Read Positive User Reviews for The Great Wall

10

MahbubAli92Feb 20, 2017

"Professional" critics are worthless, this was everything I wanted in a fantasy action movie. The visuals were absolutely stunning and highly original, the action was intense and dramatic, and the character work was simple and effective."Professional" critics are worthless, this was everything I wanted in a fantasy action movie. The visuals were absolutely stunning and highly original, the action was intense and dramatic, and the character work was simple and effective. While Hollywood always seems to need at least 140 minutes to get through a basic plot, this one trips along with fleet, efficient editing and comes roaring to the finish in a tight 100 minutes. Kept me fully engaged and invested for practically the whole runtime, and definitely feels like something I'll go back and revisit someday too.

I will admit I was worried going in that the CGI monsters would look cheesy, but they were actually fantastic and the movie does a great job of building them up to be legitimately terrifying enemies. The contrast between the graceful athleticism of the defenders and the bestial savagery of the monsters had me flashing back to the battle of Helm's Deep in The Two Towers.

The Great Wall is an excellent, groundbreaking action movie, and a welcome arrival for people who are tired of everything being either a superhero movie, a 6th sequel, or both.… Expand

6 of 12 users found this helpful66

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10

GamerOfChaosFeb 18, 2017

When I give this movie a straight 10/10, I'm rating it based on the visual effects, action, music, and aesthetic. Visually, this movie is one of the most gorgeous I've seen in years, on the same level as Mad Max: Fury Road. No, I'm notWhen I give this movie a straight 10/10, I'm rating it based on the visual effects, action, music, and aesthetic. Visually, this movie is one of the most gorgeous I've seen in years, on the same level as Mad Max: Fury Road. No, I'm not kidding. It's a shame many critics won't give this film credit where credit is due, because this is a fantastic monster film. Many were expecting an American Hollywood production, when really, it's more of a Chinese war film with just a big budget. Yimou's astounding direction mixed with the action and Djawadi's score makes for an epic experience made for movie theaters. See it on the big screen while you have the chance.… Expand

5 of 10 users found this helpful55

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10

CloudieFeb 19, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. In my opinion this was an amazing movie. It's exactly what I wanted to see when I first heard of this movie and saw the previews. The casting was great.

I am not sure why so many are having issue with the fantasy portion of the movie. If you read the description is literally says fantasy. An alternate scenario of why the Great Wall was built. The movie explains a story as to why monsters came about "lore" why Matt Damon characters showed up. Etc. Plot explained well. If you actually watched and paid attention to the movie you wouldn't be so confused as many are in most these comments. In my opinion most the bad reviews are based off reading the other bad reviews and trying to go with the crowd. I think the "professional" critics read the tabloids about Matt Damon's role being such an issue due to the remarks of the movie having a "white savior" and based there opinion biasedly off of that and not the actual film. The movie showed great detail on how I would assume Chinas military ran back then. Strict, focused, precise. The detail they put into making China, it's army, it's people, it's honor and the Great Wall look great, its really enjoyable to watch. I do not feel that Matt Damon's role washed any of that out. For many who say that this movie has a "white savior" if you watch the ending you can clearly see that it wasn't Matt Damon's character that saved them. (I won't spoil and say who) it was a team effort. I hope many more go this movie and enjoy it as much as I have. And I hope that this movie can get better scores like it deserves. It is beautiful work from such a great director and the casting was done very well. I am even happy that they added humour to such a action packed and thrilling movie. Really go watch this movie with an open mind. :)… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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8

PimpinpakmanMar 11, 2017

Its better than people are giving it credit for. Granted story may not seem original, its action alone is worth atleast a viewing. Yes Matt damon stands out in this movie full of chinese locals, but if you can look past it and try to have aIts better than people are giving it credit for. Granted story may not seem original, its action alone is worth atleast a viewing. Yes Matt damon stands out in this movie full of chinese locals, but if you can look past it and try to have a good time, this is not bad. Its actually good action.… Expand

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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7

