Red Cliff Movie

Mandarin movie.

Synopsis


Red Cliff (赤壁 - Chìbì)/ The Battle of Red Cliff is a Chinese epic movie that comes in 2 parts. It is set during the events during the End of Han Dynasty. Just like many other epic Chinese movies, the Red Cliff Part 1, sees 2 groups teaming up & collaborating to fight against their enemies.

The 'good team' is lead by Zhou Yu (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) and Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro). And together with the mighty spirit & tomboyish princess of Sun Shangxiang (Zao Wei), they managed to pull off the first attack despite their lack in army numbers.

In between, the 2 strategists show their war strategies & ideas which allow them to win rather effortlessly.

Why You Should Watch This Movie
1. The war strategies were superb. Unlike most battlefield movies that head to shoot/ kill with the usual attack plan, this movie introduces the Chinese war styles that is rather uncommon and good in trapping the enemies. This makes some of the war scenes very interesting & 'new'.

2. Beautiful sceneries & backdrop location in China, makes this a breathtaking movie journey.

3. There is some impart of lessons on life & Chinese culture which is done very subtly.

Why Not
1. The first 45 minutes was just a lil too complicated & without much direction. The war battlefield right at the start of the movie didn't help and in fact was a lil boring, especially when there weren't much clue yet.

2. This movie seems at times a lil loose and just a lil too much focus on the expressions of the actors faces. In some ways, it just seems like it is a big budget art film because of its rather long pauses.

Conclusion & Movie Rating
John Woo's attempt in making a Chinese epic is much desirable in bringing Asian movies to a new level. It is an ambitious attempt, which he has succeeded. He would have done much better if the script was tighter & the beginning a lil more clearer.

This movie should appeal to a wide audience including the non Asians for its Oriental appeal (script & philosophies). Definitely one of the better Chinese epic war movies and for that matter, one of the better war movies.

3.5 stars.

Red Cliff Trailer

Escape From Huang Shi

This movie apparently has 2 titles - another which is called Children of Huang Shi.

Synopsis
This true story is a sweeping but intimate story set against war-torn China during the Japanese occupation in the late 1930’s. The film revolves around an English war journalist George Hogg (by Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers), an American doctor-nurse Lee Pearson (by Australian actress Radha Mitchell) and the leader of a Chinese partisan group 'Jack' Chen (by Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat).



George, trapped in China met 'Jack' Chen who helped and saved his life. Along the way, he also meets and falls in love with Lee Pearson. She apparently is also attracted to 'Jack', though the love story is not much of the highlight.



He together with Lee and also 'Jack' helped bring together and save a school of orphaned children, leading them on an extraordinary and ambitious journey for months across hundreds of miles of treacherous terrain, through snow-covered mountains and an unforgiving desert.

Along the way they discover the true meaning of love, responsibility and courage.

Why You Should Watch This Movie
Set in olden day China, the remake scene of Shanghai is awesome and full of grandeur. It was very real, even so the Japanese Headquarters. The sceneries across the Silk Road is another eye soothing experience.

Plot wise, this heart-warming true story is inspiring as it shows how the West & East work together for a common vision - that is to help the children. Without any experience, the journalist managed to groom the children to farming and learning English.

The war scenes are very real and shows what China went through during that period. Hisotry if learnt this way would be much more interesting and fun.

Fans of Chinese actor, Chow Yun Fat will be quite happy with his rather comfortable English now as well. Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Radha Mitchell played their roles well as well, especially Jon for soaking into his role from first terrified and scared to later a hero to the children.

Why Not
If you are a big fan of the actress who made a big star in Hong Kong and one of the most famous Bond girls, Michelle Yeoh, you'll be quite disappointed. Playing the role of a rich opium merchant, Madame Wang, her role in this movie was rather small. Clearly, the stars were the other three.



Conclusion & Movie Rating
This production is worth every cent if you are keen to be inspired yet have an enjoyable watch.

4.5 stars

The Trailer

CJ7

Hong Kong actor - director, Stephen Chow is back after his successful movie - Kung Fu Hustle. This movie sees him both directing & acting. He playes, Ti, a poor construction worker who struggles financially because he sends his son to a private school. His love for his son is strong and he instills good life values to him, despite them being poor - as his philosophy in live is.

