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Red Cliff International Version - Part I & Part II [Blu-ray] | ![Red Cliff International Version - Part I & Part II [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519-ri%2BnkGL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: John Woo
Actors: Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
List Price: $34.98
Buy New: $17.99
You Save: $16.99 (49%)
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Rating:  99 reviews
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Chinese (Original Language)
Rating: Unrated
Media: Blu-ray
Region: 1
Discs: 2
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Running Time: 288 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 5.3 x 0.5
MPN: MAGBR10276
UPC: 876964002769
EAN: 0876964002769
Theatrical Release Date: 2009
Release Date: March 23, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Magnolia Pict Hm Ent Release Date: 03/23/2010 Run time: 288 minutes Rating: R
Amazon.com
Director John Woo's Red Cliff boasts some mighty impressive numbers. It took four screenwriters to adapt the 800,000-word source material, a 14th-century Chinese novel called Romance of the Three Kingdoms. There are also three editors, two directors of photography, hundreds of horses, and a combined cast and crew numbering in the thousands, making it reportedly the most expensive movie ever made in China. There are quite a few minutes, too, as it has a running time of 2 hours 28 minutes. That's only about half the length of the cut released in Asia, a fact that has led some critics to dismiss the American release as merely a bowdlerized version of the real deal. That may be, but this depiction of the titular battle that took place in AD 208 and is credited with changing the entire face of China is still an epic and magnificent piece of entertainment. The principal characters include Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi), a power-hungry general and self-appointed prime minister who convinces the weak-willed emperor that two rebellious leaders in the south, Liu Bei (You Yong) and Sun Quan (Chang Chen), must be stopped; Cao Cao's antagonists also include the brilliant strategist Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and the heroic warrior Zhou Yu (Tony Leung), whose wife (Chiling Lin) is a legendary beauty. Cao Cao has a huge advantage in manpower, not to mention an impressive fleet of warships. But he is arrogant, while his opponents are not merely humble and brave but clever (Cao Cao's diabolical plan to send the contagious bodies of soldiers who have died from typhoid fever to the Southlanders' camp works temporarily, but the latter counter with ingenious strategies of their own, like using fog, wind, and fire to destroy Cao Cao's ships). All of this is depicted in the most spectacular battle scenes since the Lord of the Rings trilogy, with a steady supply of gorgeous shots and indelible images. Woo, whose previous films range from the terrific Hard Boiled and The Killer to the lamentable Ben Affleck thriller Paycheck, is in his element here, and Red Cliff is a treat. --Sam Graham
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| Customer Reviews: Read 94 more reviews...
 Red Cliff International Version July 29, 2010
L-Dogg
In my opinion a great movie and well worth getting the full 5 hour version. I really didn't feel like I had to sit through something lasting 5 hours. Though there are slower points in the movie, its not something that made me antsy. I am in the middle of reading the Three Kingdoms novel by Luo Guanzhong and have passed the Battle of Chi Bi and feel it preserved the story very well. There is a part of me though that would still like to see the shortened "American" version of this film to see if much of it feels lost.
 Somewhat Over-Blown Epic July 17, 2010
Roger Kennedy
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
While I can't deny the impressive look of this film, a lot of the action seems like that magical Kung-Fo martial acts stuff which detracts from its seriousness in my humble opinion. The story is no doubt based on old Chinese stories and legends.
The production value is first-rate with lots of eye-poping details. That's part of the problem here. John Woo throws too much at you at once. Some scenes are reflective and elegant almost, but the battles are often confused and hard to follow with martial arts and incredible sword play mixed in the action.
There is a strong moral to the story however. Arrogance and power cannot always prevail over prudence and humility. That said Woo could have been a little more subtle at times. The English voice overs seem really bad and don't match the period shown. Better to watch this film in original Manduran Chinese and use English subtitles. At least you get a feel for the time better that way.
The masses of Chinese armies are hard to tell apart as costumes are similer and quick action shots make it even more confusing. Excessive use of martial arts tips the balance against it as a serious epic. I doubt crossbows were in China at this time!I am sure there are many other innacuracies as well. So is this history or fantasy?? Hard to say. Certainly its entertainment. But at 2 hrs 38 mins I thought I had seen enough. I would shudder at the prospect of watching the full 5 hr version! Please Emperior, have mercy!
Epic Chinese Film July 16, 2010
Robert Kiehm
This movie, including Part II, covers the first part of the epic chinese book called the Three Kingdoms written many centuries ago. In essence, the book is about the fall of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of three kingdoms. This is an outstanding movie bringing to life the early key characters in the book.
