Red Cliff (Parts 1 & 2), John Woo 2008 & 2009
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Takeshi Kaneshiro & Yong Hou |
A great blockbuster epic from China's action-directing John Woo, which centers on the Battle of Red Cliff fought in China's Three Kingdoms period in 208 A.D.
These two films were shortened and released as one film in the West, but the original un-cut versions, which include characters and storylines omitted in the international release, is available as a double DVD and is highly recommended for action- and epic-film lovers.
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Chen Chang |
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Tony Leung & Chi-Ling Lin |
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Fengyi Zhang |
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A contender for Best Beard in Cinema History award |
Exceptionally well-crafted and choreographed battle scenes, good character profiles with moments of humour, luscious scenery and touching characters who display the humanity of war, the Red Cliff films are a must-see, and one of the most popular in Chinese history, breaking box-office records upon release.
The actors give effective performances, notably Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung and Wei Zhao.
Woo has said that his film differs from other works based on the Three Kingdoms battle as
Red Cliff "
brings out more humane stories tangled with the characters' psychology and life events", adding that he wanted to capture the "courage and wisdom" of Asian people and culture.
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Wei Zhao |
If possible, get your hands on a copy of the original two-part release - action epic fans will not be disappointed.