赤壁, Red Cliff

Red Cliff series is the latest offering from John Woo in the Mandarin film industry. It is proclaimed as the most expensive epic film ever made in the chinese film history.

Epic films as we all knew from the western mainstream film industry, are mainly derived from famous novels and books. It is totally fictitious like LOTR, Narnia, etc. However, for chinese epic films, though it is similarly adapted from chinese novels, is not totally fictitious. It is based on the main events of history in China. In a way, it is a historical account, part of the Chinese history.

Therefore, to enjoy films like Red Cliff, one must have some background knowledge of novels like "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" (<三国演义>) and "Annals of the Three Kingdoms" (<三国志>). Otherwise, most of the time, audience will find themselves wondering, what is this film trying to show.

In essence, the director is trying to portrayed the gist of ancestor's brillance with regards to military strategizing. It focused on the famous war known as the War at Red Cliff to illustrate how minority can overcome majority so figures is not really everything in war. It illustrate the various tactics used and advocated by the Chinese ancestors like provocation, luring enemy using their complacency, know thy enemies, etc. One must really know the characters and which camp they are from before getting the true meaning of the film.

A brief note on the Chinese history. This is during the late Han Dynasty which belongs to the royalty surnamed Liu. As the Han Dynasty disintegrates, the country was broken into different fractions by the warlords.

Country Shu (蜀漢) was led by Liu Bei who was the royalty of the Han Dynasty. He was a straw shoes maker. He was assisted by the following brillant people. Guan Yu (关 羽) was the famous general who was fearless in front of army. Due to his virtues, he was later worshipped as a deity by the Chinese. Zhao Zilong (赵子龙) was the general who saved Liu Bei's son. Zhang Fei (张飞) was a general who was similar to a giant. Boisterous and strong, he was a man not to be forgotten. Finally,military adviser, Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮). He was the most brillant strategist in the Chinese history.

Country Wei (曹魏) was led by Cao Cao, a ursurper of the Han Dynasty throne. He has good sons who were noted in the history for their contributions in Chinese Literature.

Country Wu (東吳) was led by a good warlord, Sun Quan. He was supported by another brillant strategist, Zhou Yu.

This film start of with the 3 kingdoms having a political power disequlibrium. Country Cao was trying to conquer all so that Cao Cao can declare himself as king. Country Shu was the weakest, having suffered countless lost battles to Country Cao. Country Wu due to foreseeing an invasion by Cao,made allies with Country Shu. All these sounds like the type of political situation that some countries today are facing. For more information on the chinese history and characters, you may visit the following site, http://www.baoci98.net/3g/main.htm.

In terms of content of the film, it is just like the chinese style of literature, paving ways for the grand finale. Not very impressive as a starter. Moreover, the blood in the film seems to flow like ketchup. Splattered everywhere. The conversations are hilarious.

In terms of technical and creative use of medium,this film is very unique and shows traces of the Director's skills and sensitivity. The balance on fast action packed scene with emphasis on the movement using slow motion capture angle is very good.

In terms of character portrayal, all the cast played their best. However, I dun like the way Zhuge Liang is done. He is very gentlemanly but he should also seem harmless and like a laughing buddha. Cao Cao was not so Colour wolf? And so was Liu Bei.

The Gala Premiere at Vivocity GV tonight is very impressive. I get to see celebrities. My faves of the day is John Woo and Zhang Feng Yi. I am so glad that I won the ticket to see this part one.

I have always like the chinese literature arising from these 3 kingdoms. Here are the ones that I wish to share with you.

念奴娇　赤壁怀古宋·苏轼
大江东去，浪淘尽，千古风流人物。故垒西边，人道是，三国周郎赤壁。乱石穿空，惊涛拍岸，卷起千堆雪。江山如画，一时多少豪杰。遥想公瑾当年，小乔初嫁了，雄姿英发。羽扇纶(guān)巾，谈笑间，樯(qiáng)橹灰飞烟灭。故国神游，多情应笑我，早生华发。人生如梦，一樽(zūn)还酹(lèi)江月。

咏赤壁唐.李白
二龙争战决雌雄，赤壁楼船扫地空。烈火张天照云海，周瑜于此破曹公。

临江仙明·杨慎
滚滚长江东逝水，浪花淘尽英雄。是非成败转头空，青山依旧在,几度夕阳红。白发渔樵江渚(zhǔ)上，惯看秋月春风。一壶浊酒喜相逢，古今多少事，都付笑谈中。

南乡子 登京口北固亭有怀 宋·辛弃疾
何处望神州？满眼风光北固楼。千古兴亡多少事？悠悠！不尽长江滚滚流。年少万兜鍪(móu)，坐断东南战未休。天下英雄谁敌手？曹刘！生子当如孙仲(zhòng)谋。