Japan, Mediaplex/Showbox from Korea and CMC from Taiwan.

Gap finance is being arranged by Standard Chartered Bank.

Pic stars Chow Yun-fat, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Taiwanese supermodel Lin Chiling, Hu Jun ("Lan Yu") and Zhang Fengyi ("Farewell My Concubine"). Producers are close to adding a major Japanese star.

"What is going to happen next is that we sell it as one movie with fantastic possibilities on DVD or that distributors get so excited by the 'Lord of the Rings'-like prospects that we end up putting it out as two movies everywhere," Wachsberger said.

[Slipshade]

No way am I going to watch this. Some of the actors are total miscasts. @_@

[ExK]

did I see Ken Watanabe ?????

[Slipshade]

did I see Ken Watanabe ?????
Yes, you did indeed.

[xjedi]

ken watanabe = cao cao
chow yun fat = liu bei
tony leung = zhu geliang
jet li = zhou yu (rumored)
lin zhi ling = ?
? = sun quan

[tequila_powered]

Oh no!!


The topic is very interesting.

The director, erhmm urhmmm ahhhh.......


I can imagine the heroes ducking weaving leaning backward Matrix-style avoiding the spears and arrows while heroes jumping off walls or flying thru air shooting off own arrows simultaneously. That's the picture style he is famous for....

This movie prolly end up being a typical Chinese "western spaghetti" movie.

[Wzierbovsky]

Yeah; the cast is indeed star-studded, but the choice of director makes me nervous.

Even if Woo can't change his preferred styles and use of motif shots, well at least let there not be overuse of CG.

[Tuakong]

Oh no!!


The topic is very interesting.

The director, erhmm urhmmm ahhhh.......


I can imagine the heroes ducking weaving leaning backward Matrix-style avoiding the spears and arrows while heroes jumping off walls or flying thru air shooting off own arrows simultaneously. That's the picture style he is famous for....

This movie prolly end up being a typical Chinese "western spaghetti" movie.

......all in slow-mo :D

[ExK]

......all in slow-mo :D

armies tumbling down the Red Cliff in slow-mo ... that would take a long time for them to hit the bottom .... :s16:

[ExK]

ken watanabe = cao cao


wow watanabe does have that stern face and regal air to pull that off! a good choice, but he can't speak chinese right?

[Jerry007]

wow watanabe does have that stern face and regal air to pull that off! a good choice, but he can't speak chinese right?

Dub lor. :s13:

[chengsun]

ken watanabe = cao cao
chow yun fat = liu bei
tony leung = zhu geliang
jet li = zhou yu (rumored)
lin zhi ling = ?
? = sun quan
lin zhi ling as either da qiao or xiao qiao, both sisters married to sun quan and zhou yu

[upslorry]

if i were john woo, i'd make 6 episodes of three kingom saga
like star wars, make RTK an epic one

[cslkelvin]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_of_Red_Cliff_(film)

The main parts assigned so far are for Tony Leung Chiu Wai to play as Zhuge Liang, the strategist and mastermind of the Kingdom of Shu, Chow Yun Fat to play as Zhou Yu, the strategist of the Kingdom of Wu, Chi-ling Lin to play as Xiao Qiao, the wife of Zhou Yu. Taiwanese Chang Chen will be Sun Quan. It is rumoured that Cao Cao, the ambitious leader of the Kingdom of Wei, who will not be portrayed as the villain as in the novel, will be played by the mainland actor Zhang Fengyi. In recent news, Zhao Wei is confirmed to take the role of Sun Shangxiang, Sun Quan's sister, and later Liu Bei's wife.

[ExK]

so Cao Cao is played by Zhang Fengyi?

[tequila_powered]

In recent news, Zhao Wei is confirmed to take the role of Sun Shangxiang, Sun Quan's sister, and later Liu Bei's wife.
I hope no excessive cleavages again....very distracting, to say the least. :)

[ExK]

I hope no excessive cleavages again....very distracting, to say the least. :)

yeah, I also find those commercially machinated 'torrid forbidden sex, voluptous bosoms in ancient china' plots to be very out-of-place in serious period dramas. I mean, you don't see such nonsense in Lord of the Ring. There are plenty of bosoms to see on the internet, I hope they don't ruin a classic with such gratuitous devices.

[RipperJack]

ken watanabe = cao cao
chow yun fat = liu bei
tony leung = zhu geliang
jet li = zhou yu (rumored)
lin zhi ling = ?
? = sun quan
sure onots? :s22:



jet li as zhou yu? no way~! :s13:

[xjedi]

seems like the cast has been confirmed, no more rumors from the media ...... :D

zhang feng yi = cao cao
chow yun fat = zhou yu
tony leung = zhu geliang
lin zhi ling = xiao qiao
zhang zeng = sun quan
hu jun = zhao zi long

the movie will be a 2-parter ......

http://ent.tom.com/2007-02-16/0021/06446131.html

[Jerry007]

seems like the cast has been confirmed, no more rumors from the media ...... :D

zhang feng yi = cao cao
chow yun fat = zhou yu
tony leung = zhu geliang
lin zhi ling = xiao qiao
zhang zeng = sun quan
hu jun = zhao zi long

the movie will be a 2-parter ......

http://ent.tom.com/2007-02-16/0021/06446131.html

Wow....looks like a dream cast.

[Jerry007]

Info from twitchfilm.net:

Now how's that for value for money? Variety is reporting that John Woo's upcoming epic The Battle of Red Cliff, after seeing it's budget grow from $50 million to $75 million, has now been split into two films.

Now, the cynic in me says that this is largely a money move - charging at the gate twice makes it a lot easier to turn a profit, after all - but Woo and producer Terence Change are saying all the right things about motivation, rightly pointing out that this is a famous and famously complex story and they need the extra space in order to do justice to both the action sequences and character development. In other words they don't want to make the same mistake Tsui Hark did with Seven Swords.


Read the Variety article here (http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=features2007&content=jump&jump=story&dept=berlin&nav=Nberlin&articleid=VR1117959156&nid=2853)

[xjedi]

so unfortunate that tony leung has abandoned his role ......

http://ent.tom.com/2007-03-06/0021/04999819.html

[Jerry007]

so unfortunate that tony leung has abandoned his role ......

http://ent.tom.com/2007-03-06/0021/04999819.html

Yea. Now Takeshi Kaneshiro is replacing him.

[Fat_Bastard]

This really sucks man. Tony Leung would have been perfect as Teekor Leong.

Takeshi is good looking but he doesn't have that smart look.


Imho,

(Daniel Wu)Wu YanZu as Zhou Yu and Tony Leung as Teekor Leung would be perfect.

[Jerry007]

Info from kfccinema.com:

Seems like Chang Chen is gone and Liu Ye has been asked to take over as the role of Sun Quan in John Woo's yet to be filmed The Battle of Red Cliff.

This is the second time Woo's first casting choice has had to drop out of the picture thus far. Early in pre-production Tony Leung Chiu-Wai was replaced by Takeshi Kaneshiro as Zhuge Liang.

The Battle of Red Cliff marks John Woo's first time working with Chow Yun-Fat in 15 years.

[Jerry007]

Apparently Chang Cheng is still attached to the project but now here's a bit of a shocking news form monkeypeaches.com:

According to a statement Chow Yun-Fat sent to Sina.com, Chow resigned from John Woo’s The Battle of Red Cliff last Friday not because of some unrealistic demands from him. Chow received the screenplay just one week before and the production had already begun. This gave him very little time to prepare for his role as he had to deliver his lines in Mandarin. Chow said he had agreed to take a pay cut for playing his role. Also, he did not believe the US-based insurance company played any role in his departure. Chow also hoped this incident would not affect his friendship with John Woo and producer Terence Chang.

[xjedi]

否認百大條款嚇窒《赤壁》片商
發仔辭演周瑜揭換角真相
17/04/2007
文： 影視組

昨日有內地消息指周潤發因開出近百條無理要求及獅子開大口，被導演吳宇森飛出《赤壁》，發哥昨日開腔回應此事，承認已辭演周瑜一角，更透露辭演原因！

由周潤發、金城武、張震主演電影《赤壁》，於本月十四日在北京正式開鏡，三位男主角卻不見影，原來周潤發已在開鏡前一天辭演，消息昨日傳出後，即有內地消息紛至，有指周潤發開天索價提出高於《滿城盡帶黃金甲》三倍之片酬接拍《赤壁》，又要劇組在電影開拍前一次過付清，又要求近百條複雜而無理的保險要求，就連美國保險公司都未能接受，令劇組極之難做，最後才作出棄用決定。

傳劉德華頂上
對於一切傳聞，周潤發昨日說：「我四月十三日透過律師正式向劇組提出辭演，原因係我遲遲未收到劇本同期表，演出一部咁大型製作，又要講國語對白，實在需要大量時間去作出準備，但係我一個禮拜前先收到劇本，實在冇信心做到，所以決定辭演！」他續說：「片酬一直都係投資方開畀我，後來佢希望我減價，我都應承，後來佢決定將部戲一分為二，我亦從冇要求過要加片酬，到最近佢又希望我能夠分期收片酬，我都答應，所以我唔明點解會有咁傳聞！總之我唔希望這件事傷害我同吳宇森之間友情！」周潤發辭演，有內地消息指，吳宇森正跟劉德華、夏雨以及梁家輝等斟洽。

張家振反擊發哥的講法，主要是周潤發提出合同中有七十三項劇組無法接受，其至要求500萬美元片酬一次付清，他苦苦哀求對方才答應先付50巴仙，收到錢三天後才向劇組報到。合作不成的主因是美國保險公司不同意周潤發律師所擬訂的合同。

對於發哥表示劇本太遲收到及冇信心演好才辭演，張家振痛斥這是廢話，去年初已把劇本初稿交給發哥過目，今年初的定稿亦已同時寄給發哥及梁朝偉，發哥當時提出意見，曾相約導演及編劇修改，最近的一稿於一周前才給發哥。對於辭演事件不希望影響彼此友誼，他說︰「友誼是雙方面的，沒有利害關係。」

source (http://the-sun.on.cc/cgi-bin/hotnews2.cgi?a=ent&b=20070417&c=20070416232956_0000.html)

First Tony Leung, now Chow ....... Dont think it's gonna be a movie to look forward to any longer ......

[xjedi]

Gosh, this is even more worse ......

记者昨晚(4月15日)获悉，刚刚开机的《赤壁》将再度更换主演。这次换下的是周瑜的扮演者——跟吴宇森合作过多部影片的“小马哥”周润发。这是继金城武顶替梁朝伟出演诸葛亮之后，《赤壁》剧组第二次更换主演。据了解，换角的主要原因是发哥提出了“苛刻刁钻的条件”，而新周瑜的人选可能是周杰伦或吴彦祖。 [全文]

source (http://ent.tom.com/movie/f/chibi.html)

[Tokieda]

anyone but jay chou pls...oh my god...

[amerika]

Chow drops out of 'Red Cliff'
Star exits Woo epic three days into shooting
By PATRICK FRATER, CLIFFORD COONAN [Variety]

HONG KONG -- Chinese superstar Chow Yun-fat has dropped out of John Woo's mega-budget "Red Cliff" only three days into shooting.

Producer and Woo's partner in Lion Rock Entertainment Terence Chang told Variety "We are reworking our schedule right now as we have to shoot around the absent leading man." Lensing began Saturday in Hebei Province near Beijing.

By way of explanation for the shock move Chang said: "We are replacing Chow Yun-fat since the bond company CineFinance would not approve his agreement."

Agency reports quoted a China Film Group source as saying that Chow had made "unreasonable demands" that exceeded industry standards. Chow is understood to have said that he only received a final script a few days ago and was not sure he would do justice to the character.

The $70 million budget picture is the biggest budget Chinese film ever made and one of the largest of the year to be made as an independent picture. It is Woo's first Chinese-language film in many years after a Hollywood career that has included "Face/Off" and "Mission: Impossible 2."

Budget was put together by China Film Group, Japan's Avex Entertainment, China's Chengtian Entertainment, Taiwan's CMC Entertainment and Korea's Showbox. Int'l sales are handled by LA-based Summit Entertainment.

The heavyweight script by Woo Chan Khan, Guo Zheng and Sheng Heyu weighs in at a four hour film. For Asian territories pic is to be split into two parts. North American and other int'l auds will receive a single movie, possibly weighing in at close to three hours.

Remaining cast is now confirmed as including Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chiling Lin, Chang Chen, Vicky Zhao and Hu Jun.

Chow reportedly said that he had effectively taken a pay cut, by not asking for a raise after the decision to make the movie a two-parter.

Chow's ankling is the second high profile departure for "Red Cliff". A few weeks back Tony Leung Chiu-wai ("Bullet In The Head," "In The Mood For Love") quit, suggesting that he could not make a commitment for the whole of the massive six month-long lensing.

Chow departure, however, is a psychological blow. Chow was the iconic star of many early Woo films including "A Better Tomorrow" and "Hard Boiled."

[xjedi]

Maybe John Woo will be walking out of the film too ...... :D :s22:

[xjedi]

Twists and turns, twists and turns, twists and turns .......

Not sure if this is true or not ......

梁朝伟证实演周瑜 周润发为演国父弃《赤壁》
　　《赤壁》换角风波可谓一波三折，继周润发与梁朝伟先后辞演后，最新消息是梁朝伟将重演周润发之前辞去的周瑜角色，原因是基于与导演吴宇森20多年的友情。至于周润发则有传他参演原本由金城武主演的电影《孙中山》，担当男主角！[全文]

source (http://ent.tom.com/movie/f/chibi.html)

[kungfu11]

Gosh, this is even more worse ......

