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Setting: Ancient China

Rating: 4 stars

Asian cinema is not just about low budget kung fu movies anymore. The two-part $80 million production of Red Cliff directed by John Woo has raised the bar as high as a dragon can fly. Inspired by the epic labyrinth of Chinese history, the Red Cliff saga gives movie lovers an exciting and historically detailed adventure full of action and top notch performances.

Starring Zhang Fengyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Tony Leung among many other fine actors, Red Cliff Part 1 begins with Prime Minister Cao Cao's (Zhang Fengyi) plot to absorb the power of his emperor, leader of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Granted authority to subdue rogue warlords, Cao Cao makes war on the idealistic Liu Bei who is rebellious because Cao Cao is subverting the true authority of the emperor. Liu Bei is served by many elite warriors who follow him because he is the better man and more deserving of their magnificent prowess in battle. The principle hero of the story is Liu Bei's master strategist Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro). It is Zhuge's challenge to avoid total destruction by the superior imperial forces led by Cao Cao.

Liu Bei soon suffers a bad defeat by Cao Cao's imperial army, and he must flee with as many of his civilians as he can save. Liu Bei's goodness is revealed by his devotion to protecting the people. He declares that if he cannot protect them then he has no right to rule them. Forced to flee, Liu Bei accepts Zhuge's idea that they must seek an alliance with the Eastern Wu Kingdom, led by Sun Quan who is also targeted by Cao Cao.

Sun Quan, however, proves reluctant to ally with Liu Bei because of political pressure to preserve the peace. In peace the people prosper whereas they suffer in war. Sun Quan is tempted to surrender to Cao Cao and expose Liu Bei to destruction. Persisting in his mission, Zhuge seeks to convince the Grand Viceroy Zhou Yu, who is Sun Quan's greatest general. Zhou Yu is receptive to the alliance. He is also a master strategist and is attracted to the intellectual challenge of fighting off the mighty army of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

As the story advances it very much revolves around the emerging relationship between the two master strategists as they work together to survive the onslaught of Cao Cao. Many other important subplots develop as well to enrich the film.

The only major criticism I have of Red Cliff Part 1 is the ridiculous fight scene near the beginning in which a general is trying to save Liu Bei's wife and baby. I realize the goal was to create drama, but the general fighting with spears and swords while carrying the infant simply offended all sensibility. He would have shaken the baby to death during his hectic battle, and why the mother threw herself in a well I will never fathom. This silly baby-saving scene cost the film a star in my review, but I want to emphasize that everything else about the movie was masterful, thought-provoking, and very entertaining.

Red Cliff Part 1 splendidly marries military action and hand-to-hand combat with a compelling script driven by politics, strategy, and ancient Chinese culture. Stunning special effects portray the massive armies of ancient China and its urban and rural landscapes. The translation into the English subtitles is thoroughly engaging. This is NOT a boring foreign film. Red Cliff Part 1 is by far some of the best entertainment produced recently by film makers of any country. At a length of two and half hours, Part 1 never dragged and left me entirely eager to watch Part 2, which I did the very next night.

As a fantasy writer, movies like Red Cliff stimulate my imagination. To enter an enticing world of magic and epic battle, read The Rys Chronicles fantasy series available at http://www.braveluck.com.

Special Event Videography - Top Tips for Filming Toddlers and Other Fierce Creatures

You have the perfect ending shot in your minds eye for the end of your special event family film. You are holding your camera at knee height and have Bobby the Toddler in your view finder. Two foot of obstinate intimidation. All you want him to do is run away from you to the tree and glance gleefully behind him as you chase him filming a toddler POV (point of view.) It will make a poignant and lovely ending to the film. Bobby, however, is standing with one hand on his hip and the other jammed up his nose to the second knuckle and is refusing to cooperate. "You have a big head" he notes as a matter of fact. Right, it's getting personal. "Come on Bobby, show me if you can run to the tree." You are starting to plead and that may be eroding your power base. Bobby notes the change in tactic and alters his psychological toddlercology accordingly. "I have a willy". His eyes narrow, searching for the shock reaction that usually follows. Before this can predictably move on to the 'what have you got' conversation I review the golden rules for dealing with toddlers.

