Tag: 2008

RED CLIFF 1&2 (2008-09)

i am a fan of history, more specifically the wars in history in how they shape the course of history. that’s why i have a affinity for war movies. i have been indulging myself with a lot of Chinese media for some while in particular 3 kingdoms from Manga-Manhua, T.V. series to movies (but not the novel itself ……yet).

this period was so interesting for me that i was very exited for this movie, and the 1st reaction after watching it were mixed. Now all the kudos to the team that made the movie for its defiantly a good movie but as someone who knows bits and pieces of the story more than average it didn’t satisfy me, but its a movie i would recommend to others to watch to know a bit of unknown history. its a movie i think works best for people who are unaware of the general premise or have a shallow understanding of it, as they will get to see the way they wars were conducted in past and how certain actions and idea sparked and changed histories. how arrogance can be your undoing and how even mighty fall.

the movie mostly about the battle of red cliff that happens during the 3 kingdoms period of Chinese history (220–280 AD). its the fight between the mighty Wei army led by Cao Cao and the allied kingdoms of Shu and Wu forces. where its a battle of survival for the later. choosing the red cliffs as their site of battle to get the field advantages. forcing the Wei army into a naval battle which they were not accustomed to. Cao Cao is the self proclaimed prime minister of the Han empire which he is basically in control by placing a puppet emperor in place and wanting to conquer the entire china declares war on the remaining two kingdoms. A alliance out of necessity is form by the 2 kingdoms Shu and Wu. having their greatest minds and generals on the task which was nearly impossible.

the battle is famous for its strategies that the sides enforced to gain the upper hand, negating the opponents ploy with their own and how one genius, Zhuge Liang changed the game. now i dont want to say to much about how war pans out as i feel some moments are best experience with no knowledge so for any reader who hasn’t watched it give it a go.

how will i rate the movie, about 6-7 for both parts combined as thats how i watched it.

61 movies down………….439 to go.

see you soon

再见 (Zàijiàn) (See you again in chinese)

The Reader (2008)

like i always say 2008 was a year of a lot of good movies, and this one follows the trend. A movie that showcases the aftermath of a relationship after a horrible secret is out.

the story follows a lawyer (Ralph Fiennes) who reminisce about his younger days, when he as a young boy (David Kross) meet his first love by random chance, this middle aged lady (Kate Winslet) he meet helped in out. this lead to him and her meeting again and them starting to have feeling for each other. she loved to hear him read out storys from novels to her, and this became there thing. now this 15 year old boy was experiencing his first love and was head over heels about her. until one day she suddenly vanishes. the boy pursues law, one day when visiting a court preceding for the Nazi war criminals he see his first love standing in the defenders stand, and reality strikes him. this causes him to feel spilt about her and conflicted to help her when she takes the full blame of the charges even though by holding back information that proves her innocence. thus she gets sentenced to jail, as a grown up the lawyer feels guilty and as repentance starts sending her voice recording of him reading the stories to her. they meet each other after nearly 20 years, but his conflicting feelings about her causes him to distant him from her. which leads to her committing suicide.

the acting is nicely done in this movie, Kate winslet was really good in this movie and played her character brilliantly. the movie does dwell in to the aspect of the atrocities by the Nazi and how only certain people were being held responsible just to pass the blame on to certain people. how the proceedings were just a way to get someone to take the blame and wrap everything up.

this is a good movie, a recommend to those who are into such a story-line which dwells onto the characters choices and conflicting desires. a rating of 7/10.

21 movies down……….479 to go.

see you soon.

goodbye.