His son, Dicky, can't seem to fit well in the school because of his background of being poor. He is often bullied by both his friends & even the teachers.

One day, his dad brought a 'toy' he found at the garbage area - and it turned out to be an alien dog. Named as CJ7, it becomes Dicky's best friend, and although not helping him in less important things that Dicky wanted, but helped in more important situations.


This movie shows the strong bond of a father-son relationship, and how often young children may say things they do not mean, only to realise (& regret later). Chow also instills the value to human beings - integrity and not about one's status. The relationship between CJ7 & Dicky also shows the deepness of a friendship.

This movie is a heart warming story that may divert from Chow's previous all laughter movie, and some may not be used to it, especially if there are sad scenes during Chinese New Year! But, despite that, it is still a good effort & a thumbs up for Hong Kong films - in terms of movie direction, moving away from its slapstick comedies. The big budget Columbia Pictures gives the weight to the movie as well, with good CG effects - and of course its wonderful marketing plan, as Chow says.

It also goes well with Xu Jiao's acting skills - a girl playing the boy role as Dicky.



Is the CJ7 character similar to Chicken Little?
Maybe a lil, but to me, it's still quite distinct. Yes, maybe the big fluffy head, but CJ7 is more dog like than chicken :)


CJ7 & its pal, Dicky.


The famous lil chicken, Chicken Little.

Kung Fu Dunk

This live action Chinese New Year movie sees a talented orphan boy, Shi-Jie (Jay Chou), who grew up in a kungfu school, only to be expelled after a brawl.

He meets up with Wang-Li (Eric Tsang), who brought him into the world of basketball, joining the univeristy team. An 'agreement' was formed between them - Wang-Li will market the talented Shi-Jie, while Shi-Jie is to combine his talent & skill of both kung fu and basketball and win honours.

It sees the journey of how they both overcome obstacles, learning about trust, and also on bonding and friendship.

This movie sees Jay Chou playing a different role we usually don't see from him - a not so smart guy. However it is made up with his cool basketball tactics. His fast paced & catchy music scores for the movie has added lots of punch to it, delivering at the correct times.

Lots of Matrix styled action in the courts, good sense humour, and a lil bit of romance makes this movie a great watch, especially this Chinese New Year. It's light and has a good ending.

The only part I think should have been improved is the posters from the movie, which could do a lil better to attract more.

Warlords

Set in the 1860s, during the Taiping Rebellion in the late Qing Dynasty in China, this movie tells the story of three sworn brothers - General Ma (Jet Li), Cao Erhu (Andy Lau) and Zhang Wenxiang (Takeshi Kaneshiro).

Their friendship starts off with a lil suspicion, but then builds up strong... only to be shattered towards the end when their values & objectives differs - General Ma with his quest for power & love; Cao Erhu for his honour & trust for the people; and Zhang Wenxiang for his stand on brotherhood.

This epic movie with its bold poster draws crowds who love Chinese epic movies. Not so attractive for those who want a simple movie, as the stories are actually behind the characters, and this will need evaluation. The grey scenes throughout the movie makes it rather dull, but it gives the setting it needs.

Pleasure Factory

The star of the movie is not the actors or actresses, but mainly location Geylang - the glaring red-light district of city conscious Singapore.

I am ok with watching art movies, but this art movie seems too arty - and too lost, with many different characters in different settings, and many not contributing to the message. Even if it does, it takes too long for the message to get accross - you can actually close your eyes for a full 10 seconds and nothing has changed in that scene!

For an acclaimed director, with Chang & Eng and the blockbuster Beautiful Boxer, this seems a very big letdown. Pleasure Factory seems much more like a student's project or a first time director at most.


Unless you come from Singapore, or you are curious on Singapore's red-light district, this movie will not garner much interest except, maybe apart from its soft porn flicks. Minus Geylang, and this movie is just like any movie taken in any other red-light district in any country.


But, of course, if you think hard enough & endure the movie, you'll get Ekachai's message - the difference between love & sex. But to go through such length & 'torture', it's much better to simply visit the district itself.