Engage the Toddler

Children are very quick to make friends, if you find the right common ground. From their perspective you are a stranger who has come into mummy and daddy’s home with a rather large camera and you are making all these demands, none of which make any sense. You are treating them as you would any film subject and attempting stage direction but this will not work. Start by introducing yourself. They are little people and fully aware of social niceties. Let them know what you are there to accomplish. Show them the camera, give them a quick tour of the more obvious features. Your flip out LCD display panel is about to become your best friend. Toddlers love nothing more than to see themselves. You will get great footage this way and also alleviate any fear factors as your camera has now become a large toy. Be sensitive that you are dealing with teeny tiny people who have all the standard emotions, fears and concerns, unfortunately without a filtering mechanism, control or the power of reason.

Personalise the Camera

I have in the past attempted to over personalise my camera. I gave it antenna and ping pong ball eyes. This was a sure fire hit with the kiddies but it caused external noise on the film and made me look quite daft. You don't need to go this far. Give your camera a name, tell a little story about the films 'Eric' likes to take and some of the places he has been to shoot those films. If however you are dealing with a savvy Generation Z toddler, who has brutally honest parents, tell them that this is the Sony Z1 and ask his views on progressive filming versus interlaced.

Camera Games

Hide the Object If you want a toddler to go in a certain direction, give them a reason. Hide a toy and tell them to find it. Do it a couple of times before using the camera. Do not hide their favourite blue blanket that even mummy cannot touch or you will find your public liability getting a hammering for psychological damage.

Hide and Seek Get mum or dad to start this one off and then join in. If this is not a favorite get mum or dad to play the game that typifies fun for the family and film it as a participant. Wear flat shoes and use the smaller lighter battery.

Show me a Face Turn around the LCD panel and play 'make that face', these bits of film are adorable and make good transition shots between scenes.

You Scratch My Back..

Realistically, you will be shooting a large amount of film, and the balance of probabilities that you will get some useable footage. If however, the toddler is not going to cooperate on any level, bribery is your last resort. I sometimes ask parents of self proclaimed high need children, that if they wish they can consider an 'encouragement' gift. Prior to the shoot, they have the option of purchasing a toy that can be offered in exchange for helping mummy and daddy with the film. This is a one off and not going to cause Dr Spock to spin in his grave, or Dr Phil to frown and ask 'What were you thinking??" If the toy is not required then it will make a nice gift for a job well done. Do not, repeat do not, attempt bribery without parental consent, toddlers should not eat confectionary and may have allergies you are not aware of. And if you offer an unsanctioned gift you will infuriate and alienate parents and possibly lose a client. At the end of the day, mum and dad know their toddler better than you and their guidance will be more valuable than sugar and bribery.

In the case of non-compliant Bobby and upon reflection of the golden rules I considered the odds of me winning this battle and with discretion being the better part of valor I conceded defeat to my better opponent and left it all in mum's capable hands.

About the Author

Amanda Nella is a professional videographer who operates her own special event video business in Perth WA. She provides quality documentary style films for parents about their children. She is trained in the field of investigative interviewing. She holds Diplomas in Investigations, SCAn,Stage Production, Computer Programming & Business. She also has two fierce toddlers of her own. Visit her site at Bump2babyFilms

For those who saw the first film of Toy Story, if you were a toy?

and you fall into the hands of Sid Phillips (that sadistic kid of the black t-shirt)

What would you do?

Oh I hated Sid when I was a kid! AAAAH!

I would lock him somewhere, somewhere where he could never get out....

I mean I would talk to his parents and set him straight.

Wait....
I was a toy....

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