As my first blog, I would like to mention a movie I have just seen. I had wondered what the big difference was between regular and extended edition...it didn't really say anything on the back unless you looked at runtime hours.
Honestly, if you are willing to take in a film for it's entirety, Make sure you see the extended edition of this film. The regular US edition of Red Cliff is no joke, a whole half the length of the extended/regular Chinese edition.
It was released in two seperate parts in China, for good reason...altogether it is approx. 5 hrs long. But I sat and put the second disc in about as soon as first 2 1/2 hrs was done. To put it simply, it was an extremely good film. I cannot even watch other chinese films right after this one, as I feel less appreciate seeing a masterpeice worth my $5 extra only being $20 for such a long film.
One of the reasons for a low price, I assume, is that it is not dubbed. It is worth sitting through the subtitles, but I know there are many who would rather not even see a 5 hr movie, let alone have it be in another language.
Because it was released in two seperate parts however, you can easily walk away after the first disc to do something else for awhile, as the second part has a brief overview of what's happened.
Anyways....I won't go over the plot summary so much, that is simple to find on google. I'd like to show my appreciation for the film itself, and the actors. The team put alot of effort into this film, other than the huge budget apparently doing bigger than Titanic and the Dark Knight.
On set, there were rain storms and floods ruining the shooting locations and set ups. There was also a rock fall from part of the set, where a man was dug out of the pile and brought to a hospital...however, it did not stop them at all. After they had come so far during a summer where it reached 104 F with huge water jugs being passed around, and all the stress the director was going through, I'd say it went well in the end.
Zhuge Liang character poster for movie.
The main actors also did a great job. I have added some of these character figures to my list of historical people I admire. Among said people, Zhuge Liang is a pretty admirable character. I will not spoil his feats, as I believe in watching things unfold without expectations. However, I think he is amazing, the acting done for him was believable, and he was also a funny character despite his generally calm attitude, along with the other main character, Zhou Yu. I am merely mentioning who stuck out to me the most, and they are not the only ones. If I wanted to go on about everything about this film I enjoyed, this would be a long blog...
I'll be honest, I cannot remember how to write any of these names, I am still new to memorizing cantonese spelling and such, so it does not stick to my memory well...but I hope to remember these two.
Zhou Yu raising his dish during celebration. Zhou Yu was also a very good character.
By the way, being odd as I am, I cannot help looking for a pairing of two favourite characters. I noticed Liang was fond of the princess, whom they did have a short scene of them talking of somewhat personal matters, but it never went farther, to my disappointment. They had potential. On a side note however, it was something else to watch this character help birth a baby foal. He is also a man skilled in weaponry design and music, but often hides it till he sees need of it. His main skill however is strategist, and he pulls the army through.
Zhou Yu was a good general, couragous, and becoming close friends with Liang, despite what might bring them to battle in the future, for now, they are allies. Zhou Yu also is wed to the 'most beautiful woman', whom the villain of the movie is also after. I think they are a great married couple, and it was their horse whom Liang had birthed, only another way to secure a friendship between the two men as great allies, and acceptance of Zhou Yu's wife for such ally. They also shared a taste for music, in which the wife and Liang could tell what was on his mind, esspecially at times of trouble where he kept calm infront of others.
Yes, I do realize his wife has a name, but again, I am just keeping this basic, not trying to involve everything you would read on Wikipedia....although, I guess I could look the names up again.
Anyways....some of the cinematics were awsome, and not only were some of the battle tactics clever and neat to watch, the full 5 hrs was enough time to bring you attached to the characters.
The soundtrack too is worth mentioning, as a song played by a boy on his flute becomes the main theme throughout the film, if I do recall correct.
Also, if you are one for symbolic scenes, make sure you do watch the extended edition. There are some good scenes used when trying to make another character understand something, they went out of their way to use a tiger hunt to make a young leader realize what threat the villain had on his land, as said villain resembled that of a tiger is some respects to them. The young leader overcame his fear of the tiger and came back with confidence in an alliance to take down the villain.
the princess was also a very notable character. Se is strong-willed, and has trained for battle herself, also her many maids and female guards are all armed, if any male were foolish enough to go near her chambers or assassinate her. She is also skilled if chi points in horses as well as men, so really, it doesnt matter if your on horseback, men fear her. It really is quite hilarious, I enjoy watching these heroines making something of the men who underestimate them. This is one good reason for Liang to like her, but it did not go anywhere, unfortunately, although he did show a respect for her that most of the men did not.
I do suggest you watch the film to find more out, I am sharing my views of what I remember most, but really, it doesnt make up for you not seeing it. If you really cannot sit through the entire story, at least try the regular US release, which is the cover art that is more common, although I do like the cover for the regular edition most, the red shades look quite nice.
However, if you can sit through it, an extra $5 is worth 2 1/2 hrs extra.
The villain,Prime Minister Cao Cao. He thinks he can rule all of China, basically.
If you did not know, this is based on a real historical account back in the time before the Three Kingdoms. The characters I mentioned are indeed based off their real counterparts, which makes me want to start getting into Chinese history.
Anyways, I have to go now. I'm sure there is more I want to review, or rant about :p. Later...