记者昨晚(4月15日)获悉，刚刚开机的《赤壁》将再度更换主演。这次换下的是周瑜的扮演者——跟吴宇森合作过多部影片的“小马哥”周润发。这是继金城武顶替梁朝伟出演诸葛亮之后，《赤壁》剧组第二次更换主演。据了解，换角的主要原因是发哥提出了“苛刻刁钻的条件”，而新周瑜的人选可能是周杰伦或吴彦祖。 [全文]

source (http://ent.tom.com/movie/f/chibi.html)
oh comeon... 周杰伦? eewww

[Jerry007]

Info from comingsoon.net:

Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, who quit director John Woo's The Battle of Red Cliff last month, will rejoin the $70 million production following co-star Chow Yun-Fat's sudden departure earlier this week.

Leung was set to be with the production in Hebei, outside the Chinese capital next week.

Producer Terence Chang would not say if Leung was rehired to replace Chow in the role of Zhou Yu. Leung previously was cast in the role of Zhuge Liang, but quit in March due to scheduling conflicts only to be replaced by actor Takeshi Kaneshiro.

A two-part production based on a decisive battle fought in China's Three Kingdoms period (220-280AD), the film is Woo's first Chinese language film after more than a decade.

[xjedi]

Chow Yuen Fatt to join the movie as guest-star ......

中新网5月14日电 周润发因辞演《赤壁》而弄得满城风雨，有关他与吴宇森及张家振决裂的消息亦传得甚嚣尘上。不过世事往往出人意表，继梁朝伟重返剧组演周瑜后，据可靠消息，已赴美国宣传《加勒比海盗3》的发哥亦将以特别友情客串《赤》片拍三天戏份。

香港“东方日报”报道，发哥与吴宇森相交超过二十载，二人亦不想因为工作而
令友谊受损。经双方多次磋商后，发哥已口头答应客串《赤》片，以行动冰释双方早前的种种误会。今次发哥将扮演东吴大将黄盖，并与伟仔大演对手戏。两位好戏之人“奉旨”大斗演技，令《赤》片更具叫座力。

虽然发哥戏份不重，但其角色在《三国演义》中却相当重要。当日曹操派出两位荆州降将向周瑜诈降，但周瑜装聋扮傻，与黄盖暗中商议，黄盖甘愿施苦肉计受重刑，遭脱光衣服打了五十嵴杖，乃闻名后世三十六计之苦肉计。其后“转投”曹操门下博取信任，歇后语“一个愿打一个愿挨”亦因而衍生。

发哥虽然还未正式动笔签约，但有感早前辞演打乱了吴宇森阵脚，故出发前已向对方作出口头承诺，日内将到剧组报到，为吴宇森友情演出三天。发哥再次加入除大增演员阵容外，更令彼此关系“破冰”，相信吴宇森已放下心头大石。

source (http://ent.tom.com/2007-05-14/0021/06751051.html)

[xjedi]

First look at Zhuge Liang .....

http://ent.tom.com/dimg/2007/0514/img-306516264.jpg

http://ent.tom.com/dimg/2007/0514/img-306516279.jpg

http://ent.tom.com/dimg/2007/0514/img-306516280.jpg

source (http://ent.tom.com/2007-05-14/0021/11651081.html)

[ExK]

The brooding Takeshiro makes a rather handsome Zhuge Liang!!!

[HellBENt85]

The subject matter has great potential.

Let's hope John Woo doesn't turn this into a B-grade action flick.

[Jerry007]

Info from twitchfilm.net:

A few months ago, we reported the story of Chow Yun-Fat's sudden departure from John Woo's Battle of Red Cliff and following the much-publicize debacle, Chow has invertedly agree to rejoin the cast for a cameo role. Guess what, folks? According to long time John Woo producer Terence Chang in an e-mail to the The Associated Press, Chow will not be in the film after all.

"Chow is definitely out. His dropping out of our film caused us tremendous scheduling problems ... If he rejoins us, I am afraid he might create ill feelings among all the crew and all the other main actors," Chang said.

Its really a shame to see it had come to this. Chow supposedly have a good relationship with John which leads me to wonder what is going on behind closed door.

[Jerry007]

From comingsoon.net:

The international trailer for writer/director John Woo's Red Cliff has made its way online and can be watched via this link (http://tw.movie.yahoo.com/videoplayer.html?id=2556&type=movie). The action-adventure, starring Chow Yun-Fat, Tony Leung and Chang Chen, is based on the legendary Battle of Red Cliff, in which a force of fifty thousand defeated an army of nearly one million.



And there's John Woo's trademark, flying dove, at the end of the trailer.

[wang63]

From comingsoon.net:

The international trailer for writer/director John Woo's Red Cliff has made its way online and can be watched via this link (http://tw.movie.yahoo.com/videoplayer.html?id=2556&type=movie). The action-adventure, starring Chow Yun-Fat, Tony Leung and Chang Chen, is based on the legendary Battle of Red Cliff, in which a force of fifty thousand defeated an army of nearly one million.



And there's John Woo's trademark, flying dove, at the end of the trailer.

Thanks for the link. Looks like an epic in the making. Hope that it doesn't disappoint!

Takashi looks a little too boyish as Zhugeliang but otherwise a v good looking one.

[Jerry007]

Thanks for the link. Looks like an epic in the making. Hope that it doesn't disappoint!

Takashi looks a little too boyish as Zhugeliang but otherwise a v good looking one.


Same sentiments. Think Tony Leung would make a better Zhu Ge Liang.

[Jerry007]

From comingsoon.net:

The international trailer for writer/director John Woo's Red Cliff has made its way online and can be watched via this link (http://tw.movie.yahoo.com/videoplayer.html?id=2556&type=movie). The action-adventure, starring Chow Yun-Fat, Tony Leung and Chang Chen, is based on the legendary Battle of Red Cliff, in which a force of fifty thousand defeated an army of nearly one million.



And there's John Woo's trademark, flying dove, at the end of the trailer.

From ent.tom.com:

由吴宇森执导的《赤壁》昨晚播放了长约两分半钟的预告片，主演梁朝伟、金城武、张震、中村狮童、张丰毅、赵薇和林志玲等悉数登场。一直传闻的梁朝伟、林志玲激情戏果真曝光，但画面只有短短3秒。

Check out the trailer from the link above.

[wang63]

Same sentiments. Think Tony Leung would make a better Zhu Ge Liang.

Definitely!

[Providence]

Wow... Looks awesome... :eek:

[Jerry007]

Wow... Looks awesome... :eek:

I hope not too many flying doves though. :D

[RipperJack]

Same sentiments. Think Tony Leung would make a better Zhu Ge Liang.
no doubt, but tony leung wouldn't look the part of a late 20s dude.



actually, dun really like tony as zhou yu oso. zhou yu is a pretty boy~ :s34:
tony is more of the suave type

[Jerry007]

no doubt, but tony leung wouldn't look the part of a late 20s dude.



actually, dun really like tony as zhou yu oso. zhou yu is a pretty boy~ :s34:
tony is more of the suave type

I think I read somewhere that Tony Leung was supposed to be Zhu Ge Liang. He was given the role of Zhou Yu when he came back to the production after quitting.

It would be ideal if Tony and Takashi can switch roles.

[Jerry007]

Some pics

http://www.monkeypeaches.com/pix/071118c.jpg

http://www.monkeypeaches.com/pix/071118d.jpg

[zero_88]

I think I read somewhere that Tony Leung was supposed to be Zhu Ge Liang. He was given the role of Zhou Yu when he came back to the production after quitting.

It would be ideal if Tony and Takashi can switch roles.

don't think it will be better if they witch role...Zhou Yu in the novel is a very scheming person, which mean not a very good guy...I don't think Takashi is able to potray that "badness" if he take on Zhou Yu role...Takashi face is really too kind and suitable to act as good guy...

I would like to see more young actor join in this show...any idea who act as Pang Tong in this movie?

[Jerry007]

Here's the partial cast list:

Tong Dawei (as Sun Shucai),
Song Jia (as Li Ji),
Hu Jun (as Gen. Zhao Yun),
Lin Chiling (as the younger Qiao sister),
Zhang Fengyi (as warlord Cao Cao),
Leung Chiu-Wai (as Gen. Zhou Yu),
Takeshi Kaneshiro (as Zhu Geliang),
Chang Chen (as warlord Sun Quan),
Zhao Wei (as Sun Shangxiang),
You Yong (as warlord Liu Bei) and
Hou Yong (as Lu Su).

[zero_88]

Here's the partial cast list:

Tong Dawei (as Sun Shucai),
Song Jia (as Li Ji),
Hu Jun (as Gen. Zhao Yun),
Lin Chiling (as the younger Qiao sister),
Zhang Fengyi (as warlord Cao Cao),
Leung Chiu-Wai (as Gen. Zhou Yu),
Takeshi Kaneshiro (as Zhu Geliang),
Chang Chen (as warlord Sun Quan),
Zhao Wei (as Sun Shangxiang),
You Yong (as warlord Liu Bei) and
Hou Yong (as Lu Su).

So NO Pang Tong lah...den Zhang fei go where!!!???:eek:

[wengchiat]

So NO Pang Tong lah...den Zhang fei go where!!!???:eek:

there shld be pang tong as he plays an integral part in chibi.. zhang fei wasn't there iirc...

[Plastick]

Interesting. As a RTK fan, will be looking forward to this :)

[chrisvin]

there shld be pang tong as he plays an integral part in chibi.. zhang fei wasn't there iirc...
Haha....guess Zheng Fei "fei" away.........

think maybe is becoz not a big star playing the role...so not credited....

[Feador]

wah lao eh.. no guan yu and zhang fei?

[xtrioxton]

got guan yu, saw from the trailer. and guan yu also play a bigg role, coz he going to free cao cao.

[zero_88]

got guan yu, saw from the trailer. and guan yu also play a bigg role, coz he going to free cao cao.

Guan Yu is very important in Chi bi...he chase Cao Cao...but decide to let Cao Cao go becuase he owe Cao Cao once....

He is a true hero.....

In the Wu camp, Zhou tai is also very important...hope he can make a appearance...:)

[Jerry007]

From twitchfilm.com:

A very low grade Chinese trailer released a little while back and while it was grainy as all hell it still managed to impress. Well, the Japanese have just released their own teaser for the film and it is in much higher resolution and features a healthy amount of fresh footage. Yes, kids, this thing is absolutely gorgeous and looks to be rather bloody to boot. Watch for the tip of the cap to Hard Boiled at the end. You’ll find links to both trailers below:

Japanese Teaser (http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1214128517/bctid1445146635)

Chinese Trailer (http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1214128517/bctid1398267037)

[spielberg]

I rather wait to hear how its reviews are. :)

[Jerry007]

Seems like John Woo's historical epic will be released as a two-parter. The release date of the first-part will be on July 10 in mainland China/TW/HK. Not sure abt local release date though.

[Jerry007]

Some character posters from the movie:

http://blog.affenheimtheater.de/wp-content/uploads/_poster_redcliff_1.jpg http://blog.affenheimtheater.de/wp-content/uploads/_poster_redcliff_2.jpg http://blog.affenheimtheater.de/wp-content/uploads/_poster_redcliff_3.jpg

[Jerry007]

http://blog.affenheimtheater.de/wp-content/uploads/_poster_redcliff_4.jpg http://blog.affenheimtheater.de/wp-content/uploads/_poster_redcliff_5.jpg http://blog.affenheimtheater.de/wp-content/uploads/_poster_redcliff_6.jpg

[Jerry007]

http://blog.affenheimtheater.de/wp-content/uploads/_poster_redcliff_7.jpg http://blog.affenheimtheater.de/wp-content/uploads/_poster_redcliff_8.jpg

[Jerry007]

Now that Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon disappoints, all hopes are on the bigger budgeted, bigger cast and better direction (hopefully) Battle of Red Cliffs to deliver the ultimate three kingdoms movie.

[spielberg]

http://blog.affenheimtheater.de/wp-content/uploads/_poster_redcliff_7.jpg http://blog.affenheimtheater.de/wp-content/uploads/_poster_redcliff_8.jpg

What happens to those imgs? :s11:

[Humster]

Guan Yu is very important in Chi bi...he chase Cao Cao...but decide to let Cao Cao go becuase he owe Cao Cao once....

He is a true hero.....

In the Wu camp, Zhou tai is also very important...hope he can make a appearance...:)

Thats the story. Actual history different case.

[spielberg]

Thats the story. Actual history different case.

Alas!, HK war movies fail to draw the audience...

[istarcon]

This show is gona be good. Especially for historical and epic lovers. Not to be missed!

[Jerry007]

This show is gona be good. Especially for historical and epic lovers. Not to be missed!

This has to be the definitive Three Kingdoms movie! I'm hoping that John Woo will not disappoint.

[Jerry007]

Movie opens locally on July 10!

Synopsis from gv.com.sg:

In 208 A.D., in the final days of the Han Dynasty, shrewd Prime Minster 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.

[Jerry007]

Here's the teaser poster!

http://img1.mtime.com/pi/d/2008/21/2008529203327.5651076.jpg

[Providence]

Zhou Yu was young and talented but he eventually lost to Zhuge Liang in intelligence and cunningness. :D

[xtrioxton]

However in real history zhugeliang never did or dare to trick zhou yu.

[Jerry007]

Here's the anticipated trailer (http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1214128517/bctid1599863855)!

[Jerry007]

Can't believe the movie is gonna open in 2 weeks. Counting down to July 10.

[xgwei]

showing next wk, cant wait! heard 1 of the stuntman died while filming...n john woo apparently use his salary to cover production costs, lets hope its really good.

[Jerry007]

Movie opening in 2 days time!

[Takechan]

my friend said if you play dynasty warriors you may know the part of the story between the characters well.. lol

[Krug]

movie definitely needed more fight scenes..

[Popcorngamer]

It's supposed to open tomorrow but apparently there's not many cinemas showing it. I'm only able to book Red Cliff on Tiong bahru cinema that's all. Anyone knows why?

[Krug]

I suspect it's rating issues. The MDA database shows that it's NC-16 but GV Tiong Bahru says PG. So which is it?

[Krug]

Ok tickets have rolled out. PG and 150 mins.

