In the sequel, Tony Leung's righteous Zhou Yu and Takeshi Kaneshiro's brilliant Zhuge Liang take their witty quips and banter to a new level. Although some friction builds up between the two, both actors deliver outstanding portrayals of the brotherly characters who, despite being fiercely competitive, are also mutually loyal and great admirers of each other.

Taiwan's leading model Chiling Lin portrays Xiao Qiao, one of ancient China's great beauties and Zhou Yu's devoted wife who risks her life by secretly going over to enemy lines to dissuade Cao Cao (who's obsessed with her) from carrying on with the war.

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 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. Not a second is wasted in this glorious finale to the epic story.