By Blake Laurita
Staff Writer
The Great Wall follows the journey of a European mercenary who becomes ensnared in a large-scale effort to protect China from hostile, vicious monsters.
The film has a superb array of actors, and astounding fight sequences. However, it suffers from a terrible conclusion, poor acting as a result of scripted stereotypical characters and a primary romance devoid of any real chemistry.
The Chinese co-production film, stars Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal, was directed by Zhang Yimou and written by Tony Gilroy. Filming began on March 30, 2015, in Qingdao, China and has grossed $262 million worldwide.
The Great Wall follows two European mercenaries, William (Damon) and Tovar (Pedro Pascal), as they journey find the legendary black powder. They soon cross paths with The Nameless Order, an army stationed within the Great Wall of China. They are there to protect the Chinese people from the malicious Tao Tei, a species of man-eating creatures who attack the Wall every sixty years.
Photos: Matt Damon stars in The Great Wall Movie.
A highlight of the film is well-known lead actor Matt Damon and supporting actor, Pedro Pascal. The dup delivers every line with commitment and sarcasm and their friendship is the only organic emotional element in the film. The combination prove to be a great combination and serve as the driving forces of the film.
Arguably, the film’s one possible saving point is it’s surprisingly technical battle sequences. Accentuating the films most memorable moments, the large fight scenes created heart pounding, unforgettable moments.
Video: Matt Damon stars in The Great Wall and was released February 17, 2017. The trailer contains the intense action scenes in the movie.
The train-wreck of a conclusion found at the end of The Great Wall suffers from the awful CGI found at the end of the film. Sadly most of the filmed was mostly made up of CGI landscapes and characters, bringing the film to a screeching, unsatisfactory halt.
The primary romantic relationship is the film’s biggest let down. Throughout the film, the relationship feels inorganic, forced and leaves the audience unsatisfied. It felt as though the action film tried to be something it simply isn’t and suffered because of it.
Visit Rotten Tomatoes for more reviews on the movie.
Overall, The Great Wall is a disappointment of a film despite the impressive credentials of the filmmaker and lead actor, and is given a pulse by the action sequences and supporting roles, but succumbs to an obviously fabricated romantic relationship and a poorly-produced conclusion.
For more information on The Great Wall click here.
The Great Wall was released February 17, 2017, is rated R, and is playing in theaters across the nation.
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