[Jerry007]

Wonder whether I should wait for GV to release the 2-parters together.

[xinng7]

Anyone watched it? It is up tp expectation?

I intend to watch it over the next few weeks. Not so many ppl by then.

[madangel]

watched red cliff... its nice.... but to be continued on sea battle......

[preakshox]

Wonder whether I should wait for GV to release the 2-parters together.

yea was reading that the asian release would be a 2 parter.
and the western release would be 2 compacted in 1. :s8:

[xinng7]

Part 2 is due Jan 2009.

I think Red Cliff is one of those which only selected movei goers will watch, those who like the history and such.

Dont think my gal frds will like to watch this, maybe those adore Takashi and Tony Leung will. haha...

I read the reviews at yday MyPaper and Hellboy has a higher rating than Red Cliff! haha...

And i tot Hellboy is senseless and just eye candy.

[TiOnGSquare]

i juz watched tis morning @ amk hub, giving it 4 out of 5!!! tortise formation YeAH!!!!

[SongLongZi]

disappointing....i read rotk novel..again its so different...since when kong ming and zhou yu are so friendly to 1another? and also training camp how the fug that kid and old man get in? takeshi is too young to act as kong ming...2/5 from me...

[Providence]

My senior colleague has just watched the movie and his first SMS to me was a very bad one. He cursed and swore at the movie. He never elaborated on the situation but he advised that the movie must be missed at all costs and save my money. :s13

He is a history buff and he studied the Three Kingdoms in the old days. :eek:

[waitforyou]

excellent movie, put history accuracy aside and enjoy the movie.

[yperic]

I be watching this tomorrow

[Phyber]

*This rant/review might contain spoilers so be forewarned :)

I've just watched this movie, and honestly although i cannot claim to have read the actual novel San Guo Zhi or San Guo Yan Yi fully, but i feel that John Woo has certainly make a very good film. He has done justice to the 3 Kingdoms story.

Red Cliff is a very good film compared to the unspeakable trash "Resurrection of the Dragon"

Sure, some classic scenes may not have been available (IE: Zhang Fei at Chang Ban, Liu Bei throwing Ah Dou) And some scenes just seem strange (Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang being very good friends, Sun Shang Xiang using Acupoint finger on horse .. wtf?)

What this film does i think humanizes the characters, made them more real then the popular legends that portray them.

My summary review:

Plot - Somewhat changed abit here and there, sometimes quite alot, but nothing as drastic as Resurrection of the Dragon. Overall it holds on very well.

Characters - Not to worry, none of the actors in this movie cheapend the character they are supposed to be portraying. Although some of them may not look like how we envision them (Eg: Guan Yu) You can tell that everyone did their job very well and you can see that everyone is very serious and can tell that they have really worked hard for it.

Music - This is the part where i feel lets down the film, sure there are some parts where the music seems standard granduer, but some just feels very out of place. Overall nothing very memorable and touching.

Basically, the overall feel of the movie for me is just right. Personally, I think die hard fans of the original novel will criticize and nitpick, but for fans like me who did not read the whole novel from end to end but do know the famous scenes will enjoy it.

Discard any doubts in your mind about if Red Cliff is as bad as Resurrection of the Dragon.
It is the BEST portrayal of Three Kingdoms on film so far. I absolutely highly recommend it.

Well done John Woo! Really looking forward to Part 2!

[Krug]

My senior colleague has just watched the movie and his first SMS to me was a very bad one. He cursed and swore at the movie. He never elaborated on the situation but he advised that the movie must be missed at all costs and save my money. :s13

He is a history buff and he studied the Three Kingdoms in the old days. :eek:

It's not meant to be historically accurate what. Would be quite a boring movie if it was frankly.

[wengchiat]

disappointing....i read rotk novel..again its so different...since when kong ming and zhou yu are so friendly to 1another? and also training camp how the fug that kid and old man get in? takeshi is too young to act as kong ming...2/5 from me...

it's been announced long ago tt the movie will be based on the historical account and not on the novel..

[Vincent_G]

I just watched this movie last night. And I LOVE IT. My next favorite Chinese movie after the latest "Curse of the Golden Flower". The cinematography is great, breathtaking scenes, great battle, and of course, good story line. Too dare to put this with LOTR, but a lot of comparison between the two. Forgive my by knowing the characters only through ROTK game, and a bit read up on wikipedia :(, so I can't judge the accuracy of the history. But, put it as movie aside, it's very enjoyable. The only complaint is the battle with the turtoile strategy, dragged too long.. Luckily it ended when I start to feel bored.

I felt that the first part is mostly to introduce the characters and background story, and prepare for the more to come in Part II. I am looking forward to it. hoof hoof..

[warr]

<< sorry, some spoiler>>.

I give it 3 of 5.

The beginning battle scenes are boring and too long, yet nobody gets a clue if you don't know the history. there is no any narrative of which battle it is either. Pure action flick. boring. After that, things get better.

Then comes the portrait of Zhou Yu. He is actually a small-minded man jealous of Ge Liang despite his knowledge and intelligence and military skills. But the movie showed nothing of it.

And for Kong Ming. Takeshi acted well, but still short of the charisma of Ming. I still felt someone else should have acted.

Zhao Wei. An extraneous role, just to cheer up the audience. unnecessary. Kind of BS.

The other Japanese actor is out of this world. Anyone who is Chinese can spot he is a Japanese. In the battling scenes of 8 Gua, his action is more Japanese Samurai. Can't believe they can't find a good actor for such a role.

Cao Cao, acted by Zhang Fengyi, at least talked some traditional Chinese phrase to give the audience the historic feeling. But similar things didn't come out of the mouths of Zhou Yu and Kong Ming, who are the main roles of the movie. Why the contrast? fault of the director or the latter 2 are shallow at Chinese phrases?

This twist is stupid: Cao Cao fought the war because of a woman. yah, right.

A lot of scenes cannot show the characters of Kong Ming and Zhou Yu well. It feels rather they just go through the motion.

And the pigeons, the love of John Woo in his every movie. haha.

I still feel John Woo made it a scenery and action fest, while he tried to put the characters in perspective, but short of digging deep to attract the audience in this aspect.

Battling scenes are good. Nature scenery is good. computer graphics has some holes, can spot the fake ones easily.

Good to watch, but not a must watch.

I think John Woo may think one movie may be too short for all the events, so he had to add some extra to make it 2 parts. To me, it is not historical, as they claimed, yet deviates from the novel. So it is more like John Woo's story of the Red Cliff.

[SongLongZi]

<< sorry, some spoiler>>.

I think John Woo may think one movie may be too short for all the events, so he had to add some extra to make it 2 parts. To me, it is not historical, as they claimed, yet deviates from the novel. So it is more like John Woo's story of the Red Cliff.





some scene are waste of time..




EG: horse giving birth.... i dunno to laugh or cry watching this scene...

[juzaguuy]

this movie make me wanna play the old game again!!

[WhyPayMore]

<< sorry, some spoiler>>.

Then comes the portrait of Zhou Yu. He is actually a small-minded man jealous of Ge Liang despite his knowledge and intelligence and military skills. But the movie showed nothing of it.



His name is Liang, Zhu Ge is his surname

[ultimatesg]

The late Leslie Cheung as Zhou Yu I think will be perfect.

Tony Leung as Zhu Ge Liang is better.

[k0sm0s]

i curse and swore at the ending for i wasnt expecting it

and i dun remember the land battle taking place in the book

they seriously used the wrong name for this movie.. because it's red cliff naturally i was expecting the sea battle, but, what the hell is this, does the land battle exist in the first place?

DO NOT WATCH. if you are looking forward to zhuge liang's collect arrow strategy and wind prediction.


and how come zhou yu and zhuge liang so friendly, it's supposed to be uneasy..

[batuuu]

John Woo has already said that the movie is based on the real historical events that happened and not the novelized version in ROTK. Zhou Yu as written in the San Guo Zhi (the real historical account of the 3K era) don't have any obvous rivalry with Zhuge Liang and is described as a gentleman.

[k0sm0s]

oo, but then cao cao in historical wasnt a tyrant right? the movie depicts him a tyrant similar to the novel.. like dunoe whether wan follow historical account or novel

[Jerry007]

Review is up at movieXclusive.com. Read it HERE (http://moviexclusive.com/review/redcliff/redcliff.htm).

[xtrioxton]

Seriously this show is a let down. Pace is slow, and zhuge liang acted by the wrong guy. Takero is too boyish to be kong ming. Furthermore, he doesnt show a smart aura around him. Lastly, i feel that tony leung should be the one acting as zhuge liang.

And a 3 three kingdom show that is not based on ROTK? U must be kidding, it was the ROTK that make three kingdom popular. People want to watch something that is much more unrealistic to escape from reality and to be entertained. But i dont see any flying arrows, and i didnt see any jealously....

[Alphidius]

I think there was a land battle in the book when the Wei army was retreating...
Historically, though, there were skirmishes on land before the naval battle but can't remember if it was in the book...
Anyway, the book version very nice leh...
Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang should be pitting wits against each other while being alied... Very nice when you can see two great minds preparing to outwit each other when the battle was over... There should have been lots of tension too, between both of them, as well as Shu and Wu...

Alas, I think I'll give this movie a skip since many of the elements I find nice about the book missing from this movie based on the comments... :(

[Silencer]

this movie is not based on the novel ROTK lar.
Its based on the actual historical fact
In history, Zhou Yu is not a petty fella
In fact the strategy of burning cao cao ships also doesn't come fr zhuge liang
John Woo "Red Cliff" is based on historical fact. tat y u nvr see zhuge liang argue w the "Wu" ministers when he go and meet "Sun Quan"as told in ROTK story etc

so those of u who think of ROTK stories when watching this movie is making a big mistake

[k0sm0s]

Seriously this show is a let down. Pace is slow, and zhuge liang acted by the wrong guy. Takero is too boyish to be kong ming. Furthermore, he doesnt show a smart aura around him. Lastly, i feel that tony leung should be the one acting as zhuge liang.

And a 3 three kingdom show that is not based on ROTK? U must be kidding, it was the ROTK that make three kingdom popular. People want to watch something that is much more unrealistic to escape from reality and to be entertained. But i dont see any flying arrows, and i didnt see any jealously....

yea agree esp bout zhu ge liang.. where is his calmness and his prediction abilities? he looks easy going n panicking.. seriously i feel this movie is not neccessary at all, the land battle is so minor compared to red cliff, they had to add elements like the ba gua zhen to make it look epic... (and ba gua zhen doesnt exist, zhuge liang only used it later in the novel, and it's a stone maze, not a troop formation)

and they got ally wif sun quan so early meh? as in historically did they ally with sun quan to fight this land battle? novel they only allied for the purpose of red cliff


this movie is not based on the novel ROTK lar.
Its based on the actual historical fact
In history, Zhou Yu is not a petty fella
In fact the strategy of burning cao cao ships also doesn't come fr zhuge liang
John Woo "Red Cliff" is based on historical fact. tat y u nvr see zhuge liang argue w the "Wu" ministers when he go and meet "Sun Quan"as told in ROTK story etc

so those of u who think of ROTK stories when watching this movie is making a big mistake

ya :( that's the reason i went to watch it in the first place, shd have watched hancock.. i don't usually watch generic chinese war movies

[Silencer]

yea agree esp bout zhu ge liang.. where is his calmness and his prediction abilities? he looks easy going n panicking.. seriously i feel this movie is not neccessary at all, the land battle is so minor compared to red cliff, they had to add elements like the ba gua zhen to make it look epic... (and ba gua zhen doesnt exist, zhuge liang only used it later in the novel, and it's a stone maze, not a troop formation)

and they got ally wif sun quan so early meh? as in historically did they ally with sun quan to fight this land battle? novel they only allied for the purpose of red cliff

this is where u re wrong again.
in history, zhuge liang don't have prediction abilities
and yes ba gua zhen appear very early in history
and yes the land battles exist
and yes Liu Bei ally Sun Quan to defend against Cao Cao, not only for the sole purpose of Red Cliff. cos if no ally w Sun Quan, Cao Cao will have finish Liu Bei off b4 he form the Shu kingdom

[Daemon81]

just caught the show..

felt that the show was 'alright'..

but maybe cos i know the 3 kingdom story from ROTK, felt that maybe it's much more interesting if the film could be done in the ROTK manner...

but then i think there will definitely be ppl that complains if it was done in ROTK to say that there's no originality and all..

so just take it as a story on its own and i think alot more ppl will appreciate the show..

guess the only minus point for this show, is really the 'sceneries' that he tries to potray, dun really understand the need for all that showcase of sceneries..

[Silencer]

juz to addon
there re a huge difference in ROTK story & the actual historical fact
take Red Cliff as example. In history
1. zhuge liang nvr go borrow "arrows" from cao cao using the 100 small ships fill w grass "草船借箭"

2. zhuge liang nvr setup altar to summon east wind
3. there is no such thing as cao cao ships kena chained up as in "连环计"
4. It was the General "Huang Gai" tat suggest using fire to defeat cao cao. Not Zhou Yu or Zhuge Liang who suggest it.


These re juz some of the differences between the ROTK story & historical fact in "Red Cliff". Si if John Woo follow history story, Part 2 u guys will not get to see all the things mention above
so when u watch this john woo's movie, throw away ROTK story. don't compare w it.

[k0sm0s]

this is where u re wrong again.
in history, zhuge liang don't have prediction abilities
and yes ba gua zhen appear very early in history
and yes the land battles exist
and yes Liu Bei ally Sun Quan to defend against Cao Cao, not only for the sole purpose of Red Cliff. cos if no ally w Sun Quan, Cao Cao will have finish Liu Bei off b4 he form the Shu kingdom



o ok... but i dun tink the formation was deployed for this land battle ba.. (and obviously not that fanciful though, but well it's a movie this is ok)

guess the only minus point for this show, is really the 'sceneries' that he tries to potray, dun really understand the need for all that showcase of sceneries..


the tiger hunting part and horse giving birth really took up some time >_>




juz to addon
there re a huge difference in ROTK story & the actual historical fact
take Red Cliff as example. In history
1. zhuge liang nvr go borrow "arrows" from cao cao using the 100 small ships fill w grass "草船借箭"

2. zhuge liang nvr setup altar to summon east wind
3. there is no such thing as cao cao ships kena chained up as in "连环计"
4. It was the General "Huang Gai" tat suggest using fire to defeat cao cao. Not Zhou Yu or Zhuge Liang who suggest it.


