(Envision a pitbull as reimagined by H.R. (For one thing it’s too short to be, clocking in at a merciful 104 minutes in an era when CGI epics frequently approach twice that.) But it’s certainly not a good one.ĭamon plays William, a rogue who makes the perilous journey to China in search of “black powder,” a fabled substance that can “turn air into fire.” The others in his mercenary band are all killed en route, save for Tovar (Pascal), who with William discovers an unimaginably vast wall garrisoned by selfless warriors called the “Nameless Order.” Their mission, he learns, is to protect China against the Tao Tei, hideous quadrupeds with eyeballs in their shoulder blades. Licorice Pizza Is a Tragicomic Tale of 1970s Hollywood David SimsĪlas, rather than multiply these talents productively, The Great Wall reduces them to their lowest common denominator.
And as a general rule, Damon is as reliably excellent a lead actor as you’ll find anywhere in Hollywood. The cast includes talented American actors in Willem Dafoe and Pedro Pascal (who was magnificent as Oberyn Martell on Game of Thrones) and Chinese stars both relatively new (Jing Tian) and firmly established (the great Andy Lau). Zhang has directed sophisticated dramas ( Ju Dou, Raise High the Red Lantern) and thrilling action pictures ( Hero, House of Flying Daggers). The Great Wall, a Chinese-American co-production starring Matt Damon as a European mercenary fighting (literal) monsters during the Song dynasty, could have been a marvel. But, to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, you go to the cineplex with the army you have. But if you seek something deeper, beyond the spectacle of fantasy war movie tropes, this one’s quite forgettable.It’s probably safe to presume that, had he known the political climate into which he would be dropping his debut English-language film, the legendary Chinese director Zhang Yimou would have chosen a subject other than the heroism of warriors defending an immense national wall against an invasion of horrifying aliens.
The Great Wall doesn’t have a single dull moment, thanks to the visuals in 3D. The ‘westerners’ must save the world, after all, isn’t it? His heroism not only saves China but also the mankind. Though a prisoner, his fighting skills earn him the respect of the colour-coded Chinese troops, who allow him to join their fight against the Taotie (monsters). He seems utterly uninvolved in his portrayal of mercenary-warrior William Garin, who gets captured in China during his quest for the precious ‘black powder’. Matt Damon’s Chinese film debut (in English language), is as underwhelming as his last Jason Bourne movie. You don’t get to experience anything new. While Yimou lets you get a glimpse of his unique vision, a standard script and his drive to please the global audience (predominantly mainstream Hollywood fans), affect his storytelling. If you seek nothing more than popcorn entertainment and some visual thrill, this movie may do it for you but otherwise, it fails to amaze. The splendid use of vivid colours, imagery and Chinese background score initially get your hopes high but The Great Wall soon turns into a monster-slashing, CGI heavy, dated Hollywood potboiler with no soul. What adds to its predicament is its predictable plot, reminiscent of formulaic Hollywood blockbusters. Nevertheless, the film’s timing couldn’t have been more inappropriate as the story reveals why the wall was built. Protect what’s yours”, is what this war epic essentially says, of course with no reference whatsoever to the current US-Mexico situation. Review: “The wall stands or the world falls. Set in ancient China and based on a legend, this fantastical action-adventure is Zhang Yimou’s first English-language production. Story: While the ‘no ban no wall’ agenda has gripped the world in Trump regime, Matt Damon’s foray into Chinese cinema has him supporting ‘Nameless Order’, an elite Chinese army, who must defend the Great Wall of China from monstrous intruders, who descend from hell every 60 years.