JOHN WOO needs no introduction in the Chinese cinema industry. Better known as the man behind some of Hong Kong's most successful gangster movies in the 1980s, Woo is also credited with having turned his favourite actor Chow Yun-fatt into a legend.
With Red Cliff II, Woo finally got the opportunity to make one of China's most popular stories, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, into a big screen epic drama.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms has been done before. The most famous one in distant memory starred the late actress Lin Dai in 1958 where she won the Best Actress award.
Chinese literature students will tell you that Red Cliff is only a small part of the long and exciting tale of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It is as much about the culture and traditions of third century Middle Kingdom (China) as it is about military strategies.
So one is tempted to see if this movie has succeeded in transplanting the nuances and depth of the novel onto the big screen. Curiosity will no doubt be also focused on the many facets of a convoluted storyline with many twists and turns.
Those who have a deep interest in the Chinese art of war will obviously have read Romance of the Three Kingdoms as a military text, after digesting the contents of other novel entitled The Water Margin.
However, Red Cliff II, due to the length of its plot, has been split into two parts. The first part was released in July last year. In total, Red Cliff and Red Cliff II are about four hours long.
For audiences outside Asia, Red Cliff comes as a single length feature. Red Cliff takes the credit for being the most expensive Asian movie to date. Its budget was US$80 million (RM272 million).
For non-Chinese viewers, Red Cliff is basically about ambitious Prime Minister Cao Cao, the Emperor's uncle Liu Bei, military strategist Zhuge Liang, Viceroy Zhou Yu and warlord Sun Quan. Adding colour to this epic drama are numerous historical figures like Zhao Zilong and generals Zhang Fei and Quan Yu.
Quan Yu is a much revered figure even today. He is considered the "God of War" and figure of this famous general adorns the altar of many a Chinese home and police stations in modern Hong Kong.
The central figure in Red Cliff II is talented Tony Leung who recently received worldwide attention for his role in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution. However, his character as viceroy Zhou Yu is at odds with his previous roles as a brooding spy or a tacturn husband. Perhaps some people may not be able to reconcile Leung with his character as a wily and intelligent politician and man of war.
The man who stands tall and commanding among the cast of thousands and a legion of famous names is Zhang Fengyi. Zhang is one of China's most celebrated actors who made a name for himself in Chen Kaige's Farewell, My Concubine (1993).
Playing Premier Cao Cao puts the spotlight on Zhang throughout the movie and it was a joy watching an actor who's a master at tis craft.
Takeshi Kaneshiro as Zhuge Liang has acquitted himself well. As a young military advisor to Zhou Yu, Kaneshiro's handsome looks helps bring a certain charm to an otherwise series of sombre war discussions among the various warlords.
Zhuge remains till today as one of the most admired strategists of ancient China.
Zhuge's unique brand of war strategems has earned him much respect and won him great fame throughout the ages. Kaneshiro does not disappoint in his portrayal of his favourite childhood hero Zhuge Liang. He has a personal interest in the character and it shows in his acting.
A face that most people will find it hard to ignore is Xiao Qiao, the wife of Zhou Yu. Played by Taiwan's most recognised face Lin Chiling, Xiao Qiao is what Chinese firmly believe in life as well as in literature that a beautiful woman can bring a general to his knees.
Xiao Qiao attained notoriety for having a face that "sank two thousand ships" as opposed to Helen of Troy's face that "launched a thousand ships". In her first feature film, Chiling went under the tutelage of three Beijing acting coaches.
Even though her maiden efforts will not earn her critical acclaim, Chiling will nevertheless be much appreciated for her very distracting but enchanting demeanour.
Red Cliff II also boasts some of the most beautiful rustic scenes inside China. Director John Woo has spared little expense in locating the right places for important scenes.
The battle scenes were of course not as elaborate and sophisticated as those in Lord of the Rings but for Red Cliff, they plainly suffice. We understand the CGI limitations with regard to Asian movies which usually don't have the mega budgets like some Hollywood films.
It wouldn't be wrong to say that this movie will appeal more to Asian audiences than those in the West. The theme and the familiar stories revolving around the Romance of the Three Kingdoms have a special appeal to the Chinese community across the region.
John Woo has done a fine job of turning a complicated story into a watchable film. Yes, he has taken great liberties in interpreting some of the facts of the story but then this story is 1,800 years old and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel by Luo Guanzhong was only published in the 13th century, so like most tales born of misty conditions, the truth of the matter is subjective.
In this case, it was handiwork of John Woo and three other writers.
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