Red Cliff II

Red Cliff II (2009) is John Woo's historical war epic, and you can watch it online on iFILM. This second half brings the clash on the banks of the Yangtze to its breaking point: Cao Cao's enormous army waits across the water while the shaky alliance of two southern kingdoms starts to come apart.

Strategist Zhuge Liang and commander Zhou Yu (Tony Leung) hunt for a way to beat a force that vastly outnumbers them. The answer comes down to wind, fire and deception — the famous attack that turns the river itself into a weapon against Cao Cao's fleet. Woo stages the mass battle scenes the way only he can, with thousands of soldiers, rolling smoke and his signature close-quarters choreography. The story draws on third-century events and chapters from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a cornerstone of Chinese literature.

Watch it for the spectacle: this was one of the most expensive Asian productions of its day, and every cent shows on screen. Catch the first film beforehand, since the two run as one continuous story. Stream Red Cliff II (2009) online on iFILM.