Those that know the Doughy know how I feel about Asian Cinema in general and John Woo in particular; at their best both are mandatory experiences! For many of us, a Hong Kong based John Woo film is the gold standard. Films such as "Bullet in the Head"," The Killer", "Hard Boiled", and "A Better Tomorrow" gave Western audiences a glimpse into the Eastern film making sensibilities of a true maverick. Woo , at his best is as much of a genre defining director as Sam Pekinpah or Sergio Leone; that's praise I don't give out easily!
For many of us Woo's attempts to translate his artistry to the American audience in a Hollywood environment have come up short. Sure he's had his moments ( Face/Off was superb) but for the most part Woo just wasn't for lack of a better word "Woo" enough anymore.
I'm happy to say that's all changed with his triumphant return to Asian cinema with 2008's amazing "Red Cliff".
To say Woo's 2 part epic is outstanding just doesn't cover it. It's truly a visual feast for the eyes that brings a smile to any long time fans eyes. Imagine taking the epic battles Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the visual flair of Yimou Zhang's Hero, and mix with action sequences that made Woo for a time one of the most imitated directors in the field; if you can conceive of this blend you can get an idea of how amazing "Red Cliff" truly is.
Plenty of other sites can give you a plot synopsis and historical notes far more in depth than I can ( or want to) but I tell you this: If you have any interest in seeing a epic visual spectacle that does not rely on 3d gimmicks, boring seen it all before cgi, and regurgitated baby face action stars, than this film is for you.
One important note: be sure to see this film in the unedited 2 part international version. From my understanding the original version is chopped down to a bite sized Western version running time of 148 minutes from the intended 280 minute time. Various character building moments are removed and therefore MUCH of the emotional impact of the film is sacrificed. Sadly, this happens more often than not when opting to see the Western version of many Eastern films. Damn Shame.
Official Red Cliff Site
Wikipedia Red Cliff Article
Collider Red Cliff Film/ Blu Ray Review.
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