Red Cliff: DVD Review
The Battle of Red Cliff
Rating: M
Cast:
Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro
Released by Warner Home Video
Director John Woo returns to Chinese soil with millions of dollars
in Red Cliff, a historical epic about Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi), and
the scheming Prime Minister to the Han dynasty Emperor.
The Prime Minister is leading a massive Northern army to quell the
rebel warlords of the South.
Filled with sumptuous battle scenes and brutal recreations of the
battles which dominated Chinese history, Red Cliff is in places a
visual treat. Don't get me wrong, while it looks gorgeous - it is
probably a dream film for those who want to study how wars were
conducted in years gone by.
But it's ever so slightly hollow - I wasn't quite sure whether some
of the close ups of the evil Prime Minister laughing sinisterly
were ironic - because if not, they certainly verge on the
hammy.
The Battle of Red Cliff is a good story which appears to have been
told with a set formula in mind and that hasn't helped.
That said, the battle scenes are quite stunning in places (even if
it does come with Woo's trademark slow mo shots)- Red Cliff is an
interesting film which doesn't quite engage 100% but as a spectacle
it looks fabulous.
Extras: Interview with director John Woo, and a behind the
scenes doco
Rating: 6/10
