void of existence

Lin Chiling is a waste of time. She is a beauty and add to the movie like a vase in our living room.

But I like the historical implications of this production. The conversation is set out in modern language, so that we do not have to read the subtitles just to understand that they are agreeing to go to war together. You probably do not have to know the background of the story to enjoy the movie, but it helps.

There are things that the movie do not explain. Like what is Caocao sickness during his quest to conquer the south. He is supposed to be suffering from some form of migraine. The doctor that treated him is Hua Tuo, who is supposed to be the best medicine man EVER.  Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang are rivals in the novel of the Romance of the Three Kingdom. It was also said that Zhuge Liang spite Zhou Yu to death. This is historically unconfirmed. So this production is taking another view of it.  Also, to indicate that Caocao went to war because of a woman…that is absolutely stupid.

There are a number of differences between the novel and this movie. I am not saying that any of the two is right. They are entertainment after all. Historians have been finding lapses in the novel with actual history to begin with. Even the actual location the this battle is highly debatable.

Here’s some difference between the novel and movie that I have found on Wiki.

Differences between the movie and the novel

• Kong Rong was sentenced to execution by Cao Cao after he spoke ill of the latter before an emissary from Sun Quan, whereas in the movie he was executed for openly challenging Cao Cao and denouncing him as a traitor with the intention of usurping the throne before the emperor.

• In history, Lady Gan of Liu Bei’s two wives survived the Battle of Changban unlike in the movie where she was killed by enemy soldiers amidst the chaos. In addition, Liu Bei had numerous sons, and the son portrayed in the story was not his only “remaining bloodline” (though he was the most conspicuous and significant in the novel because he was Bei’s first non-adopted son). In reality, his two daughters were captured in the battle.

• Zhang Fei and a few soldiers met Cao Cao’s troops at a bridge where Zhang Fei bellowed at the enemy, striking fear into them such that they did not dare to advance. In the movie, Zhang Fei led an army of 1000 to engage the enemy head on.

• Guan Yu only arrived to reinforce Liu Bei’s retreating army after Zhao Yun had rescued Liu Shan. He did not stay behind to hold off the enemy forces alone like in the movie.

• Zhuge Liang met Sun Quan personally and discussed about the alliance with him in a private conversation unlike in the movie where the duo met during an assembly of all the subjects of Wu.

• Zhou Yu was training his troops at Chaisang prior to the Battle of Red Cliffs and not at Red Cliff.

• Zhuge Liang first met Zhou Yu at the latter’s residence unlike in the movie where they met at the military training grounds.

• Cao Cao had never met Xiao Qiao before in his entire life. However in the movie he mentioned that he had “never forgotten her” since he first saw her with her father Qiao Xuan.

• Cai Mao and Zhang Yun had surrended to Cao Cao before the Battle of Changban along with their lord Liu Cong (which was, in fact, the catalyst for Liu Bei’s flight and the Battle of Changban) but in the movie they came to serve Cao Cao after the battle.

• Zhou Yu and his generals did not visit Liu Bei’s camp in history. In fact, they only had a brief meeting which was fictionalised in Romance of the Three Kingdoms in which Zhou Yu attempted to have Liu Bei assassinated.

• Sun Shangxiang had not met Liu Bei before their marriage, which was a politically-arranged marriage to strengthen ties between Liu Bei and Sun Quan. In the movie, Sun Shangxiang met Liu Bei at the banquet to celebrate the victory.

• The battle scene in the movie with the Eight Triagrams Formation was a fictional one. The forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei did not actually fight side-by-side with each other in any battle. Also, the Eight Triagrams Formation was only put into use as an army (not navy) formation long after the Battle of Red Cliffs.

• Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang did not become enemies in the future as Zhou Yu had said towards the end of the film. However, in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the duo became bitter rivals after the Battle of Red Cliffs

Also, the battle scene from the movie as mentioned about seem to borrow a lot of the idea from Dynasty Warriors or some other games of similar genre.