DjtoodlesMay 27, 2017

A review for this film is a pretty simple task. The film is dumb as rocks but it kept me entertained for the duration. In short I enjoyed it, decent acting, ludicrous but fun story, cool armour and good cgi. Enjoy dont think and dont take itA review for this film is a pretty simple task. The film is dumb as rocks but it kept me entertained for the duration. In short I enjoyed it, decent acting, ludicrous but fun story, cool armour and good cgi. Enjoy dont think and dont take it too seriously.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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10

AceTrigger94Feb 17, 2017

As a constant film goer I was really impressed with this film. It was entertaining. The story worked well. The acting was great. And the effects were really impressive. I watched it on a big screen in iMAX and enjoyed the experience. TheAs a constant film goer I was really impressed with this film. It was entertaining. The story worked well. The acting was great. And the effects were really impressive. I watched it on a big screen in iMAX and enjoyed the experience. The sound was equally impressive. I just can't understand why the really negative reviews abound. Some are cursing it for having foreign actors. Others about the political situation etc. And the poor director is even getting a caning. The story is about a legend. And it was wonderful to just sit back and let someone tell a story. I nearly didn't go because of all the bad reviews but I am glad I went and made up my own mind.

Go and see it now!… Expand

9 of 20 users found this helpful911

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9

BinSenseiFeb 17, 2017

Great visuals, fantastic action sequences with some lowkey humor. Acting is decent and the plot is simple but this is a popcorn movie so you don't really need complex plot. The only problem with this movie is the length of the movie, it's wayGreat visuals, fantastic action sequences with some lowkey humor. Acting is decent and the plot is simple but this is a popcorn movie so you don't really need complex plot. The only problem with this movie is the length of the movie, it's way too short. Need an extra 20 mins or so for more action and character development.
Matt Damon wasn't a full-blown "white savior" so that's good~… Expand

4 of 10 users found this helpful46

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9

HealingToolbox1Apr 8, 2017

Another under-rated genre classic. Do you like Matt Damon sci-fi movies? Do you like Chinese fairy tale movies with over-the-top action? This amalgamation is as good as you are gonna get. Great Wall is NOT trying "to marry its Eastern andAnother under-rated genre classic. Do you like Matt Damon sci-fi movies? Do you like Chinese fairy tale movies with over-the-top action? This amalgamation is as good as you are gonna get. Great Wall is NOT trying "to marry its Eastern and Western sensibilities." It's clearly trying to make money with a Chinese-USA crossover epic. Fortunately we have Tony Gilroy (Bourne series, Rogue One script and by some accounts much of the direction); and, Ed Zwick of Glory, Defiance, Last Samurai and scores of other intelligent fare, one of my heroes. The result is everything moving along much better than your average bloated fantasy epic. It doesn't sag and everything looks amazing. If you liked any of the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit movies, you'll like this. Granted, unlike the best LOTR movies, no character here has any arc; nobody learns anything meaningful. But, same with Rogue One. If we must have movies which are better as video game scripts than as thoughtful, Progressive dramas, then Rogue One and Great Wall are two model successes of videogame movie genre, one Western, one Chinese.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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8

KhalazzaMar 21, 2017

Its better than people are giving it credit for. Granted story may not seem original, its action alone is worth atleast a viewing. Yes Matt damon stands out in this movie full of chinese locals, but if you can look past it and try to have aIts better than people are giving it credit for. Granted story may not seem original, its action alone is worth atleast a viewing. Yes Matt damon stands out in this movie full of chinese locals, but if you can look past it and try to have a good time, this is not bad. Its actually good action.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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7

ianercMar 9, 2017

Saw The Great Wall yesterday (the movie, not a day trip to China). As action fantasy goes it was pretty damned good. The money was certainly on the screen. Except...how bad is Matt Damon? At no point did he rise above bland, and scatteredSaw The Great Wall yesterday (the movie, not a day trip to China). As action fantasy goes it was pretty damned good. The money was certainly on the screen. Except...how bad is Matt Damon? At no point did he rise above bland, and scattered randomly among a 90% American accent he decided to pitch in some cheesy regionally-wandering Oirish accent. Painful to listen to.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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7

