Based on the events at the end of the Han Dynasty in China leading to the period called the Three Kingdoms period; John Woo returns to Asian Cinema to bring one of the greatest turning points in that period, the Battle of Red Cliff, to the big screen. How big a deal is this? This is the most expensive Chinese movie to date estimated at $80 million dollars to produce. Big name actors from Chow Yun Fat, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai had all been cast once to play these important historical figures.
The movie adaptation is based on the events at the Red Cliff (Chi Bi) where the outcome decided the fate of the end of Han and creation of the three separate kingdoms; the Shu, Wei and Wu. The events leading to this great battle is interesting enough to carry a film of epic proportions that even John Woo has made this movie into two separate parts with the first one being released this month. This is also the second movie based on the Three Kingdoms in 2008; which I have high expectations for. The other movie starred Andy Lau and Sammo Hung; and that was a disaster and a complete let down in terms of plot and acting. I seriously hope John Woo’s Red Cliff (Chi Bi) will not let me down.
