After a brief synopsis of scenes from the first film, "Red Cliff II" begins with a scene in Cao Cao's camp where a game of cuju, an old form of soccer, is taking place. Sun Shangxiang (Vicki Zhao) has disguised herself as a soldier and periodically sends secrets about Cao Cao's army via pigeon post to Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro), Liu Bei's chief advisor.

Meanwhile, an epidemic is quickly spreading among Cao Cao's ranks and threatening to weaken his army. In an act of psychological warfare, the northern warlord sends the infected corpses towards the southern allies' camp in an attempt to contaminate them as well.

Eastern Wu's viceroy and chief army commander Zhou Yu (Tony Leung) and Zhuge Liang enter into some serious wagers as they try to one-up each other. While Zhou Yu vows to eliminate Cao Cao's naval commanders, Zhuge Liang promises to produce 100,000 arrows in three days' time. Failure to keep their word is to result in execution.

Of course, both keep their word — and their lives. In a stroke of genius that is characteristic of adviser Zhuge Liang, he sets off with a small fleet of straw-covered boats and tricks Cao Cao's navy into firing arrows which end up stuck on Zhuge Liang's boats, therefore providing the allied camp with much needed weaponry. Cleverly planned ruses and strategic ploys like this abound as both sides prepare for battle.

Tony Leung as the righteous Zhou Yu and Takeshi Kaneshiro's intimidatingly cerebral Zhuge Liang take their witty quips and banter to a new level. Although the second part of the epic builds some friction between Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu, both veteran actors deliver outstanding performances portrayals the brotherly characters, who, despite being fiercely competitive, are also mutually loyal and greatly admire each other.

Colorful warriors such as Guan Yu (Ba Sen Zha Bu) and Zhao Yun (Hu Jun), and Zhang Fei (Zang Jinsheng) are unfortunately relegated to smaller roles in the sequel. In fact, they all but disappear around the first half (as part of the storyline), only to reappear just in time for the final battle scene.

Taiwan's leading model Chiling Lin portrays --iao Qiao, one of ancient China's great beauties and Zhou Yu's devoted wife. Whereas --iao Qiao was a minor character in the prequel, her role in the second episode proves crucial to the outcome of the film. She risks her life by secretly crossing enemy lines to dissuade Cao Cao (who's obsessed with her) from carrying on with the war.

Lin's debut role in the first "Red Cliff" was highly criticized by the local media, who qualified her as simply a "flower vase" (only included for her good looks). She redeems herself in the second installment of the film with her convincing portrayal of a quiet woman who is highly sensitive yet possesses a fierce inner strength.

A surprising highlight of "Red Cliff II" is the friendship between Sun Shangxiang and Sun Shucai (Tong Dawei). Although a subplot in the film, the strong bond that forms between these two characters adds a powerful element of humanity amid the war-torn camps. Tong Dawei plays the naive, trusting and good-hearted Sun Shucai to a tee, inviting the audience to root for him. Despite his brief onscreen time, Tong delivers a moving performance that manages to steal away some of the spotlight from the main storyline.

Contrary to what the ending of the first film might lead the audience to believe, "Red Cliff II" does not jump right into battle but takes its time to build up to it. Director John Woo does not disappoint. He delivers a veritable feast for the eyes in the much-anticipated war scene. Battleships are burned down quickly and mercilessly. Cao Cao's camp follows its naval force's timely end in an inferno that engulfs its ranks.

Woo's "Red Cliff II" rightfully does the first part justice with added thrills and frills. Not a scene is wasted in the two—and—a—half hours leading up to the grand finale. Woo meets highly built-up expectations and crafts an epic that is as entertaining as it is moving, in a way that only he knows how.