CheetahiceFeb 18, 2017

This film went a little overboard with Matt Damon being in it. I still enjoyed the movie, because of the action. The plot line went a tad unbelievable. I also think that the film had very good special effects, and very entertaining at some points.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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9

bkristmanFeb 22, 2017

I went in expecting the worse because of poor reviews and saw it in imax 3d. Really glad i did because this is a tremendous sweeping action film .
The first battle scene on the wall is worth the admission all by itself with the imaginativeI went in expecting the worse because of poor reviews and saw it in imax 3d. Really glad i did because this is a tremendous sweeping action film .
The first battle scene on the wall is worth the admission all by itself with the imaginative defense methods and chilling drums pounding throughout.
The acting is very good for an action film and the chemistry is there between leads.
The monsters are excellently done .
I suspect this got poorer reviews because it is a foreign production because it is superior to other more well received recent American films .… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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7

SpangleJun 4, 2017

A film about how the Chinese built the Great Wall to keep out a legion of monsters known as Tao Tei, one could easily expect this film to be easily disposable and outright stupid. Yet, under the sure-hand of director Zhang Yimou, thisA film about how the Chinese built the Great Wall to keep out a legion of monsters known as Tao Tei, one could easily expect this film to be easily disposable and outright stupid. Yet, under the sure-hand of director Zhang Yimou, this possibly stupid film takes a unique turn into being a stellar realization of old legend (is it really a legend?) that can be mocked for being so clearly untrue, but still contains excellent themes, great action scenes, and a great imagination that always manages to get the film out of problems that could derail other film of the type. Sure, the Chinese may have not built the wall or flown on primitive hot-air balloons, but as a historical science fiction film, The Great Wall is a tight, well-acted, and thoroughly entertaining piece of blockbuster cinema.

In many ways, The Great Wall hearkens back to the days of the old-school blockbuster. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, things did not need to be plausible. Kurt Russell could kick ass in any number of science fiction scenarios or a boy could meet an alien or some moron could recreate dinosaurs in a theme park. Yet, nowadays, films with such inventive and imaginative plots as The Great Wall are mocked and chastised for how dumb they sound before they are even released. It is a shame that, as a result, we get more-and-more blockbuster films that just try and show real events - my God, Marvel making us watch United Nations meetings and terrorist bombings when we could just watch Tao Tei monsters eat people instead is a travesty - and, as a result, these films just feel as though they are lacking that extra punch. The extra punch is that of creativity and The Great Wall's unique plot and setting is there to deliver in a mostly successful blockbuster that features the imagination and insanity lacking in today's blockbusters. Though flawed nonetheless with some bad writing, conveniences, and dumb characters, Zhang Yimou finds a way to make blockbuster cinema exciting once more in The Great Wall.

He does this by relying upon scope and awe. With shots highlighting the absurd size of the wall to shots of those aforementioned hot-air balloons descending upon the capital of China, the film is obviously gorgeously shot and designed, but is more-so a visual spectacle. Though the film comes in at a very tight 90 minutes, Zhang Yimou infuses a sense of awe and sheer enormity with the film's expansive visuals that are designed to try and communicate the incredible scope and ambition of the film. This is a blockbuster with a sense of style and size that is largely lacking in the more contained and focused blockbusters of today. Here, Yimou constantly reminds the viewer of the vast size of everything involved with audacious battle sequences of the Tao Tei climbing the Great Wall or climbing palace towers. While the former comes in a gorgeously designed action scene where everything is obscured in smoke to increase the fear factor of the moment, both that scene and the latter one in the palace are akin to World War Z's scene of zombies climbing a wall. Similarly to that, the scene is awe-inspiring in its grandiose nature and a visual feast.

However, as with any film by Zhang Yimou, this film is hardly just audacious action set pieces. Instead, at its heart, this film can be seen as a wuxia film. Perhaps Yimou's best film, Hero, is a wuxia film and many of the action scenes here show that very same style. As Commander Lin (Jing Tian) battles with some Tao Tei in the capital, she uses her sword in incredible fashions as she literally flies and dances her way through the battlefield. Using William Garin (Matt Damon) as further back-up, Lin is a high-flying spectacle of the highest order throughout this film and is the main connecting thread to Yimou's aforementioned peak as a director. As with Hero, the scenes where he is able to go full wuxia are gorgeously constructed and choreographed with it no longer resembling a battle. Instead, it becomes a dance to the death with one of them wielding a sword used for ballet-esque destruction.

