Battle of Red Cliff, the Movie

10 minute trailer



Theme song MV by Tibetan singer Alan (there will also be a Japanese version to be released by Avex). I like this song, its very deep and haunting.




John Woo's opus movie, costing US$80 million, making it the most expensive Asian movie to date. Said to be divided into two parts, one to be shown before the Olympics and the other next year. Stars Tony Leung as Zhou Yu and Takeshi Kaneshiro as Zhuge Liang.

What is it about?

The Battle of Red Cliffs also known as the Battle of Chibi, is one of the most decisive battles in China's history. At this point, Cao Cao's juggernaut had been unbeatable and in his way to reuniting all the Han Dynasty territories. His numerical superiority was dominating, and his armies, combining infantry and cavalry recruited from northern nomads, were fast and unstoppable. All he now needs is to cross his vast army across the Yangtze. Against him lies the armies of the Wei and the Shu, led by Zhou Yu, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan.

The result of this battle formally ended the Eastern Han Dynasty and began the era that is to be known as the Three Kingdoms.

This movie looks good. I wonder if it ever comes out in the west. Movies like this are good in educating the West as to China's rich history.

if thier is one thing i like is Asian history, achitecture, and movies like Chon ye yo BrotherHood of War is from south Korea based on two brother in tha SKorean army against the north during the korean war were at a point the olderbrother wich is decorated as a hero for capturing a DPRK General finds out the his brother was acusse as a comunist and killed in a prison during a chinesse attack. Then he the decorated hero betrayes his country for betraing him and joins the PLA and is now comander of A unitthat is a threat to the south. latter his brother did not die he manage to escape and after finding out what his brother defected he crosses the frontline to bring his brother to his sence, the rest i will not spoil, but is a must seen movie and it is available in the west in your local Blockbuster and other vedio stores that movie touch my soul i give it a five.

IDonT said:

This movie looks good. I wonder if it ever comes out in the west. Movies like this are good in educating the West as to China's rich history.

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Fans of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, as well as those who have watched its TV drama and anime series, and played its game mutants, e.g. Dynasty Warriors, would know this battle like the back of their hand.

The thing that intrigues me is who will John Woo be faithful to---towards an accurate portrayal of history considering the Chinese government also laid funds for this movie to help teach and promote Chinese history---or to ROTK/DW fans around the world (especially in Japan, HK, the US and Korea) who are expecting wire fu supper warriors whack hundreds of cannon fodder soldiers with the single swing of their Guan-Dao. I am guessing a little of both, call it decorated history. For example the trailer shows Zhuge Liang (played by Kaneshiro) holding and testing a Zhuge-Nu crossbow. This is a kind of a machine gun like rapid fire crossbow that is attributed by legend to be invented by Zhuge Liang. Whether or not Zhuge Liang actually invented this weapon is of academic discussion.

is the movie accurate depiction of the actual event, or being deliberate alter to suite the modern audience? I think the title should be change to "Party of Heroes".
I strongly believe the movie going to bomb in box office,let face it john woo is no korusawa.

I read that John Woo got some heat for exaggerating some historical points in the movie. Given the nature of movie-making and the time constraints, I wouldn't expect any movie that depicts history to be 100% accurate.

if i want 100% historical accuracy, i'll watch a freaking documentary. leaving some leeway for artistic interpretation is fine by me.

hear that John woo trying inject love story.

There was the issue of many cast changes. Ken Watanabe is said to have bowed out early. The big blow was Chow Yun Fat dropping out of the movie due to "schedule issues". It was John Woo who made Chow Yun Fat a big star in the Hong Kong action cinema (Hard Boiled etc,.)

Originally it was Chow Yun Fat who was supposed to play the role of Zhou Yu, and Tony Leung for Zhuge Liang. Then Tony Leung dropped out, and Kaneshiro, his costar in the House of the Flying Daggers, took over for that role. Then Chow Yun Fat dropped out of his role, and suddenly Tony Leung came back in to take over the role of Zhou Yu.

getready said:

if i want 100% historical accuracy, i'll watch a freaking documentary. leaving some leeway for artistic interpretation is fine by me.

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Documentaries are not accurate or neutral either. They always come from a perspective which is inherently biased.