Source: CCTV.com

07-21-2008 18:01

Some say there is just one film on China's summer movie offerings - John Woo's "Red Cliff". The film's domination of the cinema world is a hot topic of daily conversation. Some of the dialogues already have entered the popular idiom. On today's "Spotlight", we'll take a look "Red Cliff," the most expensive Chinese movie ever made.

The story of the Three Kingdoms is an age old favourite in China. The story is told in Chen Shou's historical account and in Luo Guanzhong's novel. It's recalled in traditional opera and even in computer games. Now John Woo retells the tale for the cinema in his classic way.

John Woo chose one of the classic conflicts of the three kingdoms era - the famous battle of Red Cliff. Two of the kingdoms conspired to make war against the third. Liu Bei warlord of the Kingdom of Shu and his counselor Zhuge Liang unite with the Wu kingdom general, Zhou Yu. Together they join in battle against Cao Cao, warlord of the powerful Wei Kingdom. Cao Cao's massive army numbers 800 thousand soldiers. With a combined army of only 100 thousand, the two tiny kingdoms earn the victory. The movie has also proven a victory at the box office for John Woo, since its premiere, July 10th.