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Plot summary
Cao Cao governs in the name of the figurehead Emperor Xian and denounces the southern lords Sun Quan and Liu Bei as rebels, winning reluctant approval for a campaign against them. His army takes Jing Province and meets Liu Bei's forces at Changban, where Guan Yu and Zhang Fei shield the retreating civilians and Zhao Yun saves Liu Bei's infant son. Liu Bei's adviser Zhuge Liang crosses to Jiangdong to seek an alliance. Sun Quan wavers between surrender and war, then chooses war after hearing Zhuge Liang and after a tiger hunt with Zhou Yu, commander of his frontline forces, and his sister, Lady Sun. Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, naval officers of Jing Province, bring Cao Cao's fleet under their command, and the allies gather at Red Cliff to plan against an army advancing by land and water.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Red Cliff (2008)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- On 9 June 2008 a stuntman was killed and six others were injured in a freak fire accident during the shoot of John Woo's Red Cliff, which the article calls a lengthy and troubled production.
- Ken Watanabe was first selected to play the warlord Cao Cao, but a report said protests from Chinese fans, who felt a Japanese actor should not portray an important Chinese historical figure, influenced John Woo's decision to cast Zhang Fengyi in the part.
- Chow Yun-fat was set to play Zhou Yu, and had earlier been considered for Liu Bei, but pulled out on 13 April 2007 as shooting began; producer Terence Chang said the film's Hollywood insurer opposed 73 clauses in Chow's contract.
- Tony Leung replaced Chow after just two days, having earlier turned down the role of Zhuge Liang; though exhausted from filming Lust, Caution, he took the part for the sake of a 20-year friendship with Woo.
- The first part of Red Cliff broke the mainland Chinese box office record previously held by Titanic, grossing over US$127 million internationally.
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