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Red Cliff

Name: Red Cliff
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Released: November 18, 2009
Duration: 146 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Fengyi Zhang, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu Wai

2009

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 63 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 63 Ratings

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RED CLIFF

Movie Details & Credits

Magnet Releasing | Release Date: November 18, 2009 | R

Starring: Fengyi Zhang, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu Wai

Summary: Red Cliff opens as power hungry Prime Minister-turned-General Cao Cao seeks permission from the Han dynasty Emperor to organize a southward-bound mission designed to crush the two troublesome warlords who stand in his way, Liu Bei and Sun Quan. As the expedition gets underway, Cao Cao's troops rain destruction on Liu Bei's army, forcing himRed Cliff opens as power hungry Prime Minister-turned-General Cao Cao seeks permission from the Han dynasty Emperor to organize a southward-bound mission designed to crush the two troublesome warlords who stand in his way, Liu Bei and Sun Quan. As the expedition gets underway, Cao Cao's troops rain destruction on Liu Bei's army, forcing him into retreat. Liu Bei's military strategist Zhuge Liang knows that the rebels’ only hope for survival is to form an alliance with rival warlord Sun Quan, and reaches out to Sun Quan’s trusted advisor, war hero Zhou Yu. Vastly outnumbered by Cao Cao’s brutal, fast-approaching army, the warlords band together to mount a heroic campaign – unrivaled in history – that changes the face of China forever. A massive hit in Asia and the most expensive Asian film production of all time, Red Cliff is a breathtaking war epic that marks the triumphant return of John Woo. (Magnolia Pictures)… Expand

Director: John Woo

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 146 min

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Awards & Rankings

84	#84 Best Movie of 2009

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Amy Biancolli

Anyone who enjoys stylized hyper-violence should be enthralled by this long, sweeping, murderously vivid dramatization of ancient Chinese warfare, circa A.D. 208. Read full review

Steven Rea

This is magnificent filmmaking, and a magnificent film. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

The spectacular battle scenes are the engorged heart of the delirious adventure. But Woo also gets maximum romantic value from Tony Leung as a war hero married to Chiling Lin as the tea-pouring beauty. Read full review

Stephen Cole

As expected, it has gaping holes where back stories used to be. Still, it's a historical war movie with impressive sweep, strong characterizations and the kind of idiosyncratic flourishes that made Woo such an irresistible storyteller. Read full review

David Edelstein

Any war picture in which the heroine stalls the villain with a quiet, painstaking tea ceremony until the wind shifts direction and the good guys can firebomb the bad guys into oblivion is too ineffably Zen not to love. Read full review

Mike Hale

While handsome and intelligent and perfectly easy to sit through, never really approaches the visceral tug of Mr. Woo’s Hong Kong hits. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Overlong but ambitious, Woo proves he's as good at tactical maneuvers as he is at close-quarters combat. Read full review

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User Reviews

LindaC

Dec 22, 2009

Bravo John Woo, cast and crew! War can never be made beautiful, romantic though many government and its leaders try to. However, the experience that human beings can have despite war can be beautiful, romantic; John, cast and crew achieve that in a mesmerizing way.

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Satiricalewok

Nov 7, 2014

Having watched quite a few epic battle films. I can safely say this, has the best, and I can't really see anything topping it. It rises above films like Gladiator, Lord of the rings, and Troy, because of the sheer creativity of the battle scenes.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

TDKinDallas

Dec 4, 2009

Major disappointment after waiting for so long for it to come to Dallas! I still recommend seeing it, but it is really only for people who enjoy HK movies. I was expecting a new type of movie by Woo combining the techniques he learned in the US with his HK style. Another notch up in movie Major disappointment after waiting for so long for it to come to Dallas! I still recommend seeing it, but it is really only for people who enjoy HK movies. I was expecting a new type of movie by Woo combining the techniques he learned in the US with his HK style. Another notch up in movie making like when he came to the US. Instead, it is as if he changed to someone else HK style devoid of his usual kinetic energy. There was not one moment in this movie that said "John Woo" has been here to me. For a HK movie it is pretty friggin' incredible and I have to admit that my score, instead of being weighted a little higher because it is a HK movie, is weighted a little lower because of my disappointment in the new Woo. Have a Merry Christmas!… Expand

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avatar16

Apr 4, 2012

AprÃ¨s son "sÃ©jour" hollywoodien (Broken Arrow, Volte/Face, Mission : Impossible 2, Paycheck), John Woo rentre enfin au pays en nous livrant un film chinois. Et ce que l'on peut lui reconnaÃ®tre aprÃ¨s ces annÃ©es d'exil, c'est bienAprÃ¨s son "sÃ©jour" hollywoodien (Broken Arrow, Volte/Face, Mission : Impossible 2, Paycheck), John Woo rentre enfin au pays en nous livrant un film chinois. Et ce que l'on peut lui reconnaÃ®tre aprÃ¨s ces annÃ©es d'exil, c'est bien l'efficacitÃ© de chacun de ses films. Pour cause, Les 3 Royaumes est un film pour le moins spectaculaire et grand spectacle (le rÃ©alisateur, bien que sa mise en scÃ¨ne peu laisser Ã dÃ©sirer par moment avec surdose de ralentis, donne ici un bon effet), avec les moyens du bord (costumes, effets spÃ©ciaux, accessoires...). Rajoutons Ã cela un casting honorable et le tour et jouer! Enfin presque... Un dÃ©faut vient pourtant assombrir le tout. Un dÃ©faut que l'on doit aux producteurs, qui ont voulu raccourcir le film (de 4h Ã 2h30). RÃ©sultat : un film charcutÃ© (scÃ©nario sans Ã¢me, trop tournÃ© vers l'action, montage brouillon...)! Bref, il est dommage de voir que le film aurait pu Ãªtre bien mieux si, une fois de plus, on avait laissÃ© le rÃ©alisateur s'amuser jusqu'au bout!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RogerJ

Nov 18, 2009

Over exaggerated martial art. didn't stick to the history as we know from costume to item.

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