When the co-Chinese-American production The Great Wall opened in China the critics and social media clobbered it like a baby seal. The Chinese government was not pleased and basically told them to shut up. This is because China saw this film as their entry into the world of global blockbusters. They put a ton of money and prestige into its success and the folks at home put their thumbs down. After seeing it, it is easy to understand why this might be - nothing to do with the quality of the film I would guess - but because the hero is a white guy. Matt Damon basically saves China back in ancient times. Hey, come on. Life is tough on us white men right now - at least let us save the world in movies. White men saving the day whether it is films about blacks, women or other non-whites is just an old Hollywood tradition. The reason the Chinese government was fine with this is simple - global box office. The script was written by westerners and perhaps that rankled a few Chinese as well as they take just a few licenses with Chinese history - like having them invaded by aliens. William Dafoe and Pedro Pascal also appear as white men.



But the director is fucking Zhang Yimou. I say fucking Zhang Yimou because it is fucking Zhang Yimou - easily one of the greatest directors of our lifetime. Back in the old days when directors in China had to make serious dramas that were not too political or the films were banned and the directors too - Zhang still managed to make films like Raise the Red Lantern, Red Sorghum, To Live and Shanghai Triad all starring his muse the spectacular Gong Li. Then after China went more commercial and making money became the mantra he made two of the most gorgeous Wuxia films ever - Hero and The House of Flying Daggers.


So you know The Great Wall is going to look good and does it ever - a cocaine party spiked with tequila on the eyes. This is a big old fashioned epic film full of spectacle and heroism and lots of beautiful people all adorned in color coded cool. Of course it is sort of stupid but stupid this good looking is fine with me. And it has Andy Lau, the most famous Hong Kong star who hasn't aged for the past 35 years. Clearly, he has made a deal with the devil. I want in.

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