Chicago – When moviegoers think of John Woo, the first image that comes to mind isn’t legions of ancient armies fighting each other with bows and arrows, but rather two men holding each other at gunpoint (as in his 1992 classic “Hard-Boiled”). His best action set-pieces are the most intimate, with gunplay and bloodshed taking on an almost balletic grandeur.
Yet at age 61, Woo was clearly ready to venture out into new terrain, and tackle a project he had been dreaming up for nearly two decades, based on Guanzhong Luo’s 14th century historical novel, “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.” It’s reportedly the most expensive film ever made in China, and certainly one of the most audacious. Unfortunately, like many epic films aiming to reach an international audience, the picture has been butchered for mass consumption.
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0
“Red Cliff” was originally a five-hour epic released theatrically in two parts...
Yet at age 61, Woo was clearly ready to venture out into new terrain, and tackle a project he had been dreaming up for nearly two decades, based on Guanzhong Luo’s 14th century historical novel, “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.” It’s reportedly the most expensive film ever made in China, and certainly one of the most audacious. Unfortunately, like many epic films aiming to reach an international audience, the picture has been butchered for mass consumption.
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0
“Red Cliff” was originally a five-hour epic released theatrically in two parts...
- 4/2/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Following closely in the wake of the U.K theatrical release of John Woo's “Red Cliff,” Daniel Lee’s movie version of Guanzhong Luo's 600-year-old Chinese classic novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' is out on R2 DVD next month. They threw everything plus the kitchen sink at this production, with an absolute avalanche of action stars including (deep breathe) Andy Lau, Sammo Hung, Maggie Q, Vanessa Wu, Andy On, Rongguang Yu, Quanxin Pu, Lung Ti, Hua Yueh, Chen Zhi Hui and Damian Lau. Unlike Woo’s more recent version, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon takes far greater liberties with its source material, playing heavy on the action and light on historical accuracy. So, if sword wielding epic-type-ness is more your cup of Joe than dramatical excess, then this is the one for you. Three Kingdoms gets released on DVD and Blu-ray in the U.K, July 13th.
- 6/18/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
Following closely in the wake of the U.K theatrical release of John Woo's “Red Cliff,” Daniel Lee’s movie version of Guanzhong Luo's 600-year-old Chinese classic novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' is out on R2 DVD next month. They threw everything plus the kitchen sink at this production, with an absolute avalanche of action stars including (deep breathe) Andy Lau, Sammo Hung, Maggie Q, Vanessa Wu, Andy On, Rongguang Yu, Quanxin Pu, Lung Ti, Hua Yueh, Chen Zhi Hui and Damian Lau. Unlike Woo’s more recent version, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon takes far greater liberties with its source material, playing heavy on the action and light on historical accuracy. So, if sword wielding epic-type-ness is more your cup of Joe than dramatical excess, then this is the one for you. Three Kingdoms gets released on DVD and Blu-ray in the U.K, July 13th.
- 6/18/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
Following closely in the wake of the U.K theatrical release of John Woo's “Red Cliff,” Daniel Lee’s movie version of Guanzhong Luo's 600-year-old Chinese classic novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' is out on R2 DVD next month. They threw everything plus the kitchen sink at this production, with an absolute avalanche of action stars including (deep breathe) Andy Lau, Sammo Hung, Maggie Q, Vanessa Wu, Andy On, Rongguang Yu, Quanxin Pu, Lung Ti, Hua Yueh, Chen Zhi Hui and Damian Lau. Unlike Woo’s more recent version, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon takes far greater liberties with its source material, playing heavy on the action and light on historical accuracy. So, if sword wielding epic-type-ness is more your cup of Joe than dramatical excess, then this is the one for you. Three Kingdoms gets released on DVD and Blu-ray in the U.K, July 13th.
- 6/18/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
Within the first 30 minutes of John Woo’s “Red Cliff”, which features a continuous 30-something minutes of battle scenes, you understand why the film ran over schedule and over budget, coming in at a reported “most expensive production ever in Asia” $80 million dollars. Released in Asia in two parts ala Tarantino’s “Kill Bill”, “Red Cliff” parts one (late 2008) and two (early 2009) is expected to be combined into a 2 ½ hour movie for International consumption. The film is yet another interpretation of “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, the legendary novel by Guanzhong Luo which is also the basis for another high-profile film from China in 2008, Andy Lau’s “Resurrection of the Dragon”. Indeed, the main character in “Dragon” actually resurfaces again in “Red Cliff”, but this time in a supporting turn. “Red Cliff” stars a pan-Asian cast led by Takeshi Kaneshiro (“House of Flying Daggers”), here playing the brilliant war strategist Zhuge Liang,...
- 4/10/2009
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
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