Regardless of the minor glitches within the film (especially the swordplay), my favorite part was the strategic interplay between the Zhang Liang's character and the Fang Jeng's (Ya Fu) character.
Those who play the game of weiqi, can see its metaphor being delicately extended all through the movie.
I would like to hear any views relating to the various strategies and tactics that were executed in the movie.
These weiji matches may have looked spectacular as filmed, though it is too bad a lot of people, me included, do not know how it is played and I am pretty sure we lose a lot in those vague English subtitles indicating what seemed to be random numbers.
shareIt helps to learn the basics of the game to understanding the positioning of stones. This game takes 8 min to learn and a lifetime to master.
There are 361 intersections. Stones are placed in a X/Y grid of 361 points. I presumed that you remembered graphing from your Pre-Algebra days. The first number is the x grid. The second number is on the y grid.
You can go to www.usgo.org for more information.
One can see the metaphor of weiqi (GO)and the various principles of Chinese strategic classics spread out through the movie,
During "the assassination of the Qi Emperor" part of the movie, Zhang Liang and his team wore white and the Qi military wore black.
In the banquet scene, Zhang Liang plays White while his game rival Fan Zeng played black. There were other black and white metaphor-based scenes throughout this movie.
The principal key to playing the Weiqi game is to surround the competition by controlling the territory. In Chapter 11 of the Art of War, the eighth ground (or terrain)is to surround the competition and the ninth ground (terrain)is to influence one's opposition in a lethal state.
As a viewer, you would see a few "eighth ground" scenarios and a few "ninth ground" scenarios within this movie.
At the end, "White" achieved their vengeance. While battles were lost, White won the war.
I hope this helps you along. If you have any more questions, drop me a note.
"I would like to hear any views relating to the various strategies and tactics that were executed in the movie."
I'll take a "go" at it.
The downfall of one was losing trust of an advisor who had been with him since he was a child. In weiqi terms, while he was surrounded by same-colored pips, he pushed away and out the one next to him and allowed another to take his place.
The "downfall" of the other was losing his humanity once he obtained the crown. Even though he witnessed the fomenting of distrust by his own advisor, he could find no one trustworthy coming out of such ploys. All he sees around him are pips not of his own color.
I wished this had been a two-parter, like Red Cliff. A little backstory on a few characters for us to invest psychically. Maybe explore or expand on military strategies that were deployed on the battlefield.
By the by, in the story that involves Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, there is an wise advisor by the name of Zhang Liang, I think. It's been a while since I played the game(s). Are they one and the same, linked historically?
>>The downfall of one was losing trust of an advisor who had been with him since he was a child. In weiqi terms, while he was surrounded by same-colored pips, he pushed away and out the one next to him and allowed another to take his place.
>> The "downfall" of the other was losing his humanity once he obtained the crown. Even though he witnessed the fomenting of distrust by his own advisor, he could find no one trustworthy coming out of such ploys. All he sees around him are pips not of his own color.
That is a good point. ... Zhang Liang knew about the social psychopathic behavior of Xiang Yi and tempted him to think one way while making him mistrust Fan Zeng.
In summary, Fang Zeng retaliated by playing a long term strategic move that causes Liu to be paranoid and made him mistrust everyone.
Those who read the many strategy essays and storylines, know what I am talking about.
>>there is an wise advisor by the name of Zhang Liang, I think. It's been a while since I played the game(s). Are they one and the same, linked historically?
The advisor for the Shu kingdom was Zhuge Liang, not Zhang Liang.
The historical storyline between Liu Bang and Zhang Liang is quite different. Find a good history book that depicts the events would be a better idea. Most historical-based movies is never the truth.
The movie didn't do a good job of explaining how Fan Zeng lost favor. Maybe I missed something but it seemed like he was dismissed or resigned all of a sudden.
share... i do agree that the Go match in the film was intense. I can't say that I understand much of the game myself, although knowledge of the game isn't necessary to enjoy the film.
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