John Woo restores credibility to Chinese epics with 'Red Cliff'
吴宇森《赤壁》重建中国史诗巨片公信力
A true epic needs more than the grandeur of its landscapes, the lavishness of its sets and the sheer manpower of its battle scenes: It needs a truly epic story.
构成一部真正的史诗巨片的必要条件，除了壮丽的山河风光、豪华的明星阵容以及宏伟的战争场景之外，更需要的是一段真实可感的历史故事。
John Woo displays the crucial distinction in the magnificently told "Red Cliff," the Hong Kong director's triumphant return to Chinese film after 16 years in Hollywood.
在好莱坞打拼了16载光阴之后，吴宇森通过银幕再现辉煌的“赤壁之战”来实现他回归华语电影的华丽转身。
Using old-fashioned good storytelling, "Red Cliff" restores credibility to the genre of Chinese historical epics that have often been tainted by pointlessly large-scaled and action-packed productions.
通过遵循经典的叙事范例，《赤壁》重建了以往规模庞大、动作火爆但流于庸俗的中国式史诗巨片的公信力。
Woo is helped by a wealth of source material. "Red Cliff" is based on a storied historical period that has inspired video games and comic books — third-century prime minister Cao Cao's quest to unite a divided China.But the director breathes new life into Cao and the colorful cast of characters that oppose him.
虽然影片的题材来自于一段真实的历史故事，后人对这个故事也作了多次改编。但是吴宇森凭借着自己的理解和感受，赋予了影片中每个历史人物以新的生命。
There's the ruthless and arrogant Cao, who dishes out beheading orders casually and lusts after the wife of one of the resistance fighters; his main rival, the avuncular Liu Bei, who despite Cao's invasion still finds time to weave grass shoes; Liu's pudgy and hotheaded lieutenant Zhang Fei, who never hesitates to speak his mind.Liu's ally, Sun Quan, is a young ruler who struggles to find his confidence living under the shadow of his accomplished late brother and father.
（以上一段介绍剧中人物，中国观众耳熟能详，故略去）
Woo takes the time to introduce anecdotes that define each character. The epic battle scenes involving scores of extras and enhanced by special effects are still there — including a complex fight centered on a maze-like military formation — but most of "Red Cliff" is spent filling out the rich cast of characters.
他在影片加入了许多稗官野史里提及的名人轶事，通过这些鲜活的生活化细节来丰富人物性格。而壮烈宏伟的战争场景的构建则通过大量的临时演员和先进的电脑特技来完成，包括一场围绕着一个迷宫般复杂的阵形进行的战斗。尽管场面特效气势雄奇，但是导演还是将更多的笔墨着色于勾勒出丰满的人物性格上。
The director is so keen on building an epic story that he even leaves the final showdown between the two sides to a second installment. "Red Cliff," which will be released in Asia this month, is the first part. The sequel will be released in December.
吴宇森是如此地执着于再现一个完整的历史故事，以至于他不得不增加影片的容量，将其分为上下两部。本月上映的《赤壁》是第一部，而其续集则要等到十二月份才能和观众见面。
Woo's grand narrative justifies the two-parter. In "Red Cliff," he paints such a delightful ensemble of characters and sets up such a sharp contrast between the two opposing sides, bracing the audience for a titanic battle between Good and Evil in the sequel.
吴宇森的宏大叙事为影片的分集提供了充分的理由。在第一部《赤壁》当中，他描绘了一个如此缤纷多姿的人物群像，并且为对立的双方设置了如此鲜明的对比，从而诱使观众去观看续集中善恶双方气势磅礴的决战。
The outstanding storytelling and character building is reminiscent of "Star Wars." The story feels similarly epic; the characters similarly funky. Interestingly, the English subtitles cast Liu's side as the "rebels" and their opponents as the "empire" — the same terminology used in George Lucas' legendary sci-fi series.
本片无与庞大精细的叙事技巧和人物建构颇有《星球大战》的遗风，二者都有着史诗般的故事结构，诙谐风趣的人物角色。有趣的是，在英文字幕上，刘备方被称为“起义军”，而他们的对手则被称为“帝国”，这和乔治·卢卡斯的系列传奇科幻电影中使用的术语一模一样。
And Woo injects humor and a modern sensibility into his characters, removing any feeling that these are outdated personalities hundreds of years old.
吴宇森还将幽默的元素和现代感注入其角色中，消除了“这些都是过时了几百年的人物”的感觉。
Japanese-Taiwanese heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro brings youthful playfulness and sarcasm to the role of Liu's famed military strategist, Zhuge Liang. At first glance, Kaneshiro lacks the gravitas to carry such an esteemed character in Chinese history, but he gives the character a unique, refreshing interpretation.
日台混血儿金城武在剧中饰演刘备的军师——满腹谋略的诸葛亮，他给这个角色增加了更多嬉笑怒骂的成分，使其更有活力。乍看之下，金城武似乎缺乏饰演这么一个在中国历史上备受尊崇的军事家的能力，但是他成功地诠释出一个令人耳目一新、与众不同的诸葛亮。
But the biggest surprise in the cast is Chinese actress Zhao Wei, who steals the show with her portrayal of Sun's spunky tomboy sister Sun Shangxiang, frustrated that her military ambitions are dismissed by the men around her.
但是，本片最大的惊喜来自于赵薇的表演。她在剧中饰演孙权那活泼好动的妹妹孙尚香——一个沮丧于自己的军事雄心不断被周围的男人们驳回的假小子，她的表演十分“抢镜”。
With "Red Cliff," Woo shows he's still a masterful director to be reckoned with.
通过《赤壁》一片，吴宇森证明了他仍然是个可以信赖的大师级导演。
《南方都市报》7月12日稿
