Film geeks still slaver over the early output of John Woo such as Hard Boiled and The Killer for their devotion to style and fantastic action sequences. However, the mid-90s and early aughts brought disappointment in the director for his less-than-stellar fare including Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle Hard Target, the shockingly bad Mission: Impossible II, and the forgettable Philip K. Dick adaptation Paycheck. But with exhilarating, epic action reminiscent of both Braveheart and Hero, the ancient Chinese war film Red Cliff restores Woo to the hall of the hallowed. It has the director's trademark style in spades, but it never skimps on story or character development.

Red Cliff is the most expensive movie in Asian cinema history, and it's easy to see where the money went. Countless actors in period costumes, numerous special effects shots, and impeccable sound all contribute to a masterfully created film that matches Hollywood's high standards with its impressive visuals. Red Cliff might lack the poetry of Hero, but it's a beautifully shot film filled with gasp-worthy fight scenes choreographed by legendary action director Corey Yuen (The Transporter). Whether the match-ups are one-on-one or widespread battles, the choreography is both creative and stunning. Spears fly, swords clash, and arrows volley in battles on land and in the water, but ancient war strategy ensures that the film isn't all mindless muscle.

Though the history of Red Cliff may be unfamiliar to many viewers in the Western hemisphere, the story is a universal one: the plot follows noble men as they bring their small armies against the much larger forces of an evil tyrant. However, despite its familiarity, the action in Woo's film still surprises with its exciting take on ancient warfare.

Set in 208 A.D. during China's Han Dynasty, the film is based on history and inspired by the still-popular, 13th- century novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". Emperor Han (Wang Ning) may claim the country's most powerful position, but Prime Minister Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi, Farewell My Concubine) rules with his military prowess as general. Liu Bei (You Yong) and his people in the Xu Kingdom try to stand against Cao Cao's army, but their lesser forces are no match for the numerous soldiers under Cao Cao's command.

Liu Bei's advisor Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro, House of Flying Daggers) must convince the leader of the Wu Kingdom, Sun Quan (Chang Chen, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), to join their cause. However, Sun Quan defers to his trusted viceroy's opinion: if Zhou Yu (Tony Leung, Lust, Caution) can be convinced of Zhuge Liang's cause, they will join forces with the Xu army to fight Cao Cao. Even if they are united, the Xu and Wu kingdoms will struggle to stand against the emperor's soldiers. They are outmatched in everything but skill and heart, but they meet their enemy in a series of fights that culminates in the historic Battle of Red Cliff.

As if the strong story and technical merits of the film weren't enough, Woo has assembled an enviable cast of Asia's top talent. Not only are these actors able to use period-appropriate weapons with apparent ease, but they're also able to deliver their lines with equal aplomb. They inhabit their characters both physically and emotionally, adding extra depth to an already excellent film. Leung and Kaneshiro prove they're worthy of their position as box office draws, and film fans will be glad to see the return of the semi-retired Fengyi.

The film was initially a two-part, five-hour-long epic, but it has been cut down to a still muscular 150 minutes for its Western release. Overall, the transition seems smooth, with only a few jarring cuts and minor plot holes to mar an otherwise well-edited version. Even with its two-and-a-half-hour run time, Red Cliff is far more entertainment than educational effort. Scenes fly by at a breakneck pace with little time to marvel over a masterfully made moment with another one appearing soon after. "Breathtaking" and "heart-stopping" are overused adjectives when it comes to film criticism, but I left the theater with my heart still pounding from the action of a battle that might have ended 1800 years ago but still carries plenty of suspense.