Red Cliff

This "epic" film is set during the final years of the Han Dynasty in China.
Director John Woo... at a cost of about $80 million, it stands as the most expensive Chinese production ever made.
A friend who lent it to me was absolutely thrilled with it, praising it beyond all reason, so perhaps my expectations were set a little too high...
The movie feels a bit drawn out (running about two and a half hours), though I don't mind that much. My main gripe, if I have one, is that it delivers that standard "Kung Fu" vibe... when you're hoping for a serious Chinese historical drama without people flying through the air or single heroes taking down 250 opponents without breaking a sweat, John Woo gives us exactly the opposite. Instead of more realistic action sequences, we get the usual tropes. During the massive battle, the primary tactic is just letting a few "one-man army" 😂 characters loose at the decisive moment—characters who are worth at least 1,000 regular soldiers. And just like that, the problem is solved.
I mean... 👎
It really makes you wonder if Chinese filmmakers can produce a historical epic that doesn't follow this exact formula.
That said, I would recommend it to anyone who isn't bothered by those tropes... although the action choreography could have been better handled.

You should really check out the second part as well. It features fewer "one-man army" fights, focusing instead on some truly excellent tactical maneuvers. I spent a little time reading up on this battle on Wikipedia; while they definitely took some creative liberties with the history, the core concept remains intact.

And here is a recommendation for you:

Battle of Wits—it isn't just about one person fighting a hundred; it’s all about the strategy...

Wait, is there actually a second part? As far as I know, it’s only split into two parts in Asia; for all other markets, it’s released as one single entity...

silentpilot6 said:Wait, is there actually a second part? From what I recall, they only split it into two parts for the Asian market; everywhere else, it was released as one single movie...

I'm not sure which version you watched. How did your movie end? How long was the runtime?

I honestly can't remember how it ended 😬 since I gave up about two hours in... but from what I could tell, the runtime was only about two and a half hours, which means it's likely that "European" cut.

silentpilot6 said:Honestly, I can't remember how it wrapped up 😬 because I gave up about two hours in... but from what I gathered, the whole thing runs about two and a half hours, which means I likely watched the "European" cut.

Actually, it looks like you didn't even finish the first one..

Runtime:
Singapore: 150 min (PG version) | China: 146 min | South Korea: 134 min for the first part..

Now that it’s finally hitting theaters, does anyone know which version we’re getting here in the States?

I’m assuming it’ll be that condensed Western cut...

silentpilot6 said:It really makes you wonder—can Chinese filmmakers actually produce a historical epic without falling into these exact patterns?
Though, if you aren't bothered by those tropes, there are movies out there worth seeing... even if the action choreography could have been sharper.

????!
I don't think a single action sequence in this movie could have been directed better—ever.

Besides, those "one-man show-off" moments carry enough self-awareness. It isn't literal or deadly serious like those old kung fu flicks about tigers and dragons. Instead, it’s more like a ceremonial introduction to each general—we see them as fully realized characters who command genuine loyalty from their troops. The outcome of the battle hinges entirely on pure intelligence, whether we're looking at breathtaking mass combat scenes or just the quiet preparation of a cup of tea.

Every frame in this film is wallpaper material. I highly recommend the original two-part version, though this Western cut will be fantastic on the big screen regardless. (This is the movie I've rewatched most often, and my personal preference usually leans toward British cinema.)

Film rating: breathtaking.

Watched the movie. It's good. 🙂

I actually sat down one evening and watched both of them, and I have to say, they are truly excellent 👍

I’ve been watching this and thinking—it’s good work. The cinematography is solid, though it feels a bit overextended in certain spots, but I suppose that’s just how it is...
It almost feels as if Woo is treating this like his most significant masterpiece to date, yet at the same time, I find myself feeling a strange sense of nostalgia for The Killer, even though I was never really one of Woo's biggest devotees during those early years.

lonesailor6 said:I actually caught both of them the other night, and they're really great. 👍

Yeah, I watched both of them last night too... and honestly, the movie just blew me away 🙂 🙂
if you look past those flight scenes and a few other clichés... the film is phenomenal. It's pure Art of War... or basically China: Total War 😂
I mean, I've always been a huge fan of those military epics involving tactics and morale... and if you bridge the gap between gaming culture and cinema...
anyone who enjoys the Total War genre will probably be more than impressed by this one. 👍

copperhawk19 said:Yeah, I watched both of them last night... and I was absolutely blown away by the movie. 🙂 🙂
If you set aside those flying scenes and the usual clichés, it’s a phenomenal film... pure Art of War... or basically China: Total War. 😂
I've always been a fan of those military thrillers focused on tactics and morale. It’s fun to bridge the gap between gaming culture and cinema.
Anyone who enjoys the Total War genre will be more than impressed by this one. 👍

That exists in
Dynasty Warriors. Check out some clips on YouTube. It shows what it's like when one person takes on a hundred enemies at once. 😁

Honestly, this has been my favorite film from the last three or four years—though I tend to view both parts as one single cinematic experience.

A complete masterpiece 🙏

Is there actually any dialogue in this movie? I just watched the trailer and everyone’s acting like they’ve been sealed shut...

I tried watching this at home, but I couldn't make it past the one-hour mark. The movie was boring to the point of physical pain.

Steven Palmer3 said:Does this movie even have any dialogue? I'm watching the trailer and everyone is just dead silent...

Oh, there is plenty of it.

The film is absolutely fantastic! If you go in with zero expectations, you’re going to be pleasantly surprised by how much you actually get out of it...

The movie is excellent. Definitely worth seeing on the big screen.

Such a killer movie, I honestly can't wait for the sequel🤣