When mummy asked if I would like to watch "Red Cliff", I was elated! She said that it was a Hong Kong-Australia Business Association (HKABA) event... IF ONLY!

It was only after we had arrived at The Hilton, Sydney, for cocktails, that mummy whips out the invite and informed me, nonchalantly, that John Woo was the Guest-of-Honour.

It was only then that I realised the official launch of "Red Cliff" was in conjunction with the Sydney Film Festival 2009.

Below are some photos of the night. Enjoy!




























Synopsis

From the acclaimed director of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II, FACE/OFF and THE KILLERS, comes a dazzling, visionary epic based on the legendary Battle of Red Cliff, in which a force of fifty thousand defeated an army of nearly one million.

In 208 A.D., in the final days of the Han Dynasty, shrewd PRIME MINISTER CAO CAO convinced the fickle EMPEROR HAN the only way to unite all of China was to declare war on the kingdoms of Xu in the west and East Wu in the south. Thus began a military campaign of unprecedented scale, led by the Prime Minister, himself. Left with no other hope for survival, the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu formed an unlikely alliance. Numerous battles of strength and wit ensued, both on land and on water, eventually culminating in the battle of Red Cliff. During the battle, two thousand ships were burned, and the course of Chinese history was changed forever.


The film was directed by John Woo, and stars Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Hu Jun, Lin Chi-ling and Zhao Wei.

With an estimated budget of US$80 million, Red Cliff is the most expensive Asian-financed film to date. The first part of the movie alone grossed $124 million in Asia and broke the box office record previously held by Titanic in mainland China.

The release date for "Red Cliff" in Australia is July 23, 2009. However, "Red Cliff" was released in 2008 all over Asia with "Red Cliff 2" already released in early 2009.

I am eagerly anticipating the launch of "Red Cliff 2". I'm definite it would be more spectacular as John Woo never disappoints!


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