Red Cliff II

The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Sun-Liu alliance camp at Red Cliffs prepares defensive positions. Outnumbered but unified, they await Cao Cao's massive naval fleet approaching across the Yangtze River.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.

The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Cao Cao orders a plague-infected corpse catapulted into the alliance camp, initiating biological warfare. Disease begins spreading through the allied forces, devastating morale and military capability.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.

The First Threshold at 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Zhou Yu commits to the fire attack strategy, deciding to send Huang Gai on a dangerous false defection mission to Cao Cao's fleet. This active choice launches the alliance's offensive plan and puts everything at risk., moving from reaction to action.

At 72 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Pang Tong successfully convinces Cao Cao to chain his ships together to prevent seasickness among northern troops—a false victory for Cao Cao that actually sets the trap. Stakes raised as the pieces are in place, but discovery means certain death., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.

The Collapse moment at 105 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Cao Cao's forces discover the ruse and Huang Gai's ships are nearly intercepted before reaching the fleet. Simultaneously, the wind still hasn't shifted—without it, the fire attack cannot work. All seems lost at the darkest moment., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.

The Second Threshold at 112 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The southeast wind finally arrives—Zhuge Liang's meteorological prediction proves correct. This synthesis of heaven's timing with human strategy provides the final element needed. The alliance launches the fire attack with renewed conviction., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.