 Yet Another Incredibly Stupid, Overly Bloated, Hollywood-Aping Historical Epic Devoid of Any True Redeeming Qualities July 16, 2010
Anticlimacus
1 out of 7 found this review helpful
Lots of people like to complain that Chinese cinema has passed its prime in terms of quality film-making, but what's truly ironic is that these tards complain about the wrong films. It seems like all criticism is aimed at entertaining fare like "All About Women" (2008) and "The Twins Effect" (2003) while incredibly stupid, overly bloated, Hollywood-aping epics like "The Warlords" (2007) and "Red Cliff" (2008) receive all sorts of praise when it's these very movies that should be lambasted the most for their ultimate worthlessness.
For example, the action choreography in John Woo's "Red Cliff" quite frankly sucks. Both major battles have monotonous, basic spear swipes that are repeated in bland, sleep-inducing ways while being supplemented with incompetent camera-work. When the soldiers reflect the sunlight to stun their enemies, the flipping of the shields is strung on a repeated edit over and over and over again to the point of inducing an epileptic seizure. Yes, John, I saw them flip the shields the first time; you don't have to re-run the same one-second clip a dozen times for added emphasis. In like manner, the concurrent spear fight (with the general protecting the baby) is hampered by overuse of slow motion - which is no surprise given the director here.
If Woo is such a genius at directing action sequences, then why is he so adamant on ignoring martial arts choreography? Even worse, why is he so resolved to drag out these boring fights to excessive lengths? This must be a reverence to the Peter Jackson line of illogical thought. Simply take a bunch of uninspired maneuvers and magically transform them into "great" action scenes by tossing ridiculous sums of money at them (for costumes, extras, and sets) and dragging them out forever with unnecessary slow motion. This method of con-artistry apparently fools a lot of people, but my understanding of what makes a quality action film is on a level far higher than most, so I'm not about to fall for that nonsense, Johnny boy.
With regards to the battle strategies, they are about as dim-witted as humanly imaginable. For example, during the latter fight the antagonist army comes across a small band of lady warriors who attack them and retreat. The leader orders his men to charge, but his second in command warns of a possible ambush. The leader simply responds by claiming that he's not afraid of a few girls. My question is this: If you think there might be an ambush, why would the gender of the bait even matter at all if there's an army of badasses waiting for you around the corner? It makes no logical sense whatsoever. If this weren't stupid enough, the antagonist army sees the trap ahead of them, then promptly rides their calvary into the middle of Kaneshiro's formation, allowing themselves to be easily surrounded.
The same inexplicable logic and sloppy scriptwriting is used throughout the course of the entire movie because the protagonists are just as retarded as the bad guys. How many times are we going to see a thousand soldiers sit around while one or two guys fight the enemy army by themselves? Near the beginning someone asks Kaneshiro for reinforcements. At that very moment the hundreds of soldiers simply shift to create an open pathway for one dude to charge through. What do the soldiers do in the meantime? Nothing; absolutely nothing. What's truly ironic is that Kaneshiro throws his smirk face on, as if this ridiculous strategy was a part of his plan all along. It's not smart; it's stupid. In like manner, the latter battle has a few generals take out dozens of baddies while hundreds of their soldiers sit around with their thumbs up their a$$es.
Now, don't misunderstand me. I like no-brain action movies more than most, but when a film such as this is grounded and broadcasted so desperately as a battle of wits, then you had better make sure that the script is strong enough to create a true mental chess game. "Red Cliff" fails miserably at doing so.
On a side note, I also have a serious problem with the actors facial expressions. Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tony Leung look like they're sleepwalking, but that dude with the beard really takes the cake in terms of unabashed corniness and hokeyness. So much so, in fact, that he's so painful to watch for virtually every moment he's on camera. His slow motion moment during the latter battle is without question one of the single worst moments of any movie of the 21st century. Just terrible. How can anyone in their right mind enjoy this tripe?
The answer to that question is this: a lot of John Woo fanboys and general lemmings. Everything in this movie is so mediocre and half-hearted in the extreme (from clich d training sessions to horse births to one-dimensional characters to generic scoring), that it rivals your typical Hollywood blockbuster (and no, that's not a compliment). Criticize Tony Jaa's films all you want, but at least he gives you inspired, brutal action sequences with exceptional fight choreography. Feel free to toss Ryuhei Kitamura under the bus a few hundred more times, but his camera-work makes John Woo look like an amateur who's still in diapers.
Retire John, and take your little white doves with you.
This truly blew me away.... July 11, 2010
Sherry Anderson (Indianapolis, Indiana)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Please understand, I am such a BIG OL'GIRL when it comes to any movie that has blood involved. I'm usually sitting with my eyes covered until all the bloody parts are over. This movie, however, is a masterpiece to behold. I decided to "woman-up" and try to sit through this in it's entirety w/my boyfriend last night. So glad I did. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys movie epics of any kind, whether you know Mandarin or not (I do not).
FYI-The first battle is AWESOME-unexpected surprises, especially with one of the Generals (?)....Never seen anything like that in my entire life-----A complete 5 star experience!
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