Behind the scenes of ‘Red Cliff’ with Corey Yuen

The first entry in John Woo’s two-part period war epic RED CLIFF opened strong in China and surrounding territories on July 10th and has since picked up over $45 million. Starring Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro, Woo’s historical-minded take on events famously depicted in Luo Guanzhong’s historical novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” has been fairly well received with mixed feelings on war-related action choreographed by Corey Yuen.

Action director Corey Yuen (center) pictured with director John Woo (right) while on the set of RED CLIFF.

In their largely favorable review, Variety describes the film’s action scenes as “exaggerated but not manga-like,” while general commentators at IMDb have not-so-favorably pointed out rapid cutting and overuse of Woo’s trademark slow motion.

As Woo has always had a very particular way of shooting action, like his mentor Chang Cheh, credit for the finished look usually goes to him despite technical efforts from past action directing collaborators Sammo Hung (HAND OF DEATH), Stephen Tung (A BETTER TOMORROW) and Philip Kwok (HARD BOILED).

RED CLIFF marks the first-time collaboration between Woo and TRANSPORTER 2 director Corey Yuen. It’s also Yuen’s first big-screen foray into the arena of historical drama, a leap that fellow Hong Kong action director Ching Siu-tung made previously in Jet Li’s THE WARLORDS.

With the trend in action filmmaking in China leaning towards the kind of gritty realism that Tsui Hark resuscitated with SEVEN SWORDS, all of Hong Kong’s top ADs are moving into new territory including kung fu movie master Yuen Woo-ping who has been transitioning to even more stately and visceral fight work in films like FEARLESS and THE BANQUET.

The following video is from a Chinese-language production that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the choreography Corey Yuen was orchestrating in RED CLIFF. It also includes highlights from some of his previous work on films like FONG SAI YUK. The interview and narrative portions are not translated but it does show Yuen on set and working with cast members. If anyone wants to take a stab at translating Yuen’s comments, feel free to post in the comments below.

Corey Yuen has also been busy choreographing action for Chris Nohan’s BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE and is expected to helm a remake of Chang Cheh’s blood-soaked kung fu classic VENGEANCE! for Celestial Pictures.

Part two of RED CLIFF is being released in China in December. Both parts are being edited together into a shorter version for Western markets where the film’s subject is less well known. It’s expected that this version will be more action oriented and will mostly cut dramatic scenes, which according to comments posted online are quite plentiful in the first part.

I am usually critical of cuts made to Chinese films but not in this case. There is no way distributors could realistically market a four-hour movie concerning a subject most target viewers know nothing about. It would have to be a masterpiece to justify that and while the first part of the film seems to be doing well it hasn’t been receiving the kind of buzz that would suggest an undisputed work of genius.

Tags: Corey Yuen, John Woo, upcoming