These re juz some of the differences between the ROTK story & historical fact in "Red Cliff". Si if John Woo follow history story, Part 2 u guys will not get to see all the things mention above

ya lo i tink like that dun really feel like watching part 2 liao.. i mean the reason some ppl watch red cliff is for these events...


o and finally, best ending screen ever

[valcee]

A bit disappointed with Red Cliff because of the following:

1.Sun ShangXiang is depicted to have a romantic interest in Zhuge Liang. In San Guo Zhi, there was no mention of this at all. In fact Sun married Liu Bei but ran off. Zhuge Liang married Huang Yueying, said to be hideous but smart. Also Sun is underdeveloped. There should have been more scenes of her in battle.

2. An allusion to Cao Cao going to war because of Xiao Qiao. That's fictional because Xiao Qiao or not, Cao Cao wanted power and WOULD still conquer State of Wu. Yes he lusted over women but the director inserted that line where "So my brother,Cao Cao, is going to war over a woman" just undermines Cao Cao, no matter how tyrannical he was.

3.Takeshi Kaneshiro playing Zhuge Liang. He's eye candy and looks so droolsome but he and Tony Leung should have swapped roles! Zhou Yu was depicted historically to be very much of a looker, not Zhuge. It's just awfully distracting to see a very handsome Zhuge Liang lol

4.Liu Bei is depicted to be this saintly guy who weaves shoes. Gimme a break please.If anyone who would weave shoes, it should be Zhao Yun.


I'm hoping more screentime will be given to Sun ShangXiang in Part 2. I'd like to see her r/s with Liu Bei develop.

[Shingoz]

3.Takeshi Kaneshiro playing Zhuge Liang. He's eye candy and looks so droolsome but he and Tony Leung should have swapped roles! Zhou Yu was depicted historically to be very much of a looker, not Zhuge. It's just awfully distracting to see a very handsome Zhuge Liang lol


I heard this was supposed to be so. But Tony rejected the role as Zhuge Liang because he got no time for this film.

He was brought in again later, hence given the role of Zhou Yu..forgotten where i read this news.

Side note: Maybe he came back after being offered the scene with Zhiling...lol...and no i havent caught the show yet.

[xtrioxton]

what really disturb me is that, john woo keep empahasis that the story is not on ROTK template but based on historical fact. The thing is this movie also not going on history fact, but a story written by john woo...

[Krug]

Of course RoTK is based on the history of the events as well. I mean ZhuGeLiang using magic? That won't sit well on a movie. I think Woo made some compromises to make the movie watchable, and obviously was inspired by Western epics such as Troy (XiaoQiao as Helen, for example, and all the waiting ships) but still felt a lot of it could be cut out; the tiger hunt and the horse birthing scene, for example, but guess LiChiling, who was horrid, needed the screen time.

[warr]

Review is up at movieXclusive.com. Read it HERE (http://moviexclusive.com/review/redcliff/redcliff.htm).

agree with the rating.

" However for the first part, it doesn’t really strike a strong chord with what it was trying to do (such as brotherhood and strategies) basically it gives a very weak start for the epic. "

[Daemon81]

4. It was the General "Huang Gai" tat suggest using fire to defeat cao cao. Not Zhou Yu or Zhuge Liang who suggest it.


oh, but i tot i saw tony setting fire on the miniature boats in the trailer.. maybe huang gai was by the side suggesting and tony merely set the fire?

anyway, i think dun have to be too concerned if the movie follows exactly to history or to ROTK bah.. jus enjoy the movie will do..

[k0sm0s]

but actually, i really think they could just skip the first battle in the first place... but then on a larger scale of things, if this is a 4 hours movie, that battle probably just served as a filler since chibi events haven't really started yet

[vasilli07]

Ok...watched the movie today...reviews on some of the characters and scenes...

Characters

1) Zhang Fei - Not imposing enough, eyes too small liao. Gives me a sleepy feeling.
2) Guan Yu - Complete failure, not stern enough
3) Gan Xing - Who the fark is he? I only know Gan Ning. And is he suppose to be a japanese pirate? Speaks with a japanese accent...:s13:
4) Xiahou Jun - Who the fark is he again? I only know Xiahou Dun.

Scenes

1) Isn't Zhao Yun suppose to fight off hundreds or thousands after he rescued a dou? I only see him fighting a few cats and dogs leh.
2) Isn't Cao Cao suppose to tell his men to capture Zhao Yun alive?
3) Isn't Zhang Fei suppose to shout his name and make the Cao army tremble?
4) How come Zhuge Liang can ride a horse? I thought he always travel in chariot.
5) During the ba gua formation battle, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei all fight like machiam in dynasty warriors. 1 against 100. Why never assign maybe 10-20 soldiers to them?
6) Lastly, why did Zhou Yu fight like he was possessed by Lu Bu? You will never see our army CO going to the front line like this. :s7:

I don't really know the historic part of it...if anyone know, hope u can tell me. Thanks.

[k0sm0s]

Ok...watched the movie today...reviews on some of the characters and scenes...

Characters

1) Zhang Fei - Not imposing enough, eyes too small liao. Gives me a sleepy feeling.
2) Guan Yu - Complete failure, not stern enough
3) Gan Xing - Who the fark is he? I only know Gan Ning. And is he suppose to be a japanese pirate? Speaks with a japanese accent...:s13:
4) Xiahou Jun - Who the fark is he again? I only know Xiahou Dun.

Scenes

1) Isn't Zhao Yun suppose to fight off hundreds or thousands after he rescued a dou? I only see him fighting a few cats and dogs leh.
2) Isn't Cao Cao suppose to tell his men to capture Zhao Yun alive?
3) Isn't Zhang Fei suppose to shout his name and make the Cao army tremble?
4) How come Zhuge Liang can ride a horse? I thought he always travel in chariot.
5) During the ba gua formation battle, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei all fight like machiam in dynasty warriors. 1 against 100. Why never assign maybe 10-20 soldiers to them?
6) Lastly, why did Zhou Yu fight like he was possessed by Lu Bu? You will never see our army CO going to the front line like this. :s7:

I don't really know the historic part of it...if anyone know, hope u can tell me. Thanks.



read the previous page, I thought the same thing as you, but they are all novel stuff so dun have


i thought guan yu was not fierce enuff.. his voice not deep enough.. zhang fei probably ok i i think..

[Alphidius]

I didn't watch the movie so correct me if I'm wrong but IIRC...
Historically, Liu Bei was fleeing away from Cao Cao who was hot on his tail...
So the starting parts with ah dou etc... small skirmishes are probably that.
It was later on upon advise by Zhuge Liang and team that alliance was formed with Wu and the setup for Chibi began...

[xgwei]

actually whatever version its based on, its still quite ok. why pinpoint over such little things.
if u want ROTK version, go play dyansty warriors 1-5....
but some unnecessary parts like the horse giving birth part.... took up too much time...
i think the battle scenes are well done. n the actors do quite fit their roles. if only part2 isnt so long a wait...

[Krug]

but actually, i really think they could just skip the first battle in the first place... but then on a larger scale of things, if this is a 4 hours movie, that battle probably just served as a filler since chibi events haven't really started yet

I think you'll see why in part 2, especially with what happened at the end of that battle with GuanYu.

[xgwei]

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t84/xgwei/redcliff.jpg

think this scene was omitted from our local version, apparently its a 90sec shot.... damn

[BenZ_80]

Gan Xing also acted as Lt. Ito in Letters From Iwo Jima.He's a a Jap,that explains his funny Mandarin.



And did I see Akane Souma for a few seconds(as Lin Zhi Ling's maid) in the show?

[xinng7]

I think the 'negative feedbacks' is due to most of us read ROTK first and thought that was what exactly happen. The historical version is much less 'interesting' due to.. erm.. becos its actual events. So the 'borrow arrows', 'summon winds' and 'fire strategy' by Kong Ming didnt really happen.

The r/s between Kong Ming and Zhou Yu is protrayed as one of jealousy in ROTK becos the author (Mao Zong Gang) favor Shu than Wu and Wei. Thats how we know more stuff about Lui Bei and his people than the rest. ROTK is more baised to Shu than the rest.

As mentioned by others, Zhou Yu is not what he is as protrayed in ROTK.

The looks of the characters we know are due to the games/TV/books that we know. Nobody really knows what they look like in real life as its more than 2000 yrs.

Lastly, I certainly dont agree that Cao Cao went to war for a woman!!

[Krusty]

history or not personally i like this movie a lot :)

[Jerry007]

From movieXclusive.com:

"Red Cliff" has beat "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" over the weekend in Singapore with accumulated box-office of S$1.03 million and still growing strong. "Red Cliff" has bowed in most parts of Asia including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea. Malaysia will open this thursday with Japan in November. Looks like John Woo can sleep in peace knowing that his $80 million production is likely to be recoup soon.

[xinng7]

I read in his interview and he said the distribution fees in Asia and Europe before he even start filming is more than enough to recoup his $80 million.

One of the main reason he decided to go ahead with the 2 parter. Got money can do. :P

[Tuakong]

i did not read ROTK so I quite enjoyed this movie.
However, am wondering why are Japanese actors in there and music score also composed by japanese. Is it becos Japan also funded the production?? I am sure there are capable actors and composers in China.

Anyway, just to nitpick...the score CMI cos it cant complement some of the scenes.
On the whole I think the score is a misfit.
Also after the fight scene with the baby...when the general handed the baby back to Liu Bei, one angle showed the baby's face/lips dirty but close-up of baby's face macham spotless.

I do agree that takeshi is wrongly casted. In fact, he shouldnt be in this movie.
A pity & a waste that Chow Yun Fatt opted out of this movie .........

I find the stupid pigeons irritating......enuf of JW's thumbprint in his movies.

[vasilli07]

Then who should chow yun fatt act as? Definitely not zhou yu coz he doesn't have a pretty face. Zhuge liang? Zhuge liang is suppose to be younger than zhou yu, so not zhuge liang either.

[upslorry]

I think the 'negative feedbacks' is due to most of us read ROTK first and thought that was what exactly happen. The historical version is much less 'interesting' due to.. erm.. becos its actual events. So the 'borrow arrows', 'summon winds' and 'fire strategy' by Kong Ming didnt really happen.

The r/s between Kong Ming and Zhou Yu is protrayed as one of jealousy in ROTK becos the author (Mao Zong Gang) favor Shu than Wu and Wei. Thats how we know more stuff about Lui Bei and his people than the rest. ROTK is more baised to Shu than the rest.

As mentioned by others, Zhou Yu is not what he is as protrayed in ROTK.

The looks of the characters we know are due to the games/TV/books that we know. Nobody really knows what they look like in real life as its more than 2000 yrs.

Lastly, I certainly dont agree that Cao Cao went to war for a woman!!

ROTK was written by LUO GUANG ZHONG
not Mao Zong Gang ...

Zhou Yu was not jealous of Zhuge Liang
in ROTK,
Zhou Yu wanted ZHuge Liang dead because he knew ZHuge Liang would be a threat to his kingdom of Wu in the future
He once asked ZHuge Liang whether he can serve Wu - even if it means ZHuge Liang would hold a higher position than himself, but Zhuge Liang refused
Thus ZHou Yu developed hatred for him
Zhuge Liang mentioned this scenario himself once later in the story to reveal ZHou Yu's character not being jealous.


As for the looks of the characters, they were being popularised by folklore artists and became more or less significant
so people wouldnt like their looks being changed in the movie

[upslorry]

this movie is not based on the novel ROTK lar.
Its based on the actual historical fact
In history, Zhou Yu is not a petty fella
In fact the strategy of burning cao cao ships also doesn't come fr zhuge liang
John Woo "Red Cliff" is based on historical fact. tat y u nvr see zhuge liang argue w the "Wu" ministers when he go and meet "Sun Quan"as told in ROTK story etc

so those of u who think of ROTK stories when watching this movie is making a big mistake

so then tell me, how is Zhou Yu's horse given birth, Zhuge Liang playing with pigeon, Sun Shang Xiang punching horse, and ZHou Yu vs Zhuge Liang in playing zither music being HISTORICAL ???

[CI]

ROTK was written by LUO GUANG ZHONG
not Mao Zong Gang whatsoever
...

IIRC, the popular version of ROTK we have today is written by Luo Guan Zhong, edited by Mao ZongGang a few centuries later.

[upslorry]

IIRC, the popular version of ROTK we have today is written by Luo Guan Zhong, edited by Mao ZongGang a few centuries later.

ummm... well i have no idea about this...
my ROTK book i have still has Luo Guan Zhong's name on the cover
about this Mao Zong Gang, maybe his name is on the inside as editor?
never heard about this name before
maybe he's a modern day editor of some kind

[xinng7]

Yup. My mistake.

ROTK is written by Luo Guan Zhong around 14th century.

Mao Zong Gang revised it in 17th century. I thought its the other way round! LOL..

[PC_Dreamer]

Caught the movie yesterday. Although I'm not a fan of ROTK, I dun quite like it. I felt that the flow and the build up was kinda bad, with chunks of irrelevance that could be put to better use. I dun mind if he changes and tells his own story, but at least make it better.

