Legendary action-cinema master John Woo directs this epic film based on the extraordinary battle that heralded the end of the Han Dynasty. Power hungry Prime Minister Cao Cao seeks permission from the Emperor to organise a southward-bound mission designed to crush the two rebellious warlords who stand his way. As the expedition gets underway, Cao Cao's troops rain destruction throughout the south. Knowing their only hope for survival is to form an alliance, the two kingdoms unite under the genius of military strategist Zhuge Liang, (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and war hero Zhou Yu (Tony Leung). Vastly outnumbered by Cao Cao's brutal fast-approaching army, they must mount a heroic campaign that will change the course of Chinese history forever.