Red Cliff: John Woo Film
 

Has anyone seen Red Cliff? It's directed by John Woo and stars among others Tony Leung. I used to be a big fan of John Woo (The Killer, Bullet in the Head, etc.). I'm still a big fan of Tony Leung. The film is a historical epic about the Battle of Red Cliff. It seems very different from Woo's earlier films. In Asia, it was released in two parts totaling over 4 hours. Outside of Asia, it will be one 2 1/2 hour film. How do you cut a 4 hour film to 2 1/2 hours?

Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing it though I would rather see the long version. Here is a preview:

I love John Woo and Tony Leung. I also loved reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms--the movie is based on one of the battles in the novel--and, there are lots of those.
My only gripe about this ins Tony Leung's and Takeshi Kaneshiro's roles should have been reversed. I thought Tony Leung was much more fitting to play the role Zhuge Liang, which was initially offered to him.
Anyway, I watched the first movie in English subtitle. I was impressed. John Woo delivered and then some. Reviews of the second movie say it's even better. I'll watch it when I have time.

I have to say that I've seen too many films of this general style - and Red Cliff (part 1) didn't impress me. It seems like yet another war in ancient china melodrama.

"Bullet in the head" was good though.

Bullet in the head is my favorite John Woo movie. The scene near the beginning out of West Side Story is very strange. I think that all of Woo's films are a bit melodramatic.

Yeah, Red Cliff was a bit boring and long-winded. Been there, done that.