219 replies to this topic

[Chen06]

Sorry Bro GZ I just reply now, hopefully this topic is still a hot dish
I just watched it the other day ago. The only thing that made me unpleasant is, it is only one part of the movie. I expected to see this famous epic in 2-hour-run movie

Before watching the movie, I had a quick look at the trailer. I found some famous names there and their in-movie characters. At first, I doubt if Takeshi Kaneshiro was suitable to potrait Zhuge Liang, but when I saw the movie, he could do it well. At least, IMHO, as closed as what Zhuge Liang was potrayed.

Meanwhile, for Zhao Zi Long, I think, the actor doesn't really fit. Likewise for Guan Yu.

Apart from the characters in the movie, the plot was quite well organized, BUT they missed out several things :
First, the capture of Guan Yu. As far as I know, as well as in the novel, during the raid of Fancheng, Guan Yu was surrounded and forced to surrender under Cao Cao. Cao Cao was trying hard to get him, he refused to join his band. Until finally they made a deal that he would leave his band if he met his brothers.

I think, this incident happened far before the Chibi battle took place. Furthermore, in the movie it was described Guan Yu broke the Cao's barricade and fled.

Secondly, I haven't seen Zhuge Liang's "borrowing arrow" strategy and "Jiang Gan's plot" strategy. I wonder if Zhang Yi Mou would include that in the next phase.

About the director. John Woo, though being one of the famous Asian-hollywood directors, but he isn't expertise in epic drama making. I would prefer Wong Jing.

You were joking about the Wong Jing part right? He is probably the worst director in Hong Kong. The master of schlock Wong Jing

[Wan Ren aka Danny]

I have watch some Three Kingdoms movies such as Red Cliff, Three Kingdoms the tv series and the animated one. And one thing that I was looking for is the character Gen. Guan Yu.

Only in the animated version is Gen. Guan Yu what I expected but ib\n both the Red Cliff and the tv series I would say the director did not have the "correct" Guan Yu.

Legend or history said that Guan Yu was a man of strong stature someone who is tall around 6 foot plus maybe close to 7 feet tall, muscular and strong his guan dao is said to be around 8-9 feet long.

So far the Guan Yu that I have seen in movies and tv is a small Guan Yu? I was expecting an actor with similar build like Arnold of Conan the Barbarian or The Rock of Scorpion King some one that is big and strong. Maybe they should cast Yao Ming as Guan Yu.

In the Red Cliff the fight scenes are good the martial skill of Guan Yu is what I would expect especially in hand to hand combat or weapon to weapon for someone with a legendary strength and martial prowess.

I wish they will make a movie that will focus mainly on Gen. Guan Yu.

Edited by Wan Ren aka Danny, 25 August 2008 - 10:35 AM.

[HuangYingJieh]

I just saw Red Cliff too. Not a bad movie, although like everyone said I thought Guan Yu and Cao Cao were miscasted. I think they could have found more convincing actors to play these characters. Was Liu Bei really that old during the battle of Chi Bi? I imagined he would be younger. Also theres a scene where Guan Yu was teaching children to read, was he literate?

[ShingenT]

in case you don't know, that scene was critisized for being sterotypical.

and liu bei was around 50 plus or minus, when it happened.

[Mei Houwang]

In the Red Cliff the fight scenes are good the martial skill of Guan Yu is what I would expect especially in hand to hand combat or weapon to weapon for someone with a legendary strength and martial prowess.

That's actually one of the reasons why I hated the movie. With military men like that, I wonder what the hell anyone needs normal soldiers for. Plus the poor plot in which many scenes have nothing to do with the real story. I'm probably just being pessimistic because I had such high expectations for it.

[thirdgumi]

That's actually one of the reasons why I hated the movie. With military men like that, I wonder what the hell anyone needs normal soldiers for. Plus the poor plot in which many scenes have nothing to do with the real story. I'm probably just being pessimistic because I had such high expectations for it.

It's a John Woo movie, I expected it to be like that: action action and action. I wasn't expecting an epic historical movie.

[HuangYingJieh]

It's a John Woo movie, I expected it to be like that: action action and action. I wasn't expecting an epic historical movie.

Not to mention the birds...he had to have the birds.

[Chen06]

whats wrong with the doves. its his signature. its not a woo movie without doves. its not like they detract from the film anyway. for those that havent seen it i wont give it away but without the dove we wouldnt have one of the most spectacular and sweeping shots in the film.

[Mei Houwang]

True, that scene was one of my favorite parts. Massive armies ftw!

[Cryptocat]

Do you know any good factual comparisons between the historical battle and the movie (and by movie I mean the Asian 2-part version)? There used to be a comparison of the first part on Wikipedia but it's gone, and the second part is the more important party anyhow. The first part was more about introducing the heros. The movie is said to be based more on history than on the SGYY... I personally liked the more balanced account - not vilifying Zhou Yu, for example.