Movies: Red Cliff * * * *
(15A Limited)
Marking a major, and very welcome, return to form for Chinese action director John Woo (after his last dismal Hollywood outing Paycheck), Red Cliff could be given the high-concept pitch of an Asian Troy meets Braveheart
Trimmed down to 150 minutes (from the original four hours) for its international release, Red Cliff is the most expensive Asian movie ever made, with a budget of $80m (€58m), but every cent of that money is up on screen. Woo has gone for all-out spectacle, crafting a thrilling, action-packed and surprisingly clever epic that should have serious break-out appeal beyond its art-house release.
The story is set in 208AD against the backdrop of China's bitterly divided Han Dynasty. The leaders of the rebel kingdoms (played by the effortlessly charismatic duo of Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro) join forces to defeat the ruthless prime minister Cao Cao in a series of massive assaults on land and sea. Vastly outnumbered, the rebels devise a series of crafty manoeuvres to turn the tide of the war, leading to the decisive final face-off at the titular fortress on the Yangtze river.
We all knew Woo could stage a fight scene, but his skill at utilising CGI to convey gigantic battle sequences that even the widest cinema screen would struggle to contain should put him right back at the top of Hollywood's action-director hotlist. These sequences are also beautifully stylised without falling back on the by-now tiresome slo-mo wuxia format, and feature levels of blood-letting the likes of which were recently seen when the Irish electorate were let loose on Fianna Fail at the elections.
Woo sometimes lets the pace drag by using quieter moments to explore the inevitable themes of loyalty and sacrifice, but each time he follows through with a visually stunning set piece that snaps you straight back. Very impressive.
- Declan Cashin
