Red Cliff Chi Bi by Director John Woo

Three Kingdoms Battle in Historical China Epic by Hong Kong Director

May 10, 2009

Stars Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Zhang Fengyi. Red Cliff Part I highlights the alliance of Liu Bei and Sun Quan, showcasing spectacular warrior action.

The Battle of Red Cliffs is historically, the dramatic showdown between ambitious Premier Cao Cao against Wu and Shu allied forces, led by General Zhou Yu (Wu) and strategist Zhuge Liang (Shu). This decisive battle eventually ended the Han Dynasty, and began the Three Kingdoms period in Ancient China. John Woo directs this impressive Chinese epic in two parts, based loosely on Luo Guanzhong’s novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It is aptly titled Red Cliff, or Chi Bi in Mandarin.

Red Cliff, being a historical war film, is a marked departure from John Woo’s Hollywood action films such as Mission Impossible II, Face/Off and Broken Arrow. Whereas most movies thrive in Part I but disappoint in Part II, Red Cliff begins to warm up at the end of Part I. Red Cliff Part II is a sumptuous treat of war strategies, elaborate battle scenes and intriguing mind games.

Boasting magnificent landscapes, mind-blowing warrior action and a star-studded cast, Red Cliff is a must-see for epic history or action fans. Tony Leung Chiu Wai (of Infernal Affairs fame) plays the enigmatic Zhou Yu, and Takeshi Kaneshiro is the surprising casting choice for the quick-witted Zhuge Liang.

Shu Warriors - Five Tiger Generals of Shu

Red Cliff opens with a grand spectacle. Premier Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) enters court, accusing Southerners Sun Quan (Chang Chen) and Liu Bei (Yong You) of treason, to the dismayed young Han Emperor. The film swiftly moves to the attack of Cao Cao’s forces on Liu Bei, and shows up Liu Bei’s unfortunate weakness as a compassionate, but resigned leader. His Shu warriors take centrestage using all manner of weaponry and fist fighting to fend off Cao Cao’s forces. Like the novel's Five Tiger Generals, warriors Zhao Yun (Hu Jun), Guan Yu (Ba Sen Zha Bu) and Zhang Fei (Zang Jingsheng) treat viewers to a banquet of fighting styles, giving a preview of battle scenes to come.

Zhou Yu & Zhuge Liang

Shu’s famous strategist, Zhuge Liang, is played by an articulate, smooth Takeshi Kaneshiro. Fans know Takeshi Kaneshiro is a smart man who speaks five languages, but find him an unusual casting choice, as his clean-cut looks mean he usually plays heartthrobs. When Cao Cao goes after the Shu faction, Zhuge Liang decides to seek an alliance with Sun Quan of Wu province.

Zhou Yu, who contributed mostly to the victory at Red Cliff, is played by a soft-spoken Tony Leung. According to history, Zhou Yu is a military strategist, a man of many talents, well-versed in music and poems. As the Chinese saying goes, "Should the tune be in error, Zhou Yu takes note." John Woo translates this literally to screen, and shows Zhou Yu halting an army practice to tune a young boy’s flute. Over the top perhaps, but John Woo’s Red Cliff seeks to bring out the drama in the battle, than relate historical facts straight up. Friendship and competition are underlined between Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang, both played by very personable actors.

John Woo uses a Bagua formation that never took place in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel. Cinematically, it is a winning scene. A colorful dialogue takes place about how a tortoise can survive in water. Finally Shu and Wu decide on a land battle using Bagua formation, by luring Cao Cao’s troops. This spectacular scene showcases more Shu Warrior action, promising audiences that in Red Cliff Part II, an even more dramatic battle is about to take place.

The copyright of the article Red Cliff Chi Bi by Director John Woo in Asian Films is owned by Lynette S.K. Webster. Permission to republish Red Cliff Chi Bi by Director John Woo in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.