In my opinion, Red Cliff may well be the greatest movie ever made.
(And I swore nothing would ever be able threaten Casablanca's hold on that spot.)
And even if you don't think it goes that far, in terms of the "epic productions", it's as far the other side of movies like Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, etc., as those movies are the other side of your average George Lucas movie.
Unfortunately, most Americans (and I expect, most Europeans) will never see it because of its 288 minute length*.
And, of course, that its in Chinese.**
*Apparently there's a shortened "international version" out there. I avoided it because everyone I read before buying it said you should. I have no idea if it's any good. But I would have no clue what they would cut.
**Which, by the way, proves completely irrelevant. The movie is that good. By the time you're 5-10 minutes into the film, you forget all about the fact that you don't know the language. At least I did.
The two male leads, Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro -- if this is a representative sample of their work, they are as good as ANY living American actor.) And the cast is full of really good actors none of us have probably ever heard of. If Foster hadn't shared the Alan video, I expect I would never have heard of it. Much less bought it.
(I'm half tempted to buy you a copy for you and the Kats, Rourke, as a gift. Well, maybe not, I'm kinda cheap. Plus I can never figure out how that stupid copyright thing with DVD regions works.)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)