Red Cliff

John Woo directs the most expensive Asian film ever made. The blockbuster, set in the third century Han dynasty, tells the tale of a famous historic battle. When warlord Cao Cao invades the land of Wu with a million soldiers in a bid to unite the Chinese empire, Sun Quan, the leader of Wu, asks a rival ruler for assistance.

Nigel Andrews, Financial Times: The battle scenes... are to die for in every sense. Hails of arrows cross-hatching the sky; a naval fleet torched in an infernal seascape worthy of J.M.W. Turner. And bodies hurtle skyward or earthward in a thrilling, beautiful, non-stop ballet of gravity submission or defiance. But doesn't that 'beautiful' give it away? Woo gives us Kurosawa kinetics without Kurosawa's clasp on our hearts and minds. (Verdict: four stars out of five)

Tom Huddleston, Time Out: In Asia, Red Cliff was released in two parts, totalling almost five hours. At half that length, this international cut ditches personal interplay and political intrigue in favour of battles and bloodshed. Not that Woo dumps character altogether: aided by a fine cast, he ensures that the central figures are distinct and memorable. But the film's focus is on spectacle, and here Woo delivers. (Verdict: three stars out of five) ·