Genre: Action / Adventure
Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi
Action: Corey Yuen Kwai, Dion Lam Dik-On
Writer: John Woo, Chen Han, Sheng Heyu
Screenwriter: John Woo, Khan Chan, Kuo Zheng, Sheng Heyu
Director: John Woo
Producer: John Woo, Terence Chang
Rating: 3/5
After directing the stylish The Killers and Face Off, John Woo puts his hand on Chinese history which indeed is one of his best directions. The movie features full entertainment accompanied with a lot of action, emotions and of course acting. Hosting some remarkably striking and excellent battlefield action in a rich historic epic, the Red Cliff II is the most expensive Asian film financed till today.
The movie revolves around the final days of the Han Dynasty wherein the astute Prime Minister, Cao Cao persuaded the capricious Emperor Han to proclaim a war on the Wu (South) and Xu (East and West) kingdoms in order to unite China. Several battles of wit and strength results both on water and land eventually lead to the battle of the Red Cliff. Much better than Red Cliff I, Red Cliff II does not let the audiences leave their chair for a minute, unless you are not an action lover and wish to go in for romantic movies as a choice!
Red Cliff II, when compared with its first part, moves a bit faster, first providing its backside and then moving in straight towards plan and action. Sun Xiang-Shang (Vicki Zhao) makes an unaware friend while spying after the enemy lines on Cao Cao’s forces whilst Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang work out some brainy ways to attain their unfeasible tasks. As the eve of the battle arrives, everything seems to go under Cao Cao’s favor along with the wind that puts up a fire attack indicating a bad sign for the partnership. Zhuge Liang, who can read the weather, infers that there will be a change in the wind. The ploy apparently becomes excellently interesting until the right time for attack.
Lin Chi-Ling’s Xiao Qiao does a bit more as compared to her role in Red Cliff I by making herself appear to be in danger of fitting herself for the Red Cliff’s Helen of Troy with the clue that Cao Cao was heading on towards a war for her. This indication does not get confirmed throughout the movie but does tenders Xiao Qiao a chance to get herself involved in her amazingly tense key role during the final war.
The side effects of the honor, homoeroticism and brotherhood themes can make you giggle a bit, but overall, the movie takes you in an enjoyable journey to 208 A.D China. Something difficult to categorize, the movie is neither a minute classic nor a classical commercial.
