Plot
In this sequel to Red Cliff, first minister Cao Cao convinces Emperor Han to initiate a battle against the two Kingdoms of Xu and Wu...
Release Year: 2009
Rating: 7.5/10 (7,872 voted)
Director:
John Woo
Stars: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Fengyi Zhang
Storyline In this sequel to Red Cliff, first minister Cao Cao convinces Emperor Han to initiate a battle against the two Kingdoms of Xu and Wu, who have become allied forces, against all expectations. Red Cliff will be the site for the gigantic battle.
Writers: John Woo, Khan Chan
Cast: Tony Leung Chiu Wai
-
Zhou Yu
Takeshi Kaneshiro
-
Zhuge Liang
Fengyi Zhang
-
Cao Cao
Chen Chang
-
Sun Quan
Wei Zhao
-
Sun Shangxiang
Jun Hu
-
Zhao Yun
Chiling Lin
-
Xiao Qiao
Shidô Nakamura
-
Gan Xing
Yong You
-
Liu Bei
Ba Sen Zha Bu
-
Guan Yu
Yong Hou
-
Lu Su
Judith Jones
-
Princess Sun Shan Xiang
Goofs:
Continuity:
When Pit first takes an arrow after learning that Sun Shangxiang was Piggy, the arrow is clearly in the middle of the second layer of his armor, yet on the next shot, the arrow is now in the top layer of the armor.
User Review
The Point of War - A Review of Red Cliff II
Rating: 8/10
Red Cliff, the film by John Woo based on the epic battle of Romance of
the Three Kingdoms is divided into two parts. While the first was
engaging in its depiction of such historical characters in Cao Cao,
Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu, the second is all about war itself, which can
be a little daunting to some. But that is just how war is.
You see, war is not about a spontaneous fight between two opposing
parties. It has nothing to do with sword wielding 'cling clang' or
battle cries and fistfights. The distinction has to be made since war
is by far a larger context than a battle, although war itself consists
many. In Red Cliff II we will see what is at play when war is raged. It
cannot be pretty can it? But it can as this is the romanticized version
of history and on screen John Woo made it even prettier.
The cast is strong with Tony Leung Chiu-wai as viceroy Zhou Yu, Takeshi
Kaneshiro as adviser Zhuge Liang and Zhang Fengyi as Cao Cao, to name
just a few. The list is long. A good cast will more often than not up
the aesthetical appeal to a movie. For the female audience, Tony Leung
charms with his manly portrayal of Zhou Yu, and Takeshi Kaneshiro is
always a pleasure to watch as he liven every scene with wit and humor.
For the male audience, it is the childlike yet seriousness of Zhao Wei
as Sun Shangxiang, and Lin Chi-ling's poise and compassion as Xiao Qiao
that allures.
But can war really be pretty? If you think that killing each other is a
good way to express beauty then perhaps you can be on the same page as
the tyranny Cao Cao. In part 1, where the emphasis of battle was on
land with a very elaborate tactic devised by Zhuge Liang, here in part
2 we witness the battle at sea, physically and psychologically.
Back to the main topic of war, it is crucial that victory must be
sorted as numerous lives are heavily at stake, whether or not these
lives are valued or not, be they as added numbers or as friends. In war
the emphasis is on strategies and tactics to win. And on strategies and
tactics, I guess we no doubt have to consult Sun Tzu's The Art of War
and also take reference to The 36 Stratagems.
I can refer that the epic battle of Red Cliff has two points that stood
out when referenced to The Art of War and that is The Attack By Fire
and The Use Of Spies.
Recorded in the 36 stratagems is the use of the enemy's own spy to sow
discord in the enemy's camp by Zhou Yu. This famous move is of
correlation to The Art of War where it is stated as having converted
spies, getting hold of the enemy's spies and using them for our own
purposes. In war all can be done, there can be no holds barred because
any weakness can be exploited by the enemy. Zhou Yu can be said to have
brilliantly disposed off of Cao Cao's main strategic threat because Cao
Cao slain both his most dependable generals who are most versed in sea
battles.
When 50,000 has to fight 200,000, who could blame Zhou Yu for such
tactics, especially when Cao Cao first provoked by sending dead
soldiers across to Zhou Yu's side on wooden rafts, knowing that disease
spread through this mean can greatly weaken his enemy.
The other account decisive of the battle of Red Cliff is the Chain
Strategem, although modified by John Woo in its depiction, with the key
in Lin Chi-ling's character, Xiao Qiao.
It is interesting to sit through 141 minutes witnessing a romanticized
version of John Woo's Red Cliff. Personally I didn't feel that it was
long, however to some who wanted to see a Lord of the Ring's type
battle on screen could be disappointed.
Sun Tzu's The Art of War states that the general who wins a battle
makes many calculations in his temple before the war is fought. The
general who loses a battle makes but a few calculations before hand.
Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to
defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this
point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.
The point of war however is that in war everybody loses. This should be
what John Woo's Red Cliff is trying to tell us. I agree wholeheartedly
with water in my eyes.
0