[Red Cliff] Special Feature

Cast and Credits

Chinese Name: 赤壁 Chi Bi
Director: John Woo
Producer: Han SanPing, Terence Chang
Adapted Screenplay: John Woo, Chen Han, Guo Zheng, Sheng HeYu
Director of Photography: Lu Le, Zhang Li
Production and Costume Designer: Tim Yip
Action Director: Corey Yuen
Music: Taro Iwashiro
Genre: Epic/War

Starring

Zhao Wei 		as Sun ShangXiang
Tony Lueng 		as Zhou Yu
Takeshi Kaneshiro as ZhuGe Liang
Zhang FengYi	as Cao Cao
Chang Chen		as Sun Quan
Hun Jun		as Zhao Yun
Shidou Nakamura	as Gan Xing
Lin ChiLing		as Xiao Qiao
You Yong		as Liu Bei
Tong DaWei		as Sun ShuCai
Song Jia		as Li Ji
Hou Yong		as Lu Su
Zhang Shan		as Huang Gai
BaSen ZhaBu		as Guan Yu
Zang JinSheng	as Zhang Fei

Filming Locations: Beijing, Hebei
Release Dates: July 10, 2008 (Part 1), December 2008 (Part 2)
Length: 144 minutes (Part 1)
Title Song: "Xin· Zhan～RED　CLIFF～" by Alan

Official Sites

Trailers

Chinese (.WMV 3.78MB)
Chinese with Engish sub (.FLV 8MB)
English Teaser (.FLV 3.55MB)
Taiwan (with English sub) (.WMV 4.17MB)
Cannes footage (.FLV 20.4MB)

Synopsis

Part 1

The story took place in the year 208 A.D., during the last days of the Han Dynasty of China. The crafty Prime Minister Cao Cao (the person who Han Dynasty) held the Emperor in his power to control the warlords. Cao Cao convinced the ever-changing Emperor Xian of Han to declare war against the Liu Bei power in the west and Sun Quan power in the south.

Outwardly, Cao Cao made it clear that his goal was to reunify China's territories under the Han Dynasty once and for all, but in fact, he had his personal agenda. After convincing Emperor Xian of Han, Cao Cao personally led close to a million soldiers down south to Jing Zhou, where his most pressing task was to conquer the territories that the benevolent ruler Liu Bei possessed.

Due to the great disparity in military strength, Cao Cao's forces easily crushed Liu Bei's army, forcing Liu Bei and the people under his rule to flee south from Xin Ye. The people in distress fled in a hurry with the protection from Liu Bei's troops. His two most trusted commanders (who were also his sworn borthers), Guan Yu and Zhang Fei risked their lives and stayed at the back of the bunch to ensure that the fleeing commoners would be safe.

At the same time, Liu Bei's Great General Zhao Yun single-handedly charged in and out of Cao Cao's troops, killing countless enemy commanders and soldiers until he brought Liu Bei's infant son, who was protected under his chest armor, to safety.

Thanks to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei who fought off the enemy troops fiercely and courageously, their own troops and Liu Bei's remaining citizens finally fled successfully. The natural barrier set up by the Yangtse River, temporarily protected them from the strong Cao army. However, Liu Bei's generals knew very well that it was a matter of time that Cao Cao's winning troops would catch up and destroy them. Since there was no otheralternative, they had no choice but to sent Zhuge Liang, their envoy to the East and discuss forming an strategic alliance with Sun Quan.

Zhuge Liang finally arrived at the prosperous and populous East, but the 26 year old warlord Sun Quan and his officers resisted his pleas in the beginning. Lu Su, one of Sun Quan's advisors, suggested to Zhuge Liang that, if he wanted to change Sun Quan's mind, he must first persuade Commander-in-chief Zhou Yu to engage in the warfare.

Zhuge followed Lu Su and ventured into Sun Quan's military camp located at the Red Cliff, where Zhou Yu, with the help from commander Gan Xing, was training his elite crack and shock troop. That night, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang discretely challenged each other through playing classical Chinese instruments. The two also analyzed the pros and cons of the war. At the same time, Zhuge met Zhou Yu's wife who was the most beautiful woman in all of China, Xiao Qiao. In fact, many years ago, her father had a very close relationship with Cao Cao.

After the night of deep talks and interactions through music instruments, Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu became good friends. The two came to Sun Quan together and convinced him to act in the best interest of the country, which was to form an alliance with Liu Bei. At the time, Sun Quan had already received a letter from Cao Cao which summoned him to surrender, which Sun Quan refused sharply.

Eager to commence the battle, Cao Cao sent general Xiahou Yuan to lead a troop and launch a sudden attack on the Sun-Liu Alliance. Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang had alrady predicted such an attach, so they were well-prepared for it. Xiahou Yuan was firstly fought by Sun ShangXiang, Sun Quan's sister in an surprise attack she launched. Pumped by range, he chased after her and her archers, and as a result, he was led to the trap that awaited him. The alliance troops employed battle arrays that were formulated using complicated systems to crush Xiahou Yuan's troop.

After the battle, Zhou Yu spared Xiahou Yuan his life and allowed him to flee in shame after surrendering his troop to Zhou Yu. However, after this battle, Zhou Yu was wounded as he tried to bravely save Zhao Yun...