Discuss The Great Wall
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Like Cowboys and Aliens, but worse
posted by NonSequiturSTAFFMOD on February 20, 2017 at 9:04 AM
A soulless mess with cartoon monsters running around in a setting they typically wouldn't inhabit.
The concept was great - that the Great Wall was built to keep out monsters - and I really feel that in the right hands, something special could have been made out of it, but they totally blew it. A massive lack of character development and zero chemistry between the bored actors killed it stone dead.
Seems like a case of too many cooks, considering it was a massive USA/Chinese co-production.
Reply by Taylorfirst1
on February 20, 2017 at 6:16 PM
This movie certainly could have been better but I don't think it is as bad as "Cowboys and Aliens" by any stretch. Overall, I enjoyed this movie. It had an interesting plot, stunning visuals, great costumes and sets, and some pretty good action.
Reply by Opus Chao
on March 19, 2017 at 12:32 AM
I felt the same way, a bit like watching a b-movie thats not a b-movie. I think you're spot on with the actors being bored and the story seemed uninspired. I too liked the idea, felt like it should have been good, but that they wasted it.
Reply by bb-15
on April 14, 2017 at 9:14 PM
The Great Wall was directed by Zhang Yimou who also did Hero and House of Flying Daggers.
Take all that fantasy level of martial arts, blend it with Starship Troopers, add in over the top action like something out of Pirates of the Caribbean and that gets to the crazy world of The Great Wall.
Having seen so many Asian martial arts movies and anime, I know how far out things can go. I've also watched a lot of Chinese films and they are have a certain art / style to them with color and design which is interesting to me. I also like Starship Troopers.
Overall as crazy as things got in The Great Wall I was able to ride with it and soak in the setting, costumes, design and special effects. And while it sometimes got bad, it was in a good way if that makes sense. Like certain Godzilla films.
Imo at least, BB ;-)
Reply by Maria Kelly
on October 18, 2017 at 8:58 PM
I think that this is a great movie! The desert landscape is beautiful, the cinematography splendid (and l love the different colors used for the different parts of the Chinese army!)
The plot is a little convoluted (you have to keep in mind that this is the director's first English language film), and Matt Damon's Irish accent is decent.
I definatly am getting the DVD. And to the OP: As much as I love Daniel Craig, The Great Wall is much better than Cowboys & Aliens.