Matt Shea
RubySoho
Morgan Bell
Cibbuano
David O'Connell
Mountain Fog
Red Cliff (Chi Bi) Part II
January 12th 2009 08:23
Last week's review of the blockbuster war epic "Red Cliff" was gushing with enthusiasm about the film, a bloody chapter in Chinese history, full of sneaky counterattacks and famous war heroes. The second chapter of the film opened up yesterday in Chinese cinemas and I raced to get tickets, cheering and clutching them with glee.
The second part of "Red Cliff" describes the final naval battles between the invading armies of Cao Cao, 800 000 men and a vast fleet, versus the allied forces of Liu Bei and Sun Quan, not even 100 000 men. It's a famous battle, occuring at Red Cliff, with general Zhou Yu leading the forces with the help of imminent scholar Zhu-ge Liang.
This is war cinema at its best; though the film suffers from the same obvious flaws as its Western counterparts, there's a sense of supernatural awe throughout the film - these are historical accounts, disputed by historians, but still recorded as actually happening.
Much of the amazement comes from the quality most prized by the Chinese: cunning. Zhu-ge Liang is considered to be one of the most famous tacticians, able to predict the weather in advance, with a gallery of sneaky tricks up his sleeve.
Yes, this is more akin to a Chinese superhero movie - the generals on both sides are known for their cunning and ferocity, with the suspicion that Cao Cao invaded the Southlands not for unification, but to steal Zhou Yu's wife, Xiao Qiao, from him.
Of course, Western audiences will have to wait a long time before they see this film, allowing me to crown gloriously over the shivering masses. After the theatrical run of "Red Cliff", it will be some time before the film lands on foreign shores and, even then, is there a chance that Australians will give it a chance? Is it too far off the wall, with the pyrotechnics and wire-fu?
I hope not - if this history, "Red Cliff" is an absolutely sensational way to learn history, freed from dusty books and dates of incoherent events... the strategy and timing of every event seem pitched in feverish action, and the blood on the battlefield seems even more vivid.
I say: If you can find it, watch both parts immediately. Though there are many films tackling these events, John Woo's film is probably the most watchable, with the cast of famous actors and the huge budget.
See it for: The style of the Han dynasty included a stunning outfit for women: simple, alluring fabrics and long hair, simply tied at the back. I'd almost wage a war, too.
*these images are from this Chinese page.
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by bobay
best version here, got the whole book free and downloadable, with alot of great pics to brighten up the story.