Red Cliff 2 continues straight from where part 1 ended (Check the post on that one first). After a quick summary of what happened in the first part its more of the same elements that were present in the first movie: The over the top military tactics, Zhuge Liang and Zhou Ju competing, slapstick humour and of course more action.
Red Cliff 2 doesn’t go in its own direction but more builds on what was established in part 1. After the beginning montage has reminded what took place, the movie continues from where part 1 left off. Preparing for the big battle is the name of the game. I found I enjoyed the waiting towards the big battle more than the finale itself. The friendship between Zhuge Liang and Zhou Ju, the two tacticians and commanders of the good guys, was enjoying to follow this time around as well. The chemistry between the two works well and them competing was one of the funniest (if at points dumbest) parts in the film.
The action is once more the meat of the movie and the ending battle is, I have to admit, rather epic. It should be, seeing as how most of the film consists of preparing for that battle. The fire effects especially were rather slendid. I found the ending battle at points very similar to Helm’s Deep from Lord of the Rings. Apart from the naval fleet the setting is rather similar: There’s a wall that the army opposing Cao Cao has to get past. They finally manage it when one of Zhou Ju’s underlings attacks the wall with three bombs sacrifing himself while doing so. Anyone else reminded of that orc at Helm’s Deep? Besides the wall and the bombs they aren’t all that similar though.
It’s hard to write about Red Cliff 1 and 2 as separate movies because they are really the same movie. Red Cliff is more a mini-series with two parts than a series of two films. In my opinion to be called a continuation Red Cliff 2 should work as a movie in itself. Star Wars IV-VI for example did that. All the movies in that trilogy would work even without seeing the rest of the films in it. Of course you get more out of it if you watch all of them in chronological order. Red Cliff 2 on the other hand wouldn’t really work without seeing part 1 first. Somehow I find this a problem. As a movie in itself Red Cliff two would fail I think, but when you look at it as a straight continuation to part 1 it works rather well. If you liked the first part you will most likely enjoy the second one as well. If you do want more Red Cliff, this movie gives an extra helping of it.