Red Cliff (film)

Red Cliff
American poster for the edited release
Directed by	John Woo
Produced by	Terence Chang Han Sanping John Woo
Written by	Kuo Cheng Sheng Heyu Chan Khan John Woo
Starring	Tony Leung Takeshi Kaneshiro Zhang Fengyi Chang Chen Zhao Wei Hu Jun Shidō Nakamura Lin Chi-ling
Music by	Tarō Iwashiro
Cinematography	Zhang Li Lü Yue
Edited by	Yang Hongyu Angie Lam Robert A. Ferretti (Part I) David Wu (Part II)
Production companies	Beijing Film Studio China Film Group Lion Rock Productions
Distributed by	Chengtian Entertainment
Release date	10 July 2008 (2008-07-10) (Part I) 7 January 2009 (2009-01-07) (Part II)
Running time	Part I: 146 minutes Part II: 142 minutes Total: 288 minutes Edited version: 148 minutes
Country	China Hong Kong Japan South Korea Taiwan
Language	Mandarin
Budget	US$80 million
Box office	US$248.3 million

Red Cliff is a 2008-09 Chinese epic war film, based on the Battle of Red Cliffs (AD 208–209) and the events at the end of the Han dynasty and immediately prior to the Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. The film was directed by John Woo, and stars Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Zhao Wei, Hu Jun and Lin Chi-ling . It is Woo's first major film since 2003's Paycheck and his first Chinese-language feature since 1992's Hard Boiled, also starring Leung.

In China and much of Asia, Red Cliff was released in two parts, totaling over four hours in length (288 minutes). The first part (146 minutes) premiered in Beijing on 2 July 2008 and the second (142 minutes) was released in China on 7 January 2009. Outside Asia, a cut-down single 148 minute version was released in 2009. However, the full-length two-part version was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on 5 October 2009, and in the United States and Canada on 23 March 2010.

The first part of the film grossed US$124 million in Asia and broke the box office record previously held by Titanic in mainland China.

Director John Woo said in an interview with David Stratton that the film is only 50% factual. Woo decided to alter the story using modern feelings and his own feelings for a more worldly acceptance. According to Woo, historical accuracy was less important than how the audience felt about the battle.

In the summer of 208, towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, the Chancellor, Cao Cao, leads the imperial army on a campaign to eliminate the southern warlords Sun Quan and Liu Bei, whom he denounces as "rebels". Emperor Xian reluctantly approves the campaign. Cao Cao's mighty army swiftly conquers Jing Province. The Battle of Changban is ignited when Cao Cao's cavalry starts attacking civilians on an exodus led by Liu Bei. During the battle, Liu Bei's followers, including his sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, give an excellent display of their combat skills by holding off the enemy while buying time for the civilians to retreat. The warrior Zhao Yun fights bravely to rescue Liu Bei's entrapped family but only succeeds in rescuing Liu's infant son.