Also finds the logic of john woo in battlegrounds baffling. One whole battalion can ride and run into a formation while enjoying the scenery (of enemies surrounding them) without even attempting to fight. Hundreds of soldiers look on while one by one of their generals fought bare-handedly against dozens and dozens of enemies. Yar, he wants to show those generals can fight hundreds even without their weapons.....-_-||

All in all, with his budget, all-time story backing, and hype, it did not meet my expectations. It is mediocre at best. Kinda doubt I would spend money to finish this show (Part II)

[upslorry]

Caught the movie yesterday. Although I'm not a fan of ROTK, I dun quite like it. I felt that the flow and the build up was kinda bad, with chunks of irrelevance that could be put to better use. I dun mind if he changes and tells his own story, but at least make it better.

Also finds the logic of john woo in battlegrounds baffling. One whole battalion can ride and run into a formation while enjoying the scenery (of enemies surrounding them) without even attempting to fight. Hundreds of soldiers look on while one by one of their generals fought bare-handedly against dozens and dozens of enemies. Yar, he wants to show those generals can fight hundreds even without their weapons.....-_-||

All in all, with his budget, all-time story backing, and hype, it did not meet my expectations. It is mediocre at best. Kinda doubt I would spend money to finish this show (Part II)


people were telling me the movie was following HISTORICAL three Kingdoms
but the truth is they added lots of NON-HISTORICAL stuffs: Zhuge Liang
playing zither music with ZHou Yu, horse giving birth, Sun Quan hunting
tiger, Xiao Qiao talk loving stuffs with Zhou Yu, Sun Shang XIang punch
horse etc etc
all these made the movie pace slow and no sense of urgency at all
these scenarios were NON-HISTORICAL and they were only SELF-WRITTEN
stories. The amount of time showing these events could be put to better use

If they going to write their own stories, I RATHER THEY USE THE ROMANCE of
THree KIngdom Story which is anytime better than their self-written secondary
school standard story


and ya i wonder why the Cao Cao army so toot as to ride themselves
into the enemy trap formation when they could see with their own eyes IT
WAS THE ENEMY's FORMATION.

KNN the amount of money john woo spent making crap production could be
used to make a better trilogy of Romance of THree Kingdoms
John woo is really a lousy director, he didnt even catch the essence of three
kingdom story and he want to film it.

waste my money and time nevermind, but he defamed the Romance of
Three Kingdom story with his crap movie, this i cannot forgive him

:mad:

[Krug]

people were telling me the movie was following HISTORICAL three Kingdoms
but the truth is they added lots of NON-HISTORICAL stuffs: Zhuge Liang
playing zither music with ZHou Yu, horse giving birth, Sun Quan hunting
tiger, Xiao Qiao talk loving stuffs with Zhou Yu, Sun Shang XIang punch
horse etc etc
all these made the movie pace slow and no sense of urgency at all
these scenarios were NON-HISTORICAL and they were only SELF-WRITTEN
stories. The amount of time showing these events could be put to better use

If they going to write their own stories, I RATHER THEY USE THE ROMANCE of
THree KIngdom Story which is anytime better than their self-written secondary
school standard story


and ya i wonder why the Cao Cao army so toot as to ride themselves
into the enemy trap formation when they could see with their own eyes IT
WAS THE ENEMY's FORMATION.

KNN the amount of money john woo spent making crap production could be
used to make a better trilogy of Romance of THree Kingdoms
John woo is really a lousy director, he didnt even catch the essence of three
kingdom story and he want to film it.

waste my money and time nevermind, but he defamed the Romance of
Three Kingdom story with his crap movie, this i cannot forgive him

:mad:

huh he said it was not based on RoTK already. Simi defame? It was going to be his own interpretation and I think a movie based on RoTK would be quite boring.

Get a grip dude. It's only a movie. don't like, don't watch, move on. I don't think it was great but passable, and definitely better than The Warlords.

[upslorry]

huh he said it was not based on RoTK already. Simi defame? It was going to be his own interpretation and I think a movie based on RoTK would be quite boring.

Get a grip dude. It's only a movie. don't like, don't watch, move on. I don't think it was great but passable, and definitely better than The Warlords.

yeah it was not based on ROTK, but his interpretation of the story is total crap

"it was only a movie : dont like, dont watch??" dude, how can you know you
dont like it when you dont even watch it???

Warlords was in anyway better than this crap, where's your standard man
movie based on ROTK boring?? i think you never read ROTK before and have
no idea of how exciting it was.
it's not called "Classic" for nothing man

[Krug]

http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/6463/1/

"Cliff" claims $25 million weekend cume

[vasilli07]

people were telling me the movie was following HISTORICAL three Kingdoms
but the truth is they added lots of NON-HISTORICAL stuffs: Zhuge Liang
playing zither music with ZHou Yu, horse giving birth, Sun Quan hunting
tiger, Xiao Qiao talk loving stuffs with Zhou Yu, Sun Shang XIang punch
horse etc etc
all these made the movie pace slow and no sense of urgency at all
these scenarios were NON-HISTORICAL and they were only SELF-WRITTEN
stories. The amount of time showing these events could be put to better use

If they going to write their own stories, I RATHER THEY USE THE ROMANCE of
THree KIngdom Story which is anytime better than their self-written secondary
school standard story




nobody really knows what happened in between some scenes so john woo gonna add in some himself mah.

As a ROTK fan, i would say this show is a mix of historical and fiction. Maybe 60% - 70% history and 30% - 40% fiction? :s8:

[SongLongZi]

huh he said it was not based on RoTK already. Simi defame? It was going to be his own interpretation and I think a movie based on RoTK would be quite boring.

Get a grip dude. It's only a movie. don't like, don't watch, move on. I don't think it was great but passable, and definitely better than The Warlords.




ehhhh..imo..i think warlord is better..

[PC_Dreamer]

I dun care even if its 1% historical & 99% woo ficition, but its has to be good. From what I see, woo seemed to have lost direction and focus somewhere in the middle. It's almost like he shot random scenes with his key actors, without much concrete plans, and then later tried to piece all of them together in editing.

Warlords was way better imho.

[valcee]

Some person wrote a letter to Today complaining war scenes are too violent. URGH. Isn't Red Cliff a war film? What does she expect? To see Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang playing music only? Geez

[Krug]

Some person wrote a letter to Today complaining war scenes are too violent. URGH. Isn't Red Cliff a war film? What does she expect? To see Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang playing music only? Geez

unlike other recent martial arts films, there's actually *gasp* blood spurting and flying. how can? :s22:

[PC_Dreamer]

Some person wrote a letter to Today complaining war scenes are too violent. URGH. Isn't Red Cliff a war film? What does she expect? To see Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang playing music only? Geez


She's only there for takeshi and his pigeons. :D

[PC_Dreamer]

unlike other recent martial arts films, there's actually *gasp* blood spurting and flying. how can? :s22:


Martial arts and war movies 傻傻分不清楚

[Zeroplus1]

nice movie, a pity that caocao's generals wasn;t properly introduce...

i was expecting like the name appear on the screen whenever a new general(from either side) appear in the show.

[Shingoz]

Martial arts and war movies 傻傻分不清楚

Hahaha that's really funny! :s13:

[omnisilent]

yeah it was not based on ROTK, but his interpretation of the story is total crap

"it was only a movie : dont like, dont watch??" dude, how can you know you
dont like it when you dont even watch it???

Warlords was in anyway better than this crap, where's your standard man
movie based on ROTK boring?? i think you never read ROTK before and have
no idea of how exciting it was.
it's not called "Classic" for nothing man

oh chill...
imho, i find it ironic that u tried to find historical fact in a 2 hour movie.

Just suspend your judgment and watch it for the fun....
at least it as betta than Andy Lau's Zhao Zilong... they din only butcher up ROTK, they even butcher up my fav char. at least this version is more faithful and believable in terms of the chars.

i can accept the lapse in logic, like cao cao's army rushing into the formation, zhao yun, guan yu and zhang fei playing dynasty warriors, etc my only gripe is too LITTLE action... 2 hour movie with only 1/2 action... :( and wat wif the horse scene?

[chouchou]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/2681263079_8e97046279.jpg
Zhu ge

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/2681276797_e5cd82c1d0.jpg
liu bei

[xtrioxton]

damn i still miss the CCTV zhugeliang.

[chouchou]

damn i still miss the CCTV zhugeliang.

http://wiki.d-addicts.com/static/images/thumb/f/fe/250px-SGYY.jpg

[Zeroplus1]

most audience got fooled as they think the caocao attacked WU for XiaoQiao in the movie, THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT! No wonder cao's army believed that as well.

XiaoQiao is just like dessert while WU is the main course. But in order to have the dessert. you have to finish your main course first. The desire of caocao to have XiaoQiao demoralise his troops, therefore they can't see the need to beat WU as a move to get rid of "traitors".

[dreamer75]

Tang Guo Qiang as Zhuge Kongming!

[secret_boy]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/2681276797_e5cd82c1d0.jpg
liu bei

the one in the 4th pic is not liu bei lor......it is guan yu......the one acted liu bei should be luo jia ying......not tis one....

[chengsun]

IMHO, John Woo's Red Cliff is here to capture the westerners and the younger generations who are not familiar or totally have no idea about ROTK, or the actual China history of that era (ROTK is fiction based on history but not history itself, lots of twist and turn as well). This is a commercial movie to create to "feel-good" factor among the target audiences so that they will return for the 2nd part, which may be more serious, and heavy. I do not think John Woo is lost or he is lousy. I believe he CHOSE to film it this way after he confirmed which group of target audiences he wants. Seriously, how many youth nowadays know about San Guo history? Read the Chinese version of ROTK before? Or watch the CCTV version of ROTK series (I love that one!)? Even kids, youths in China nowadays are rather ignorant about history of their own country. So John Woo chose to adapt the modern way of interpretation, like the scripts, the jokes, the "unnecessary" stuffs, those are easier for that group of target audiences to digest. He wants US dollars from this movie I think, as for China market, he used many PRC actors, like Zhao Wei, Hu Jun, Zhang Fengyi, even if the PRCs don't agree on the storyline, the stars can pull them into cinema, and the China youths definitely don't mind. Nakamura Shido is there so that the movie has a Japan link to break into Japan market (his charactor is fake one). Zhao Yun was initially to be acted by a Korean actor, star (for the same purpose I guess). However, due to China's objection (traditional, national, or historical hero cannot be acted by foreigner, must be Chinese themselves), so there is Hu Jun. This is a commercial movie, I can only say that, so no point arguing why added so many stuffs, blah blah blah. All because of moneys, box office. To me, this is a clever move by John Woo. Because if he filmed a strongly HISTORICAL based war movie, it is very difficult to him to surpass the CCTV classic, and it doesn't guarantee him more box moneys as well, then he will be in trouble.

I take it as a comedy, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were there to make people laugh. It is more interesting than Warlords, but for war and fighting scenes, Warlords is much much better.

To hell with cencorship board, why cut away the 1 minute LZL scene? KNN.

I do agree that the war scene of Ba Gua Zhen is stupid, illogical. It looks like "I need a war scene in the 1st part", so purposely created one, and a stupid one there. Do you guys find that, the part where Cao Cao's army was surrounded in the Ba Gua formation, they formed a round formation to fight back and it worked for a while. The round formation look very very "similar" to the one in "300", where the Spartans formed to fight the Persians......

[odyas]

Nakamura Shido is there so that the movie has a Japan link to break into Japan market (his charactor is fake one).......

Ehh ROTK does have Gan Ning this character leh.......

[upslorry]

Ehh ROTK does have Gan Ning this character leh.......

but in the movie, he was called Gan Xing, which there was no such character leh
original name was Gan Ning, and like what the movie said, he was a pirate

so why change the name? John woo and his crap again!

[upslorry]

IMHO, John Woo's Red Cliff is here to capture the westerners and the younger generations who are not familiar or totally have no idea about ROTK, or the actual China history of that era (ROTK is fiction based on history but not history itself, lots of twist and turn as well). This is a commercial movie to create to "feel-good" factor among the target audiences so that they will return for the 2nd part, which may be more serious, and heavy. I do not think John Woo is lost or he is lousy. I believe he CHOSE to film it this way after he confirmed which group of target audiences he wants. Seriously, how many youth nowadays know about San Guo history? Read the Chinese version of ROTK before? Or watch the CCTV version of ROTK series (I love that one!)? Even kids, youths in China nowadays are rather ignorant about history of their own country. So John Woo chose to adapt the modern way of interpretation, like the scripts, the jokes, the "unnecessary" stuffs, those are easier for that group of target audiences to digest. He wants US dollars from this movie I think, as for China market, he used many PRC actors, like Zhao Wei, Hu Jun, Zhang Fengyi, even if the PRCs don't agree on the storyline, the stars can pull them into cinema, and the China youths definitely don't mind. Nakamura Shido is there so that the movie has a Japan link to break into Japan market (his charactor is fake one). Zhao Yun was initially to be acted by a Korean actor, star (for the same purpose I guess). However, due to China's objection (traditional, national, or historical hero cannot be acted by foreigner, must be Chinese themselves), so there is Hu Jun. This is a commercial movie, I can only say that, so no point arguing why added so many stuffs, blah blah blah. All because of moneys, box office. To me, this is a clever move by John Woo. Because if he filmed a strongly HISTORICAL based war movie, it is very difficult to him to surpass the CCTV classic, and it doesn't guarantee him more box moneys as well, then he will be in trouble.

I take it as a comedy, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were there to make people laugh. It is more interesting than Warlords, but for war and fighting scenes, Warlords is much much better.

To hell with cencorship board, why cut away the 1 minute LZL scene? KNN.

I do agree that the war scene of Ba Gua Zhen is stupid, illogical. It looks like "I need a war scene in the 1st part", so purposely created one, and a stupid one there. Do you guys find that, the part where Cao Cao's army was surrounded in the Ba Gua formation, they formed a round formation to fight back and it worked for a while. The round formation look very very "similar" to the one in "300", where the Spartans formed to fight the Persians......


this movie may score high marks from Westerners, teenagers and casual audiences.
but it is an epic fail for hardcores, historians, novelists and fans.
i choose the later.

what makes a movie great is not how much money it makes but how captivating it is.
usually the two goes hand in hand, so dont be so sure that it can earn big bucks yet,
considering the fact that more than half the audiences are complaining about how
this show sucks bad in story and characters.

perhaps after you have read and familiarized yourself with the superb storyline of
ROTK then you will ditch John Woo and his nonsense.
but for now, your opinion is yours to keep.

