The most expensive film in Chinese history prepares to make its mark in the United States. Will this enormous success from the east find a place within the hearts of American audiences?
Similar to other war epics loosely based on historical events, such as “Braveheart,” “Troy,” and “Gettysburg,” “Red Cliff” tells a story of conflict and heartfelt emotion amidst the battlefield.
Directed by action film specialist John Woo, “Red Cliff” is the most expensive film in Chinese history with an estimated budget of $80 million, grossing $124 million in Asia alone—breaking China’s previous box office record held by “Titanic.”
“Red Cliff” provides a dramatic and stylized depiction of the Battle of Red Cliff that took place in China in 208 AD. The film stars Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, and several other A-list actors, such as Zhao Wei and Hu Jun.
The plot follows a traditional Chinese legend entitled “Romance of The Three Kingdoms.” Considered one of the “Four Great Classic Novels” that all gentleman should be familiar with, it’s a semi-historical work of fiction that depicts one of the most well-known events in Chinese history. The book itself is gigantic, totaling 800,000 words.
Likewise, the film was originally a 280-minute marathon divided into two parts. The American version trims the time to 148 minutes and reduces the plot’s extraneous elements resulting in a more coherent film—presumably better at holding the attention.
The charms and enchantment from the original source material is deluded.
In both the classic work and the film, the story revolves around political intrigue, military unification of China, and the independent countries within ancient China that fight for their independence.
There are several battles in the film, including ground, cavalry and naval skirmishes, but the greatest battle definitely revolves around Red Cliff itself, a bastion situated within a riverside mountain base that holds the key to victory for both sides. The back and forth strategies between the different generals never fails to entertain.
John Woo’s adaptation of this classic focuses on a small slice of the massive story while still managing to tell the whole thing—a magnificent triumph all its own. What made this task so difficult was the familiarity of the work within society. His achievement in doing so is similar to Peter Jackson’s successful adaptation of “Lord of the Rings,” a massive and well-known work also made suitable for the cinema.
Woo stated in the press notes, “My goal is for this film is to rise above cultural and historical barriers, so that the Western audience feels as if they are watching an Asian ‘Troy,’ while the Eastern audience can discover new perspectives on a familiar story.”
The action certainly delivers, with excellent choreography and martial arts timing from some of the same team members behind “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (though with notably less high flying wires).
And, while some [people] may be put off by the Mandarin with English subtitles, it is both a natural expectation and a necessary part of the story; as there are so many historical figures, locations, and cultural tones, which have to be expressed. The subtitled translations do an excellent job of conveying the inner meaning of what is spoken on screen into an easy and understandable plot.
The special effects and score are also quite remarkable. The colossal ships, countless soldiers, and environmental ambience are fully brought to life amidst a soaring and well-timed orchestration.
Woo also stated that he intended to make a more historically accurate yet simultaneously romantic version of the story. This historical accuracy is visible throughout the film (such as in the costumes) but is also laughably inaccurate at parts (such as the climactic Mexican Standoff between the main characters).
And rather than the traditional Buddhist and Daoist leanings that surround the main characters, such as the strategist Kong Ming, who in the book is said to be able to direct the weather using supernormal abilities; Woo simply portrays him with a deft understanding of weather patterns, like a modern day weather man.
In fact, much of the traditional culture and eastern belief systems inherent in the novel are missing. This leaves the charms and enchantment from the original source material deluded. However, the film’s surface presentation and appeal does not suffer noticeably (to the average viewer) from these alterations, but the difference from the source should be noted.
Overall, “Red Cliff” does succeed. Some parts are occasionally hard to believe, but the films massive scale, entertaining martial arts choreography, engaging dialogue, incredible special effects, epic score, and Eastern appeal will surely find an audience in the west, just as did it in the east.
4 / 5
