Introducing the Big Three of Zhang Yimou’s “The Great Wall”
Directed by visual legend Zhang Yimou (張藝謀), fantasy action-film The Great Wall <長城> is set for a December 16, 2016 release in Mainland China, sending viewers off to an action epic for the beginning of the winter holidays.
The film, co-produced by Legendary Pictures, Le Vision Pictures, Atlas Entertainment, and China Film Group, centers on a group of elite warriors who band together to defend the Great Wall of China from monsters. The film stars Matt Damon, Jing Tian (景甜), Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, and Andy Lau (劉德華).
The Great Wall centers on Matt Damon as William and Pedro Pascal as Tovar, two foreign mercenaries who are sent off to random armies around the world, fighting wars for money. As fate would have it, they end up in the Great Wall, where they are captured by an elite army of monster fighters. There, they meet an English scholar, portrayed by Willem Dafoe, who has been imprisoned in the Great Wall for over 25 years. He attempts to gain William and Tovar’s trust, so they can help him in his escape.
The film will open in China on December 16, 2016. It will premiere in the United States on January 17, 2017.
“The Great Wall: Introducing the Big Three”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlMvQJ9PSZ0
Source: Sohu
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
I am looking forward to this not because I am a huge fan of the Hollywood actors but because I wanna see what zhang yimou can do and I am sure he can do great. Like exchange of ideas. Been reading one Chinese actress complaining why cast a westerner in a role where Chinese can do just to propogate that whites can save the world. The last thing I want is another one who think like blacks do and take offense at everything as racist or white supremacist. I am more concerned why cast second rate Chinese actors in a huge movie or a first rate chinese actors just to walk in abd out of a scene. I am ok with the storyline since it is about a foreigner perspective. Like why cast a human in a movie about aliens? Why Marco polo traveling in China when any china man can travel I china. That sort. How nonsensical. Anyway just one idiotic lone voice. Moreover will the world take notice if just all Chinese actors? Hollywood sells but this also shows Hollywood needs funding from China. This is give and take.
@funnlim
Why cast a westerner?
Because that character is written as a westerner. Stupid actress with chip on her shoulder.
Ever heard of culture exchange? If Hollywood can cast Chinese actors (e.g. Li Bing Bing, Jet Li, Jackie Chan), why can’t a chinese movie has a Hollywood actor in it?
As Zhang Yi Mou himself said
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/08/04/great-wall-director-addresses-whitewashing-controversy-matt-damon
“Our film is not about the construction of the Great Wall. Matt Damon is not playing a role that was originally conceived for a Chinese actor. The arrival of his character in our story is an important plot point. There are five major heroes in our story and he is one of them — the other four are all Chinese. The collective struggle and sacrifice of these heroes are the emotional heart of our film. “
This is not even a historical movie. It’s a fantasy action movie about a multinational band of mercenaries and fighters battling supernatural monsters, that happen to set in China’s mythical past.
I am all cracking up by this historical chop suey. The existence of a group of white European elite mercenary warriors in the Dark Ages is as plausible as an invincible high-tech equipped fighting force from Easter Island in the 21st Century. Midieval Europeans were getting clobbered by superior Muslim armies in their Crusader campaigns and then by the Mongol Hordes and certainly were in no shape to field such “elite fighting force” to save China, where the Han Dynasty was in its height.
Besides Matt Damon, none of the western cast seem to be A-listers. It has becomes a trend for Hollywood using Chinese money to produce these nonsenses for Asian box office purposes while saving their own resources for more quality productions.
@aiya I was surprised to learn roman army may have met … was it Han army? Some ancient chinese army, in real life. So why not? Moreover this is a fantasy movie. If Chinese series can have their never ending time travel element (even if removed from eventual story) why not? It can happen.
Perhaps Chinese had a lot of experience but not fighting monsters? A different perspective? It IS a movie.
Willem Dafoe is not a nobody. He is an A Lister, considered not as a bankable star (that’s Matt Damon) but elite acting prowess. Pedro Pascal – fans of Games of Thrones will know who he is. This is not some small time actors sort of movie. Matt Damon is in it probably because of his co stars AND the reputation of the director and Zhang Yimou is a giant. Yes it is hollywood using chinese money but for once at least the chinese has a role and not some walk on non speaking role.
I don’t see this as nonsense. It has potential to be a huge hit if everything done well. Consider it as Asian’s The Mummy or LOTR or the sort. Don’t dismiss it just yet.
@funnlim
I guess it is tough to find people who had experience in fighting monsters in general. If it were up to me, I would go for the Japanese (instead of Europeans) because of their experience in dealing with Godzilla, Rodan, Ghidra and their buddies (tongue in cheek).
Being known does not necessary make one an A-lister. For example, Mel Gibson is no longer one. Willem Dafoe is a known character actor around Hollywood but not an A-lister like Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, or Tom Hanks. I don’t know the Pedro guy since I am a tad older than the fantasy game teen generation.
Yes, I agree this movie is at best a fantasy and can be a commercial hit in Asia, especially in China, which is precisely the strategy behind these Hollywood producers. And don’t dismiss cinematic nonsenses because they sell especially in a place like China where consumers are more “brand conscious” (Hollywood) then artistically demanding. Just don’t expect it to win any acclaims.