[xtrioxton]

This show is long and boring, and the show most anticipate red cliff battle was not there, and surpriseing we got a "land battle". The so call ba kua zhen is exggerate and dont look real at all. The people can simply charge in without looking at the back where the shield close. And whatsupp with the heroes fighting 1 out of a few dosens. You can see tat when the hero is fighting a few soldiers, the rest was standing behind doing nothing; WTF!

And before those people that complain that this show isnt a ROTK and is a movie of real history. Then tell me WTF with cao cao fight for red cliff just over a woman. And why we have huo tuo since real history, huo tuo also dont exist at that period of time.

Moving towards the actors: Cao Cao- was he a person that only know how to laugh, the whole show depict him as a weaklings, and laugh unnecessary. Do not have the "Ba Qi".
Zhuge liang- One word "****", takero really not suitable as zhuge liang. He doesnt have the intellectual look, anf for the whole show i know he trying his best to look like a intellect E.g. trying to swing his fan while closing his eyes.
zhou yu- Ok la, still not so bad.
Other supporting characters: guan yu- the actor that act him; was he a sissy?

My last word: a joke that can make you laugh, is simply a low class joke. While a joke that only the characters laugh, will be a high class joke.

[wengchiat]

This show is long and boring, and the show most anticipate red cliff battle was not there, and surpriseing we got a "land battle". The so call ba kua zhen is exggerate and dont look real at all. The people can simply charge in without looking at the back where the shield close. And whatsupp with the heroes fighting 1 out of a few dosens. You can see tat when the hero is fighting a few soldiers, the rest was standing behind doing nothing; WTF!

And before those people that complain that this show isnt a ROTK and is a movie of real history. Then tell me WTF with cao cao fight for red cliff just over a woman. And why we have huo tuo since real history, huo tuo also dont exist at that period of time.

Moving towards the actors: Cao Cao- was he a person that only know how to laugh, the whole show depict him as a weaklings, and laugh unnecessary. Do not have the "Ba Qi".
Zhuge liang- One word "****", takero really not suitable as zhuge liang. He doesnt have the intellectual look, anf for the whole show i know he trying his best to look like a intellect E.g. trying to swing his fan while closing his eyes.
zhou yu- Ok la, still not so bad.
Other supporting characters: guan yu- the actor that act him; was he a sissy?

My last word: a joke that can make you laugh, is simply a low class joke. While a joke that only the characters laugh, will be a high class joke.

one point you're wrong: hua tuo exists in that period and he served caocao as a physician before he got killed by him.

[stingray21]

T

And before those people that complain that this show isnt a ROTK and is a movie of real history. Then tell me WTF with cao cao fight for red cliff just over a woman. And why we have huo tuo since real history, huo tuo also dont exist at that period of time.



Know your history b4 u post next time. Hua tuo did exist during that period and he was killed by Caocao when he tries to 'open' his head to cure his headache.

[chengsun]

this movie may score high marks from Westerners, teenagers and casual audiences.
but it is an epic fail for hardcores, historians, novelists and fans.
i choose the later.

what makes a movie great is not how much money it makes but how captivating it is.
usually the two goes hand in hand, so dont be so sure that it can earn big bucks yet,
considering the fact that more than half the audiences are complaining about how
this show sucks bad in story and characters.

perhaps after you have read and familiarized yourself with the superb storyline of
ROTK then you will ditch John Woo and his nonsense.
but for now, your opinion is yours to keep.
I have been reading ROTK since young， 赤壁赋 and 短歌行 are no stranger to me as well. ROTK does not follow totally the actual history as well.

I choose to view this movie from the other angle, instead of keep insisting it must die die follow the history. I am fine with the toying with history part, but the battle, solo-show are poor indeed.

[xtrioxton]

Know your history b4 u post next time. Hua tuo did exist during that period and he was killed by Caocao when he tries to 'open' his head to cure his headache.


dont try to bull with me, real your chinese history before you try to debate about that. Huo tuo existance in that period of time is questionable. It appear that he die before 3 kingdoms.

[vasilli07]

dont try to bull with me, real your chinese history before you try to debate about that. Huo tuo existance in that period of time is questionable. It appear that he die before 3 kingdoms.

ya...hua tuo existence during tat time is questionable.

http://kongming.net/novel/sgz/huatuo.php#rb

'most historians would agree, that traditionally Hua Tuo died in the year AD 207'

[ah_cheng1882]

why r u guys quarreling over a history show, when none of u can actually verify anything?

[stingray21]

ya...hua tuo existence during tat time is questionable.

http://kongming.net/novel/sgz/huatuo.php#rb

'most historians would agree, that traditionally Hua Tuo died in the year AD 207'


Did u really read the whole article b4 u comment ? "Cao Cao] answered back, “Don’t worry, you think there are no other rats like him All under Heaven?” Hua Tuo was then sentenced to death."

[vasilli07]

Did u really read the whole article b4 u comment ? "Cao Cao] answered back, “Don’t worry, you think there are no other rats like him All under Heaven?” Hua Tuo was then sentenced to death."

Did you read the part earlier? I am referring to the cause of his death.

Anyway...another article on hua tuo birth and death...

http://www.chinese-family.com/newshtml/news_297.html

Hua tuo did exist during that period and he was killed by Caocao when he tries to 'open' his head to cure his headache.

Hua Tuo was away from home for a long time and desired to return home. Telling Cao Cao, “I have received a letter from home, I wish to return temporarily.” Upon returning home, Hua Tuo delayed his return based on his wife’s sickness. Several extensions were added to his leave yet he did not return. [Cao Cao] wrote letters calling for his return. He even dispatched an imperial decree to the local authorities to send Hua Tuo back. Hua Tuo found it distasteful waiting on others for a living, he was proud of his abilities. So he delayed his departure back to Cao Cao. [Cao Cao] in his anger dispatched men to investigate. If indeed his wife was ill, he would bestowed upon them forty bushels of ‘xiao dou’ and be lenient on his return date. If it was false excuse in delaying return, then Hua Tuo was to be apprehended and brought back. Hua Tuo was then thrown in prison, confessing his fault.

I didn't see anything saying tat he died becoz he tried to open cao cao head. That's in romance of 3 kingdoms novel. :o

[Keo_86]

when the 2nd part of the moive coming out????

[Deimos]

This show is long and boring, and the show most anticipate red cliff battle was not there, and surpriseing we got a "land battle". .



:s13: did u not know there is a PART 2 ?

maybe u can DEBATE that PART1 should have some cliff battle but who knows maybe some of u all expectation so high, see abit not like it dun watch part 2 :s16:

so put all the red cliff battle in part 2 is a sensible move

(ps in fact there is a mini scene.... zhou you set fire to the cao cao fleet ... near the end of the movie... very exciting)

[Zeroplus1]

I have been reading ROTK since young， 赤壁赋 and 短歌行 are no stranger to me as well. ROTK does not follow totally the actual history as well.

I choose to view this movie from the other angle, instead of keep insisting it must die die follow the history. I am fine with the toying with history part, but the battle, solo-show are poor indeed.

the solo-show part has been Americanized also, they love one man army chionging a whole battalion what....:s13:

[Deimos]

Aiya the director wants to showcase the "power" of the legendary 4

if they dun do it this way, no one will know who the 4 is (u know lah current general generation chinese history very poor de)

albeit he over did it , and now not many approved of it

sometimes I buay tahan a lot of us here as if any movie was made solely for their OWN consumption

bear in mind if the director wants the movie to sell, he has to satisfy what MAJORITY of the moviegoers will like to see.

when offering a review , it is not very fair to say the movie suck becos it fails to deliver what u like to see

maybe should try this approach : think of why and what the director wants to show us, if he shows it with skill and tact then for me I say we should give him a fair review

[odyas]

My reviews of the show:
The cast I feel was miscasted.
Takeshi tried too hard, but he just cannot potray that calm and deep Zhuge Liang.
Zhou Yu was ... what can i say, Tony is good in whatever role he's in.
Sun Quan was ok, can see Zhang Zheng protraying his dilenma well.
Sun Shang Xiang, what the hell is she doing there? Lol. I love Zhao Wei, I guess she did ok, but don't know why she's there though.
Cao Cao is fine, but I think Chen Dao Ming (The Qin Emperor in Hero) will be better than Zhang Feng Shen, or Qian Ye Zhen Yi (Xiong Ba) from The Storm Raiders
Liu Bei....looks like Liu Bei indeed.
Zhao Yun, Hu Jun is good, but not suitable in this role. Andy Lau also not suitable. Probably someone younger and know martial arts like Wu Jin is better. Zhao Yun is supposed to be young, look quite yandao and good in martial arts.
Guan Yu.... Duh...... I feel abit mixed, his face not red enough, eyes don't have that phoenix eyes, but his built is quite suitable, his expression in battle is also not too bad. In hind sight, i think Di Long did a better job.
Zhang Fei, the most lookalike character, lol.

Cons.
Most of the time, the extras doesn't seems to know what they are doing. Feeling lost and their eyes are swaying alot. They are so bad that it makes the entire show looks like a show, and not something real. For good extras, look at Brave heart, the same group of hundreds over extras are so damn good that they are subsequently reused by Spielberg for Saving Pte Ryan.

The solo fight scene, abit too much liao, once a while is ok, but why so much and so detailed?

The Zhao Yun saving Ah Dou and fighting his way back on the other hand should be more. It looks like he is only fighting 10's or 15's army, look at the background, you don't get to see and feel that kind of epic war scale that makes him so famous then.

The Ba Gua Zheng, looks good on the grander scale, but when zoom in, again, spoils by the extras whom doesn't seems to know what they are doing or supposed to do. They don't even behave like they are in a war.

Pros
CG is acceptable, not too bad to be honest, could be alot worst. Despite the cons, it is still pretty entertaining as hell, look past the history, it is just a show, to kill time and to entertain, it is not a god damn documentary.

The production can see that is very serious and really epic, a production value can be seen in a war movie most of the time by what they wear, shabby or not, lol.

Verdict
Go watch it.

3/5 stars

[dreamer75]

Nothing exotic on the censored 30 sec sex scene mah. i wonder why sg censorship board cut it away. :o

[denntit]

There is only one word to describe this movie: epic. At a budget of more than US 80 million, this is definitely a production worth lots of expenses. And one can see that through the grand sets and beautiful scenery, thousands of workers including extras, the costumes designed to fine details and of course a stellar cast, including the charismatic Tony Leung(who just finished filming "Lust, Caution" before this movie) and the heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro.

To me the best part is definitely the tightly choreographed "war formation scene" where the camera crew score perfect marks for its cinematography. In fact, I do not feel that restless 150 minutes later. It's like a National Day parade with a totally devoted team of performers but nothing really emotional came out of it.

My Rating: B+

[acemundo]

I just watched it yesterday. Nice movie. Googled and found a blog also talking about it

http://fengshuiforward.com/page/2/

[Jerry007]

From movieXclusive.com

Scorpio East is pleased to announce the release of "Red Cliff" DVD & VCD, the John Woo's blockbuster based on the Three Kingdoms. This NC-16 version will also see some scenes of intimacy aka 'the juicy parts which were cut from the theatrical version'. Red Cliff is now released in Chinese Dialogue with Chinese and English subtitles.

I juz saw the DVD at Sembawang Music Centre. There are no extra features watsoever. In other words, it's a bare-bones edition. Also no indication of any DD5.1 or DTS soundtrack. Looks like another subpar release from Scorpio East (wat's new). Would wait patiently for the HK release.

[secret_boy]

i bought the dvd from TS.....den i play it found out tat the quality is as same as vcd.....cannot change the audio & subtitle...some more the chi & eng subtitle is already there....juz like tat vcd....

anybody who has bought oso like tat???

[Jerry007]

i bought the dvd from TS.....den i play it found out tat the quality is as same as vcd.....cannot change the audio & subtitle...some more the chi & eng subtitle is already there....juz like tat vcd....

anybody who has bought oso like tat???

I have been boycotting Scorpio East coz of the lousy-quality DVDs. Cheap production but prioce almost the same as the superior-quality DVDs from HK. They should learn from the HK distributors on the disc quality and packaging.

[secret_boy]

wah...den sian lor.....does many of the dvds from scorpio east quality oso like tis??

[Jerry007]

The HK R3 DVD will be released on Sept 10! This is definitely the better version as compared to our local DVD release by Scorpio East. Note that there will also be a blu-ray release.

http://revamp.dddhouse.com/cms/images/products/Red%20Cliff%20MADVD5026.jpg

DVD Subtitles : Tradit, Simpl Chinese, English
DVD Audio : dts 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1
DVD Region/Format : All Code, NTSC, 16:9
Language : Mandarin
Rating/Genres : War, Action, Drama
Distributed by : Mei Ah
Release Date : 10-09-2008
Pre-Order Price : HK$142/US$18.21
Description :
2 DVD (DVD-9+DVD-5)
Running time 140 minutes

DVD Special Features :
Movie Trailer
Director and Star interview
Hong Kong press conference
Hong Kong Open Day
Photo Gallery
Synopsis
Character introduction

[feitonglong]

time to visit yesasia.com ;p

[Jerry007]

Red Cliff 2 will open on Jan 9!

http://media.gv.com.sg/imagesresize/img2656.jpg

[secret_boy]

finally red cliff 2 coming liao!!!!!!!