Similar to Hero or even classic Japanese cinema such as Akira Kurosawa's Ran, the film's reliance upon color is always purposeful and gorgeous in equal measure. The comparison to Ran is all the more apt due to the fashion in which Yimou utilizes the coloring of the armor worn by the Chinese soldiers to denote key themes or ideas about the person's role in the army. In Ran, Kurosawa took a very similar path with each son wearing a color - blue, red, or yellow - that denoted their defining characteristic. Here, soldiers are assigned either purple, yellow, blue, or red gear. General Shao (Zhang Hanyu) as the leader is assigned black as is Peter Yong (Lu Han). For the former, black is seen as a color of power and, as General, Shao has considerable power. For Peter, black is the color given to young men expected to follow in the path of their ancestors. Given his youth and strong morals, he is one who can follow i… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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7

PipeCMay 30, 2017

A Great Wall Is Obstructed By Digital Spectacularity

It's paradoxical to take a look at the cosmopolitan daily newspapers these days and contemplate that while the planet is setting up for a truthful confrontation between China and the U.S.A Great Wall Is Obstructed By Digital Spectacularity

It's paradoxical to take a look at the cosmopolitan daily newspapers these days and contemplate that while the planet is setting up for a truthful confrontation between China and the U.S. for the sake of its interests in South China Sea's disputed waters, this two cinematographic titans' economic relations are cooking at the box-office of the spear constituted by Legendary East, China Film Group and other film production companies both oriental and occidental. So, setting out the scene from an absolute perspective, are the Americans and the Chinese exchanging peace for dough? And although are unlike matters, is the money and not understanding which stirs up that two of the most powerful nations in the world join in function to perpetuate the collapse of our capitalist universe?

Let's focus on the field that concerns us. It has officially commenced the struggle for preponderance in movie theaters around the negotiations between the States of the East and the West, thanks to movies from one side were a triumph in the other country and vice versa. We could see this coming for a long time; starting with the purchase of Lions Gate Entertainment, following American success of films as "The Mermaid" or Jackie Chan's and Jet Li's vain comedies or the partial recovery of capital investment from English-speaking feature films such as "Warcraft" or "XXX: Return of Xander Cage" which don't even managed to get off the ground in its mother country and concluding with the ineluctable kick start of co-productions, a trend that with respect to cinema, in the light of the issue, doesn't bode well at all.

"The Great Wall" is the key, a 150-million key which opens the door of victory, at least economic. Equality and inclusion have even touched this mega-production script since six screenwriters/writers are who engrave their names to the rough but eye-catching legend. It's evident how each writer instills the details of their previous works either in exegesis, creative, artistic or visual section. The story carries us to xeric European deserts, where two mercenary globetrotters, William (Damon) and Tovar (Pedro Pascal), are caught by The Nameless Order after they murder a mystifying glaucous quadruped. That frightening creature, which stands for greed, is one of the thousands of "Taoties" that ravage the Chinese army every sixty years, looking for revenge due to their ancestors' avarice.

Doesn't it sound compelling? Sentinels wearing polychromatic attires — "Power Rangers" style — divided according to their warlike skills. They defeat their enemies using of pulleys, catapults, bullet time arrows, hot air balloons, sharp weapons, bravery and too much CGI. Director Yimou Zhang decides, in a terrible way, to give more prominence to strenuous exquisite pictures as he neglects and subordinates the story, which increasingly becomes into a buddy comedy film. Yeah, they're wonderful and it's not simple to conceive and execute-correctly-fight choreographies with such agreement and style levels with a macro-budget, however, with that risk in mind, they sign up a filmmaker who stands out for his visual landscapes full of courtliness and accordance, deplorably, they didn't expect that in his first and greatest opportunity to continue in highly expensive movies, he relegate a vital aspect: narrative development.

From the initial sequence, it reveals the lack of on-screen chemistry between the leading duo, forcefulness in push-lines is what is needed and the leitmotiv wanders due to weak acting tandem. William Defoe is a hollow and unjustified incorporation, a mere tool for attracting more spectators to cinemas. To a larger extent, they applied a similar strategy to Damon, who is an immediate commercial attractant; A pretty face saving hundreds of lives from a horde of demons, are they intelligent, aren't they? On the other hand, the Eastern actors, highlighting the inclusion of a fantastic warrior lady (Tian Jing), feel more comfortable, in interesting visuals that radiate artistic and traditionalist oriental sensibility.

