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The Crossing I
太平轮（上）
2014 129 min China, Hong Kong, United States of America 18+
★6.6
Drama
Director: John Woo
Trailers
Description
At the end of the World War II and the middle of the Chinese Revolution, three couples from different backgrounds with different nationalities flee from China to the island of Taiwan.
Budget:
$40M
Starring
Ziyi Zhang
Actor
Song Hye-kyo
Actor
Takeshi Kaneshiro
Actor
Awards
6 wins & 10 nominations total
Key opinion
The Crossing is widely recognized as an ambitious, visually stunning historical epic that balances grand-scale battle sequences with intimate human drama. While many viewers praise John Woo’s emotional depth and the performances of its leads, opinions remain split on its contemplative pacing and whether its slow-burn narrative effectively sustains the first half of a two-part experience.
| Cinematography | Cinematography achieves a high level of artistry, with expressive visuals that capture both the brutal ferocity of war and the nuance of romantic connection. | |
| Acting | The lead performances, particularly those of Zhang Ziyi and Takeshi Kaneshiro, provide the emotional weight necessary to ground the film's large-scale historical backdrop. | |
| Direction | John Woo effectively shifts from his signature high-octane action style to a more patient, humanistic approach that emphasizes empathy over spectacle. | |
| Production | The film’s historical recreation, from set design to costume detail, is meticulous and contributes to a believable, immersive atmosphere. | |
| Pacing | The expansive, multi-part structure polarizes audiences: some appreciate the depth and epic scope, while others find the slow, deliberate pacing to be tedious or repetitive. |