[katoboy]

Red Cliff 2 will open on Jan 9!

http://media.gv.com.sg/imagesresize/img2656.jpg After watching the The Red Cliff 1 I rate 4.5 stars out of 5 stars , The Red Cliff 2 definitely MUST WATCH :flash:

[Jerry007]

After watching the The Red Cliff 1 I rate 4.5 stars out of 5 stars , The Red Cliff 2 definitely MUST WATCH :flash:

I was a bit disappointed with Red Cliff 1. Felt that some scenes were really redundant or overly dependent on CG. However, I was thrilled by the strategies and tactics used by Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang to defeat the enemy. On the whole, din match John Woo's directorial masterpieces in the past.

[kumokumo]

Watching red cliff is like playing dynasty warriors. 1 hero chiong the whole army.

[Jerry007]

Check out the review of Red Cliff 2 below.

From twitchfilm.net:

After a rather helpful and stylishly executed recap of the events of part one, we are thrown immediately back into the thick of the action, or rather, into the middle of a game of football. Cao Cao’s troops are killing time with a little competitive Cuju as they wait for the real battle of Red Cliff to kick off. While Sun Quan (Chang Chen) and his coalition forces formulate their plan of action across the bay, his sister, the plucky Shang Xiang (Zhao Wei) is seen masquerading as an enemy soldier, intermittently sending updates to Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) via carrier pigeon of the state of the enemy’s superior forces. And the news is encouraging. A typhoid epidemic is sweeping through the camp yielding heavy casualties. While some of the allied generals see this as an opportune moment to strike, noble Zhou Yu (Tony Leung) sees this as a dishonourable tactic. It is not beneath Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) to use this viral outbreak to his advantage and loads his infected dead onto rafts and sends them over to his enemies’ camp. This act of germ warfare has a crippling effect on the already far weaker coalition, and causes a number of the generals to pull their troops out and head for home.

Both sides are drawn into a tactical battle of wits, reluctant to mount a full scale assault while their forces are so ravaged by illness. Cao Cao sends an old student friend of Zhou Yu’s, to persuade him into surrendering. His wife Xiao Qiao (Lin Chi Ling) meanwhile, believes her perfected tea ceremony skills may have diplomatic skills and is prepared to go to unparalleled lengths to prove her point. Zhou Yu is only too aware of Cao Cao’s reputation for wooing his enemies’ wives and has no intention of letting Xiao Qiao out of his sight. Zhuge, meanwhile, applies his tactical expertise and almost godlike understanding of meteorology to not only sap vital ammunition from the Han troops, but also facilitate a devious plot to spread paranoia and distrust through the enemy camp.

To say that John Woo has delivered on the promise of Red Cliff part one is to understate the obvious. This second half is a master class in ratcheting up tension, before unleashing a furious fireball of a finale. The battle sequences are expertly handled, showcasing an epic spectacle, while remembering to hone in on the plethora of individuals Woo has spent the last 4+ hours establishing. Everyone is given their moment in the sun, from Nakamura Shido’s grenade testing to Zhao Wei’s, quite literal, big reveal.

There are moments of exuberant bombast which verge on the ridiculous – a stirring speech by Cao Cao seemingly curing typhoid for one – but fans of John Woo will find many of his usual signature themes and devices in attendance. An abundance of white doves throughout, borderline homoerotic declarations of loyalty, brotherhood and mutual admiration (Takeshi and Tony even get to reprise their guzheng duet) and a climactic five-way standoff that would make Tarantino go weak at the knees.

Zhang Fengyi makes Cao Cao a complex and charismatic villain, more than simply a power-hungry politician whose motives can be easily swept aside. Takeshi Kaneshiro is in his element, wrapping his silken tongue around Zhuge’s poetic musings and meditations, and Tony Leung is dependable as ever as the unflappable Zhou Yu. The real revelation in part two is Lin Chi-Ling, who easily eschews those early fears that she may not be robust enough to carry the part of Xiao Qiao – the trophy wife with a lot more gumption than her mantra of “make tea not war” conveys.

Sadly, Chang Chen is again criminally underused, arguably given even less to do this time round than in part one, but the film’s biggest crime is the sidelining of Hu Jun as Zhao Yun. Admittedly his character is “injured” for much of this second half, but the image of him in battle, baby wrapped tightly to his back in a wonderful homage to Hard Boiled, remains one of Red Cliff’s enduring images. He manages to briefly claw his way on screen during the big finale but it was shame after his iconic role in the preceding film.

The criticisms, however, are far outweighed by the praise. Red Cliff achieves where other recent Chinese epics have failed – less melodramatic than The Warlords, more exciting than Battle of Wits - staging grandiose battle sequences that are coherent and genuinely exciting while simultaneously developing numerous characters beyond simply their job description. John Woo should have his passport confiscated immediately and never be allowed to leave Hong Kong again, Red Cliff is undeniable proof that the man can still rock our world, but really should work from home.

Review by James Marsh

[Da_Face]

It's been a six month wait for the second and final half to John Woo's magnum opus Red Cliff, and for those familiar with the classic but have not watched the first installment, the director doesn't waste time in bringing you up to speed with an excellent summary, so much so that the transitional technique used was carried over to the main movie proper. And for those who complained about the pigeon soaring over the sky overseeing a football game at the Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) camp, there're perfect explanations for those too.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/red-cliff-ii-chi-bi-xia-jue-zhan-tian.html

[lionelfoo]

woot.... jus watched it at PS.... beware.... 2 hrs 30 mins....

[wengchiat]

As a fan of the novel, this movie is disappointing in the sense that it strayed alot from the actual story.

But as just a movie fan, i think the movie is quite good and deserves more than 3/5.

Maybe if John Woo stuck to the storyline more strictly, the movie won't be as nice as it is being portrayed currently.

Abit disappointed with the huge amount of airtime given to Sun Shangxiang and Xiaoqiao because they have no place or part in the actual battle.

[Icycoolz]

Just watched red cliff 2, i would say that i agree with the previous post, it pretty disappointing. The Plot itself is not very interesting, and somehow get really unrealistic. When at one point, it is said that xiao qiao is the one that make Cao Cao lose the war. The characters are also getting imbalance exposure. And the battle of red cliff(land battle) itself is very long and tedious, i really get very bored at the last 30mins. However i must give credits to the visual effects. Some scenes are really quite engaging, one of them is zhuge liang borrowing arrow, and the red cliff's sea battle.

Character review:
zhou yu: His character is always moody, emo, coolness and i get bored to see this zhou yu. And why does this movie revolve around zhou yu so much to the point that he is the only main character in the show.
Zhuge Liang: His role only appear at the first half of the movie, so takero fans don't be too excited. Anyway, besides the borrowing arrow scene, he doesn't have much to show.
CaoCao: He can keep talk until like he like he have nothing much to do. And when the real war come out, he was stone and just stand there with no further commands for his soldiers.
Sun SHang xing & xiao qiao: WTF why do they get such a big role, this two woman really spoil my mood in watching red cliff. Espically the last [part when SUn shang xing hug her dead "boyfriend". Tell me when on earth does this ever happen in real history or even ROTK.

My final score for this movie:3/5

[CI]

On hindsight, I didn't like the first part very much. Too draggy.

I went in with another mindset today. Throw out all the history and novel. Forget about all the details from those. Watch the show as a movie in its own right. I found myself enjoying the second part much more.

Now some comments (with spoilers):










- Apart from Kong Ming, all of Shu was regulated to being the sideshow. The plot focus is on Wu and Cao Cao. I'm alright with it since the novel focuses around Shu, so this is a new variation.

- In a similar way, this show re-weights the representation of sexes (to appeal to both genders of the audience demographics?) instead of overwhelmingly being male dominated in the novel.

- The assault on Cao Cao's naval fort is the Asian version of Omaha beach landing. Guns and mortars replaced by arrows and catapults. Instead of MGs, you have repeating crossbows. Fiery and bloody. :love:

- Gan Xing's blowing up the fortress walls reminds of how the Urak-hai blew the walls of Helm's Deep in LOTR.

- I like the part on how Cai Mao's pincer tactic became Cao Cao's Achilles heel when Wu's fleet sails between the two columns of burning ships right up to the former's front gates.

- Zhao Yun is godlike. Apart from the dirt, he seems to be untouchable and incapable of being wounded.

- The message at the end is anti-war and a bit cliche. Why does the surviving villain always have to end up with messed up hair... =:p

- and oh yes, the two deaths in the show doesn't evoke any emotional response. The way the scene proceeds just before their demise screams of death. Might have work in the past, but had been overused by now.

:)

[stone11]

anyone can explain the part where zhou yu's friend came and ask him to surrender? and is it zhou yu who write the letter?

[Jerry007]

Here's the review from movieXclusive.com (http://moviexclusive.com/review/redcliffii/redcliffii.htm).

[xgwei]

well i feel its still pretty entertaining to watch. though any1 watching must really throw your history book away.
guess theres a need to have some subplot for xiao qiao and zhao wei, since both actress are quite high profile.
the battle scenes are damn nice. so much more grand n exciting than warlords. n the last scene, so typical of john woo, having all the good n bad guys pointing swords and arrows at each other.
nice!

[AndyS]

although we all know that many many lives are lost during the 3 Kingdoms... but seeing it all on the big screen(i've watched it at GV Grand) is really very saddening...

Precious human lives are so very worthless in turbulent times like these...
( i really wonder any of you feel anything for all the senseless, massive killings, and deaths on-screen )

The Three Kingdoms period is one of the bloodiest in Chinese history. A population census in late Eastern Han Dynasty reported a population of approximately 50 million.
The later part of this period was marked by the collapse of the tripartite situation: first the destruction of Shu by Wei (263), then the overthrow of Wei by the Jin Dynasty (265), and the destruction of Wu by Jin (280). By then the population census was only 16 million.

SO MANY LIVES WERE LOST... (no wonder the Japanese see us Chinese race as SAVAGE, and using this excuse to wipe off their WWII crimes and deemed themselves as saviours to the world by exterminating the chinese race)
although we chinese are the MOST self-destructive on our own race, MOST un-united, UNLIKE the malays and indians(look at ourselves, around us, aren't we?)... don't we feel anything at all???

But still, summary... this film make us proud to be chinese because ON-SCREEN (with lesser CG effects than Lord of the Rings, etc,), the Chinese film industries can produce a film of such magnitude(battle scenes)

[MauL]

watch it last nite. struggled to stay awake fro the 1st 1.5hr then slp (on & off ) thru the last 1 hr of the show..

fans of the original series shld stay away from this, as i find it quite a torture to watch.. shld haf watch ong bak 2 instead...

[Icycoolz]

watch it last nite. struggled to stay awake fro the 1st 1.5hr then slp (on & off ) thru the last 1 hr of the show..

fans of the original series shld stay away from this, as i find it quite a torture to watch.. shld haf watch ong bak 2 instead...


and the part when zhuge liang try to fan the winds just make find it confusing. Isnt it already said that at 1am there will be a south east wind, why do zhuge liang still need to chant and do faning action.

[neojo4]

I think part 1 is better then part 2. I was quite disappointed in part 2. Its too exagerrated. and it gets a bit boring in the 1st half of the show.

All the scenes involving Lin Chi Ling are boring

[SongLongZi]

ROTK fans can stay clear of this show..this show is even more draggy than part 1...



part 1 3/5
part 2 3/5

[MauL]

and the part when zhuge liang try to fan the winds just make find it confusing. Isnt it already said that at 1am there will be a south east wind, why do zhuge liang still need to chant and do faning action.

indeed, in the book, he did not reveal that there is change in wind direction. he only told zhou yu tat he will be able to conjure the south eastern wind. john woooooo probably felt tat chanting part was an 'essential' part or 'wayangable' part, so he included the scene.. oh well, it did look pretty amazing, tbh.

I think part 1 is better then part 2. I was quite disappointed in part 2. Its too exagerrated. and it gets a bit boring in the 1st half of the show.

All the scenes involving Lin Chi Ling are boring

part 1 got 1 sexciting scene from her, but it was cut by our MDA board... :s27:

ROTK fans can stay clear of this show..this show is even more draggy than part 1...

part 1 3/5
part 2 3/5

so r u a ROTK fan? if u r, ur rating very generous hor? :s13:

[SongLongZi]

indeed, in the book, he did not reveal that there is change in wind direction. he only told zhou yu tat he will be able to conjure the south eastern wind. john woooooo probably felt tat chanting part was an 'essential' part or 'wayangable' part, so he included the scene.. oh well, it did look pretty amazing, tbh.



part 1 got 1 sexciting scene from her, but it was cut by our MDA board... :s27:



so r u a ROTK fan? if u r, ur rating very generous hor? :s13:




im def ROTK fan...i think the whole show quite gay leh..the ending is kong ming like saying goodbye to his lover...then zhaowei searching his loverboy.

[Overture1928]

In one word - Crappy
In two words - Very crappy
I feel that the acting was subpar despite the strong cast

[jessele]

anyone can explain the part where zhou yu's friend came and ask him to surrender? and is it zhou yu who write the letter?



that part is where his friend came n drink with him mah.. then he slp with zhou yu~

zhou yu wrote cao cao's 2 seamen warrior wann betray and join zhou yu side~

[FireEmblem]

damn lousy show.

really hated the all the portions given to Lin chi lin.zzzzzzzzz damn spoil the whole show...wth film until like it was she who lead to the defeat of cao cao when her role is just a pure imaginary part that has no real bearing to ROTK or real 3 kingdom.

So many actual important story lines and plots that show the brillance of shu/wu are left out just for a Vase (lin chi lin)to have more screen time. Really fark up show.

1/5

[Jarlaxle]

according to the summary of movie plot in their website and yahoo

i believe the show is supposed to be based on records of three kingdoms instead of romance

so there shld be no borrowing of arrows, prediction of changing wind direction or watever ritual

lol sun shangxiang i think she is probably still 10+ yrs old at that time
considering shes married to liu bei as early 20s later

i think most ppl who read the records or romance have overexpectation for the show lol

[RipperJack]

damn lousy show.

really hated the all the portions given to Lin chi lin.zzzzzzzzz damn spoil the whole show...wth film until like it was she who lead to the defeat of cao cao when her role is just a pure imaginary part that has no real bearing to ROTK or real 3 kingdom.

