The Great Wall
From the director of 2002's Hero comes this fantasy-action blockbuster, an alternate history twist on why China built The Great Wall - and what elite forces were trying to keep out. Stars Oscar-winner Matt Damon, Jing Tian (Special ID), Pedro Pascal (TV's Games of Thrones), Willem Dafoe (The Grand Budapest Hotel), and Andy Lau (House of Flying Daggers).
- Director:
- Yimou Zhang ('Hero', 'House of Flying Daggers', 'Curse of the Golden Flower')
- Writer:
- Max BrooksMarshall HerskovitzCarlo BernardDoug MiroTony Gilroy
- Cast:
- Matt DamonJing TianPedro PascalWillem DafoeAndy LauHanyu ZhangEddie PengKenny Lin
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Daniel Rutledge
flicksIf you want to see Matt Damon fighting an army of mythical reptilian beasts in feudal-era China, The Great Wall shouldn't disappoint. It's a remarkably straight-ahead genre piece with no delusions of grandeur, and at no risk of punching above its dramatic weight by keeping its goals nice and low. I probably won't reach for this Blu-ray in a few years from now over director Yimou Zhang's previous Hero or House of Flying Daggers; but I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun I had with it on the big screen.
More like 'The Colorful Wall'
Cool action scenes and well-made characters but the things that stood out for me was actually the scenery and the costumes, both of which were done in such a way that you couldn't help but marvel at them even in the dullest scenes. Definitely not Matt Damon's best movie, but sure is a huge improvement from the latest Bourne.
Variety
pressZhang Yimou capably gives ... "The Great Wall" the look and feel of a Hollywood blockbuster, but his signature visual dazzle, his gift for depicting delicate relationships and throbbing passions are trampled by dead-serious epic aspirations.
Time Out
pressDamon is good value, his avuncular charm adding intimacy to what could have been an empty spectacle.
The New York Times
pressThe whole thing plays out as if it had been thought up by someone who, while watching "Game of Thrones" and smoking a bowl, started riffing on walls, China and production money.
The Guardian
pressSimultaneously futuristic and historic, the visual spectacle carries the film, while Zhang manages to include plenty of promised "Chinese elements", including a beautiful shot of traditional sky lanterns at one character's funeral.
Stuff
pressThe Great Wall plays like The Last Samurai crossed with Jurassic Park, The Two Towers, Reign of Fire and one of those episodes of Thrones...
New Zealand Herald
pressIf you were entertained by the trailers then it's a safe bet you'll enjoy this as a Sunday afternoon movie. Just don't expect too much.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThe Great Wall is easily the least interesting and involving blockbuster of the respective careers of both its director and star.
Empire Magazine
pressThere are plenty of fun CGI monster-skewering scenes, but a clunky plot, rigid script and equally stiff acting make this a crumbling disappointment, if not quite a disaster.
Flicks, Daniel Rutledge
flicksIf you want to see Matt Damon fighting an army of mythical reptilian beasts in feudal-era China, The Great Wall shouldn't disappoint. It's a remarkably straight-ahead genre piece with no delusions of grandeur, and at no risk of punching above its dramatic weight by keeping its goals nice and low. I probably won't reach for this Blu-ray in a few years from now over director Yimou Zhang's previous Hero or House of Flying Daggers; but I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun I had with it on the big screen.
Variety
pressZhang Yimou capably gives ... "The Great Wall" the look and feel of a Hollywood blockbuster, but his signature visual dazzle, his gift for depicting delicate relationships and throbbing passions are trampled by dead-serious epic aspirations.
Time Out
pressDamon is good value, his avuncular charm adding intimacy to what could have been an empty spectacle.
The New York Times
pressThe whole thing plays out as if it had been thought up by someone who, while watching "Game of Thrones" and smoking a bowl, started riffing on walls, China and production money.
The Guardian
pressSimultaneously futuristic and historic, the visual spectacle carries the film, while Zhang manages to include plenty of promised "Chinese elements", including a beautiful shot of traditional sky lanterns at one character's funeral.
Stuff
pressThe Great Wall plays like The Last Samurai crossed with Jurassic Park, The Two Towers, Reign of Fire and one of those episodes of Thrones...
New Zealand Herald
pressIf you were entertained by the trailers then it's a safe bet you'll enjoy this as a Sunday afternoon movie. Just don't expect too much.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThe Great Wall is easily the least interesting and involving blockbuster of the respective careers of both its director and star.
Empire Magazine
pressThere are plenty of fun CGI monster-skewering scenes, but a clunky plot, rigid script and equally stiff acting make this a crumbling disappointment, if not quite a disaster.
More like 'The Colorful Wall'
Cool action scenes and well-made characters but the things that stood out for me was actually the scenery and the costumes, both of which were done in such a way that you couldn't help but marvel at them even in the dullest scenes. Definitely not Matt Damon's best movie, but sure is a huge improvement from the latest Bourne.
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