Damon’s Wall is a big, fun spectacle The Great Wall (M)
104 mins The Great Wall is a world-changing collaboration between Hollywood and some of China’s greatest filmmaking exports, which delivers an exciting, fresh and mostly rollicking ride. Pitched as a historical epic, it stars Matt Damon with a slightly Irish brogue, and familiar TV face Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, Narcos), as mercenaries who find themselves caught up in an ancient Chinese Order’s battle with Great Wall-scaling monsters.
Initially mistrusted for being the thieves they in fact are, the European pair’s combat skills soon become indispensable in helping the Order’s incredibly prepared army to prevail over the mysterious beasts.
Were it not for Chinese director Zhang Yimou, who brought us the exquisite Hero and House of Flying Daggers in the early 2000s, this film would probably have been hobbled by a run-of-the mill concept and a paucity of spectacular leads (Damon is a veritable film star, but such a story does not give him scope to show his acting chops).
But by casting accomplished Chinese actor Tian Jing as feisty Commander Lin (soon to kick some ass in Kong: Skull Island), Hong Kong megastar Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs, Flying Daggers), and dropping Willem Dafoe in for clout, The Great Wall feels like an aptly international tale that just happens to mix eye-boggling action with spectacular cinematography.
If you remember Zhang’s blockcolour, wire-work, martial-arts love stories (which garnered him worldwide acclaim), you will know the man not only has a knack for staging balletic fight scenes, but an eye for luscious production design.
From the colour-coded sections of the Nameless Order’s military to the Emperor’s golden palace, the photography swoops over rainbowcoloured crowds and follows flaming arrows to incredible effect.
Although the dubiously-CGI monster is revealed surprisingly early (its propensity to swarm up walls is reminiscent of the zombies in World War Z – probably not coincidental, since Max Brooks was a writer on both movies), the military preparedness and precision displayed by the Chinese Order is far more impressive than any creature.
Additionally, the interplay between Chinese and English dialogue works well, retaining an authenticity for both sides of the cast which will doubtless please its universal audience.
The CGI looks a bit off at times, and the baddies feel more Jurassic Park than Alien, but fantastic visuals, smart scripting and Zhang’s eye for beauty make The Great Wall a big, fun spectacle. - Sarah Watt