So many actual important story lines and plots that show the brillance of shu/wu are left out just for a Vase (lin chi lin)to have more screen time. Really fark up show.

1/5
ditto.

lin chiling is the stinker in the show. can't believe john sacrificed huang gai for the crappy tea thingy.
every time lin chiling appears, the adrenaline drops to the bottom.

knn. :s27:


no doubt it's a commercial decision. think added in the women to have a softer aspect to the show so tat is can have a wider appeal, but really lor. lin chiling really sux. no wonder so many people condemned her.

zhao wei's sun shangxiang was a masterstroke though. :o

[RipperJack]

Check out the review of Red Cliff 2 below.

From twitchfilm.net:

After a rather helpful and stylishly executed recap of the events of part one, we are thrown immediately back into the thick of the action, or rather, into the middle of a game of football. Cao Cao’s troops are killing time with a little competitive Cuju as they wait for the real battle of Red Cliff to kick off. While Sun Quan (Chang Chen) and his coalition forces formulate their plan of action across the bay, his sister, the plucky Shang Xiang (Zhao Wei) is seen masquerading as an enemy soldier, intermittently sending updates to Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) via carrier pigeon of the state of the enemy’s superior forces. And the news is encouraging. A typhoid epidemic is sweeping through the camp yielding heavy casualties. While some of the allied generals see this as an opportune moment to strike, noble Zhou Yu (Tony Leung) sees this as a dishonourable tactic. It is not beneath Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) to use this viral outbreak to his advantage and loads his infected dead onto rafts and sends them over to his enemies’ camp. This act of germ warfare has a crippling effect on the already far weaker coalition, and causes a number of the generals to pull their troops out and head for home.

Both sides are drawn into a tactical battle of wits, reluctant to mount a full scale assault while their forces are so ravaged by illness. Cao Cao sends an old student friend of Zhou Yu’s, to persuade him into surrendering. His wife Xiao Qiao (Lin Chi Ling) meanwhile, believes her perfected tea ceremony skills may have diplomatic skills and is prepared to go to unparalleled lengths to prove her point. Zhou Yu is only too aware of Cao Cao’s reputation for wooing his enemies’ wives and has no intention of letting Xiao Qiao out of his sight. Zhuge, meanwhile, applies his tactical expertise and almost godlike understanding of meteorology to not only sap vital ammunition from the Han troops, but also facilitate a devious plot to spread paranoia and distrust through the enemy camp.

To say that John Woo has delivered on the promise of Red Cliff part one is to understate the obvious. This second half is a master class in ratcheting up tension, before unleashing a furious fireball of a finale. The battle sequences are expertly handled, showcasing an epic spectacle, while remembering to hone in on the plethora of individuals Woo has spent the last 4+ hours establishing. Everyone is given their moment in the sun, from Nakamura Shido’s grenade testing to Zhao Wei’s, quite literal, big reveal.

There are moments of exuberant bombast which verge on the ridiculous – a stirring speech by Cao Cao seemingly curing typhoid for one – but fans of John Woo will find many of his usual signature themes and devices in attendance. An abundance of white doves throughout, borderline homoerotic declarations of loyalty, brotherhood and mutual admiration (Takeshi and Tony even get to reprise their guzheng duet) and a climactic five-way standoff that would make Tarantino go weak at the knees.

Zhang Fengyi makes Cao Cao a complex and charismatic villain, more than simply a power-hungry politician whose motives can be easily swept aside. Takeshi Kaneshiro is in his element, wrapping his silken tongue around Zhuge’s poetic musings and meditations, and Tony Leung is dependable as ever as the unflappable Zhou Yu. The real revelation in part two is Lin Chi-Ling, who easily eschews those early fears that she may not be robust enough to carry the part of Xiao Qiao – the trophy wife with a lot more gumption than her mantra of “make tea not war” conveys.

Sadly, Chang Chen is again criminally underused, arguably given even less to do this time round than in part one, but the film’s biggest crime is the sidelining of Hu Jun as Zhao Yun. Admittedly his character is “injured” for much of this second half, but the image of him in battle, baby wrapped tightly to his back in a wonderful homage to Hard Boiled, remains one of Red Cliff’s enduring images. He manages to briefly claw his way on screen during the big finale but it was shame after his iconic role in the preceding film.

The criticisms, however, are far outweighed by the praise. Red Cliff achieves where other recent Chinese epics have failed – less melodramatic than The Warlords, more exciting than Battle of Wits - staging grandiose battle sequences that are coherent and genuinely exciting while simultaneously developing numerous characters beyond simply their job description. John Woo should have his passport confiscated immediately and never be allowed to leave Hong Kong again, Red Cliff is undeniable proof that the man can still rock our world, but really should work from home.

Review by James Marsh
did we watch the same show? :s11:

can i borrow chang chen's bow and arrow for a while? :o

[chinabluez]

- I like the part on how Cai Mao's pincer tactic became Cao Cao's Achilles heel when Wu's fleet sails between the two columns of burning ships right up to the former's front gates.



If I'm not wrong, in the real history, it's Pan Tong who went to "Sabo" Cao Cao with this idea.

[RipperJack]

although we all know that many many lives are lost during the 3 Kingdoms... but seeing it all on the big screen(i've watched it at GV Grand) is really very saddening...

Precious human lives are so very worthless in turbulent times like these...
( i really wonder any of you feel anything for all the senseless, massive killings, and deaths on-screen )

The Three Kingdoms period is one of the bloodiest in Chinese history. A population census in late Eastern Han Dynasty reported a population of approximately 50 million.
The later part of this period was marked by the collapse of the tripartite situation: first the destruction of Shu by Wei (263), then the overthrow of Wei by the Jin Dynasty (265), and the destruction of Wu by Jin (280). By then the population census was only 16 million.

SO MANY LIVES WERE LOST... (no wonder the Japanese see us Chinese race as SAVAGE, and using this excuse to wipe off their WWII crimes and deemed themselves as saviours to the world by exterminating the chinese race)
although we chinese are the MOST self-destructive on our own race, MOST un-united, UNLIKE the malays and indians(look at ourselves, around us, aren't we?)... don't we feel anything at all???

But still, summary... this film make us proud to be chinese because ON-SCREEN (with lesser CG effects than Lord of the Rings, etc,), the Chinese film industries can produce a film of such magnitude(battle scenes)
ok now. imagine if the population during that era was not reduced from 50 million to 16 million, how big is china's population now? :eek:

[Jarlaxle]

If I'm not wrong, in the real history, it's Pan Tong who went to "Sabo" Cao Cao with this idea.

history no, novel yes

[omnisilent]

san guo fans shld just steer clear of the show...

Too much stupid plots going on...for instance..
wat was Sun Shang Xiang doing in Wei's Camp?

As a general rule of thumb, princesses do not make very good spies..

[den1309]

I think part 1 is better then part 2. I was quite disappointed in part 2. Its too exagerrated. and it gets a bit boring in the 1st half of the show.

All the scenes involving Lin Chi Ling are boring

exactly, so expressionless and some wat like a vase. she look so old in it too

[Beta_Tester]

Imo.. That Caocao actor is good. He also acted as Prince Regent Doer'gun in another Qing Dynasty drama.

[upslorry]

im a RTK novel fan
even though the movie was said to be not following the novel and following history instead,
many scenes in part 1 were not in history i believed : horse giving birth, sun quan hunting tiger, sun quan and zhuge liang playing zither, zhou yu listening to flute from a boy. sun shang xiang playing major role in the story etc
they're all crap plots

so i will not give part 2 a chance at all. will not be watching it.

[secret_boy]

caught the movie last nite....i enjoy it very much....although i nv read the novel, but i tink the movie was pretty good....the battle scenes was exciting.....fires blowing everywhere.....i rate it 8.5/10.....cao cao lose until pants drop......haha

[dreamer75]

juz watched it.

thumbs up for the action but some of the plots arent following history.

[Swordsman]

juz watched it.

thumbs up for the action but some of the plots arent following history.

yeah correct, the movie didn't show huang gai use ku rou ji, it was pang tong suggest cao cao to chain up the fleet of ships and it was guan yun who left cao cao go and not sun quan,

[upslorry]

caught the movie last nite....i enjoy it very much....although i nv read the novel, but i tink the movie was pretty good....the battle scenes was exciting.....fires blowing everywhere.....i rate it 8.5/10.....cao cao lose until pants drop......haha

im sure that if you've read the novel, you'd have given your rating a 50% discount :s8:

[warr]

This is a lousy movie.

If you just watch it for entertainment without thinking about history or the book, it is already lousy. Just one example out of so many: What the heck is the part in which Zhao Wei unwinds the cloth, expose her body and show such a straightened hair.

If you watch it from the eyes of history or the book, better close your eyes immediately.

This movie doesn't occupy any space in my memory after watching it, except the money I spent on it.

[Providence]

A movie cannot appease two factions of audience when it is related to historical events. The movie can be entertaining but it is historical inaccurate. The movie can be historical accurate but it is very boring and dull. We cannot have both in reality.

So I guess the audience needs to choose its own taste carefully in the future. This movie is already historical inacurrate in Part 1 but I enjoy the battle scenes and the beautiful actresses. :s13:

[othniel80]

Imo.. That Caocao actor is good. He also acted as Prince Regent Doer'gun in another Qing Dynasty drama.

Agree, he is one solid actor, especially in the Qing Dynasty serial.

[Providence]

I only like the battle scenes.

[dreamer75]

Agree, he is one solid actor, especially in the Qing Dynasty serial.

which serial??

[fortunecat]

A movie cannot appease two factions of audience when it is related to historical events. The movie can be entertaining but it is historical inaccurate. The movie can be historical accurate but it is very boring and dull. We cannot have both in reality.

So I guess the audience needs to choose its own taste carefully in the future. This movie is already historical inacurrate in Part 1 but I enjoy the battle scenes and the beautiful actresses. :s13:

I dun care abt historical accuracy. Thing is, it's not really entertaining also lor. The battle scene is a mess and not that exciting. Many scenes are not realistic also.

Ip Man's movie is not accurate also, but I haven't heard anyone who said it's not entertaining.

[colafantasy]

yeah correct, the movie didn't show huang gai use ku rou ji, it was pang tong suggest cao cao to chain up the fleet of ships and it was guan yun who left cao cao go and not sun quan,


Swordsman, i am not trying to poke you....
True, the storyline in red cliff is flawed with many make up stories. But the points you have mentioned do not happen in real history either

i think alot people are confused with the real history. I believed most of you guys know three kingdom based on the novel written by Luo Guan Zhong in Ming Dynasty. It is a just a novel with a history accuracy of 50%

The novel was written in such a way that Liu Bei is the good guy and cao cao is the villain.....Also the novel had beautified the ability of Zhuge Liang. True he is an intelligent advisor but some of his tricks such as praying for eastern wind at a platform did not happen during battle at red cliff.

In real history based on san guo si....

Huang gai did not use ku rou ji, ie caned by zhou yu. It is just a fake plot just to make the RTK novel interesting.

Pang tong did not give the advice to Cao Cao to chain the boats. He was not even there at red cliff at the first place......

Neither Guan Yu or Sun Quan released Cao Cao. In fact it was a Wei general (forget his name) to receive Cao Cao when he is retreating.

Some articles even mentioned Zhang Fei does not have a fierce looking face. In fact he have a scholarly look which has a big talent in drawing.......

If you want to know more about three kingdom and dislike reading, go to those CDs Shop and buy the CDs on the show which a Chinese Professor explain three kingdom in details.

The show was aired in Ch 8 previously on SAT afternoon..

Sorry i am not working for the CDs Shop, just recommending a nice show worth watching for three kingdom lovers

[othniel80]

which serial??

If i never remembered wrongly its called 清宫风云
He acted as Dorgon (Duo-er-gun) a Qing prince who's one of Emperor Shunzi's regent. The story very long to illustrate, will become wall of text here. But imo the show is pretty good, has plenty of plots on political struggle, succession and mind games between different factions.

[tequila_powered]

Think it is a decent Chinese show for those who are not too deeply into RTK story.

After watching it, think Woo was right to make it a two parter.

[secret_boy]

i'm waiting for the part 2 dvd......

[secret_boy]

any news on the dvd???

[secret_boy]

today saw the sg ver dvd out liao......oso distributed by scorpio east......but still considering whether to buy or not...tis time the quality is better, it oso have the making of the movie and audio 2.0 & 5.0...cos when tat time i buy part 1, it was a disappointment......so now ish looking into HK ver....... any news when it will be out???

[vasilli07]

today saw the sg ver dvd out liao......oso distributed by scorpio east......but still considering whether to buy or not...tis time the quality is better, it oso have the making of the movie and audio 2.0 & 5.0...cos when tat time i buy part 1, it was a disappointment......so now ish looking into HK ver....... any news when it will be out???

how much is the dvd?

[secret_boy]

how much is the dvd?

erm.....if i'm not wrong, i tink is $22.90 ba.....

[Jerry007]

Acordign to yesasia, the HK R3 2-disc DVD will be released March 18!

[Jerry007]

The HK R3 DVD and Blu-ray will be released on March 25!

[tequila_powered]

how much is the dvd?

I mentioned in another thread. Earlier today, I saw two very new ex-rental (no mushy edges on box, not single scratch on the plastic box cover etc) RC II DVD at VideoEzy at ThomsonPlaza for $12.90. I grabbed one. If you don't mind the ex-rental sticker, there's still one copy there just in front of the counter.....

scorpio version

[Jerry007]

Red Cliff 2 is definitely better than the first part not only in terms of better battle sequences but John Woo has made even the planning of battle strategies exciting to watch. Was impressed by the quality of the bluray disc, especially the soundtrack which is simply earth-shattering. Though far from being a classic, John Woo's Red Cliff is still a monumental achievement in Hong Kong cinema and should satisfy many fans.