"The Great Wall" is another horizontal graphic direct-entertainment blockbuster, however, marks the beginning for the agreements between the English-speaking country and the Chinese titan, while providing an unusual look of the Great Wall and female introduction in a feature film of such monetary magnitude. The film is inversely proportional to its pretensions and it's comforting to witness that it doesn't focus on its emboldened main character, but focuses its efforts on the battle army, their relationships, troubles, and ambitions. Nondescript characters, powerful characters, repetitive God's eye views, a crushing mise-en-scène; the motion picture is a raffle of pros and cons that set off on the wrong foot the negotiations, however, this lacking timing and thrilling epic adventure is pleasant, is the kind of movie a 13-year-old boy can't wait to see.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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8

blackscorpioMay 9, 2017

An easy 8 for three reasons: A. The Great Wall itself. Wondrous and eye-catching, rises proudly above the CGI clouds. A masterpiece of modern Cinematography! B. Zhang Yimou's magic wand. He is a magician of the 7th Fine Art. Period. C. TheAn easy 8 for three reasons: A. The Great Wall itself. Wondrous and eye-catching, rises proudly above the CGI clouds. A masterpiece of modern Cinematography! B. Zhang Yimou's magic wand. He is a magician of the 7th Fine Art. Period. C. The HUGE potential, in general. Now, why not a 9 or a straight 10? I could name more than a few reasons (as a good-conscious-movie-watcher) but I will down-narrow it to only one: NO ROMANCE! I mean, no romance at all! And having a good potential here, thanks to the fiery central characters... well, it is really a pity! There were several moments that I caught myself praying for a CGI or even a non-CGI miracle, which would bring Christian Bale on Matt Damon's shoes. I mean, there would be a whole new twist on the love side of the story... If not with the General-girl, at least with the Tao Tei Queen...… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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10

Titanium95Jun 12, 2017

I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but I was very surprised in a good way. Definitely a unique movie. The action begins relatively quickly, without compromising a decent storyline. Definitely recommend watching!
PS: I'm sure people wouldI wasn't sure what to expect at first, but I was very surprised in a good way. Definitely a unique movie. The action begins relatively quickly, without compromising a decent storyline. Definitely recommend watching!
PS: I'm sure people would truly enjoy this movie if they didn't think so much about the acting or the story. Just go with it. And if anyone complains about the CGI quality, they must be drunk. It looks brilliant to me!… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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7

BikerjamesApr 1, 2019

Here's the thing with The Great Wall. Is it so bad that it's good? For me, yes. First of all, I saw this on my 4K TV, and it's one of the greatest looking films I've seen so far in that format. Gorgeous cinematography all the way around.Here's the thing with The Great Wall. Is it so bad that it's good? For me, yes. First of all, I saw this on my 4K TV, and it's one of the greatest looking films I've seen so far in that format. Gorgeous cinematography all the way around. The sound is equally superb, and when the soldiers are pounding the big bass drums it will put your subwoofer to the test and get your blood pumping. Many of the scenes obviously had 3D in mind while filming, and I'm sure the film looks great in that format as well, although I didn't see it in 3D. Some of the scenes are laughably ridiculous, such as the bungee jumpers that try to kill the beasts one at a time. It's very easy for the monsters to pick them off. Some of the acting is a little wooden, although the bad dialogue is to blame more than the actors. The obvious question while watching the movie is why don't the monsters simply climb up the wall where there are no soldiers and weapons to confront?. But then there would be no movie as the soldiers would get killed. This could have been a classic movie if more time was spent on character development, but it looks like they decided on concentrating on the visual and aural senses, and they certainly succeeded on that. I was never bored watching the film. Another movie made in the same vain was "Mad Max Fury Road", but Mad Max was a much better film because they did concentrate on the characters and didn't make it only a visual and aural movie. Still, if you want to show off your whole system this is a great choice.… Expand