Ryan McNeilI used to really love John Woo movies. the action…the guns…the birds…
Then the guy tried to get all serious and made WINDTALKERS, and for me it felt like he sorta lost his mojo at that point.
Well it looks like he’s trying to right the ship, and what better way than to make a Chinese historical epic, right? I mean…it’s not like audiences can get enough of those…
I was able to watch the original version of the film in its entirety and it was pretty good. Some creative action scenes, good characters, and a legendary plot… the only problem lies in what felt like rushed editing and choppy storytelling. I think I gave it an 8.
I've heard the US version is about 1-2 hours shorter so I'll have to check it out, but I enjoyed lots of the subplots which I fear will be finding the cut mobile.
@ Univarn… How does it compare to films like HERO, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, and CROUCHING TIGER?
More story heavy I'd say, really focusing on the two main characters war strategy. No where near those films in terms of beauty, as the action scenes are more for punch than grace. They do spend a lot of time (which may be getting the cut for the US version) on subtle character moments, side plots dealing with background that add depth for most of the main characters.
I was surprised that it being a John Woo film it was rather light on style. Not that there isn't any, but it isn't quite so heavily dominated as he seemed to start leaning with his US career. It really gets by though on its characters. Wide variety, some fun, some deep, they hold it together throughout.
I just saw the first of the two parts for now and I kind of like it. In comparison to Hero or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Red Cliff is not necessarily about deep feelings full of layers of subtlety, but rather about the characters' rapport with war based on a simple historical documentations. Besides, compared to other war films, what I liked about Red Cliff is that the scriptwriters bothered to jump from one side's point of view to another.
Agreed John Woo did really lose his way in Hollywood and not even his best American film Face/Off can live up to to Hard Boiled. Other Honk Kong directors fared a lot worse in America look at Ringo Lam.
In the UK we only got the two and half hour version of Red Cliff. The DVD version is longer but I haven’t seen that one yet. Anh Khoi Do makes a good point about showing both sides.
Thanks guys. You've left me quite curious about this flick. I think I'll be making a point to see it.
Epic's the word. Not the biggest fan of Crouching Tiger or Hero or any of those movies, and John Woo needs to just make Hard Boiled 2 already, but who knows, might end up seeing it. Doesn't really look like a Woo movie, could be a good thing. Thanks for the heads up.