THE GREAT WALL
US/China, 2017, 103 minutes, Colour.
Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Willem Dafoe, Andy Lau, Pedro Pascal.
Directed by Zhang Yimou.
With The Great Wall as a title, many, including the present reviewer, were looking forward to a good slice of Chinese history. And with Zhang Yimou as the director, and remembering his films of the late 1980s into the 1990s, really bringing Chinese history and culture alive (Raise the Red to Lantern, The Story of Qui Ju), and then his modest stories of Chinese life (Not One Less, The Road Home), but also remembering his move to martial arts, The House of the Flying Daggers, and his work for the Beijing Olympics, hopes were high for The Great Wall.
A great disappointment.
The film opens with a comment about the building of the Great Wall of China and the many centuries it took to complete. It then mentions the history of the wall – and refers to legends. This film opts for legends.
While it is an American- Chinese co-production, and the director is Chinese, the screenplay was written by Americans and quite a number of the producers are also American. Nevertheless, it was highly successful at the Chinese box office. (The dialogue is matinee-basic.)
In fact, this is not Chinese history but a monster movie. Or, to be accurate, a monsters movie, thousands of them. A lot of technical know-how went into the action sequences, quite spectacular in their way, the effort to enhance this film is in the area of special effects, especially for the horrible monsters, huge, metallic, seemingly armour-plated, gaping mouths, fierce teeth, a propensity for blood and gore and death.
These monsters are alleged to appear every 60 years, attacking the humans, to test the humanity of their motivations. When the monsters appear, humanity is almost forgotten.
This is the time of the Dark Ages in the West, with two foreigners arriving to try to find black powder, gunpowder, and take it back to the west. They have been involved in many wars, mercenaries. They are played by Matt Damon (William) and Pedro Pascal (Tovar). Also in the cast is Willem Dafoe, eager to get the black powder, steal it and transport it to the west. No surprise that he does not survive – death by gunpowder.
When William and Tavor are captured, and about to be executed, the monsters attack and they are free to help in the fight. While the film runs for about 100 minutes, the first 30 minutes are very much occupied with the attack of the monsters and a fierce battle; and in the second 30 minutes the monsters attack again; and in the last 30 minutes, the monsters have borrowed through the Great Wall and have reached the capital where they are mounting an enormous attack (actually the monsters look more like millions rather than thousands this time).
The general of the Chinese is killed in action and bequeaths the leadership to a young woman, Lin (Jing Tian). Needless to say, there is initial rivalry and standoffishness between William and the new general, he showing his skills with arrows, she urging him to trust and to dive from the parapets. Not at first – but, it is inevitable that he will, going down into the midst of the monsters to slay them.
At the end, there are hot air balloons to take William and Lin to the capital, to use the gunpowder against the monsters but, particularly, the Queen so that if she dies, all the rest stop their aggression
So, if you are expecting history, don’t. If you like monster movies (this is something of a higher class monster movie), then this may be one of your favourites.
1. The title, expectations? The wall as an icon? Emblem of China?
2. The prologue, the comment on history, the building of the wall, so many centuries? Opting for legend?
3. A film of action and special effects? The musical score?
4. The setting, the European Dark Ages? China, the Empire, that the regions, the military in command, the desert and mountains, the fortress? The capital, exteriors and interiors?
5. The plot, the film is a monsters movie, thousands of monsters? Higher class horror thriller?
6. The work of the director, his previous films, insights into China? His modest films? His move to martial arts? The Beijing Olympics? The American writers, the dialogue and its matinee style?
7. William and Tovar, from the west, the historical period, in search of gunpowder? William born into an army, fighting for food, for money, no courses? The importance of the black powder? The visit, hope for the return?
8. The chase, the capture, the men and their appearance, on the battlements, ready to die, they’re being freed, to fight against the monsters, heroics?
9. Ballard, his presence in China, 25 years? Talk, plotting, persuading Tovar, the plan, seeking the opportunity, to take the black powder, setting up the explosion at the door, packing the powder? William and his decision not to go? They’re trusting him, the witness able to give testimony about his stance? Their escape, pursued by the tribes, Tovar going up the hill, Ballard stealing everything? His been captured, tied up, the explosion of the powder? Tovar, the pursuit, his being caught?
10. The monsters, their story, appearing every 60 years, testing the humans and their motivations? The wall protecting China?
11. The Army, the weaponry, warriors, men and women, the displays, diving? The attack, the deaths, massacres?
12. The strategists, the general, the military leaders, deaths? Lin, her story, born to the Army, becoming the leader, her skills?
13. The further battle against the monsters, their appearance, size, weight, malice and teeth? Vicious? And they’re being controlled by the Queen? A victory over the monsters?
14. William, coming for the meal, taunted, his arrow skills? Lin, wanting him to dive, the issue of trust? His later exhibiting trust?
15. William and his decision to stay, the discussions? A second attack, trust, his dive, the fight against the monsters, Tovar saving him, the use of the gunpowder?
16. The monsters, exploring, burrowing through the wall, making their way to the capital?
17. The hot air balloons, fires, some crashing, some succeeding? William, vindicated, is going on the balloon? The encounter with Lin, the rescues?
18. The travel, the monster in the cage, controlled by the magnet? Presented to the Emperor, his fascination, his fear?
19. The thousands of monsters, in the square outside the palace, the magnet control? The Queen, her being fed? The pursuit through the tunnel, the heroics, the young witness sacrificing
himself? Climbing the tower, firing the arrows, the strategist and his death? William and Lin, the destruction of the Queen? The monsters quiet?
20. William, love for Lin, his staying and his future?
