A Very Tall Tale
The Great Wall was believed to be built as protection against nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe, but legends would suggest other things. Ancient China might be aware that invaders could take anything they want, and it would be the Chinese inventions. Loi Krathong, one of the most popular festivals in Thailand, lured thousands of foreigners every November. Swarms of Lanna-style sky lanterns lit up the darkened sky, and it happened that this custom was also observed in the southwestern regions of Southeast Asia. A similar custom could be seen in the scene of "The Great Wall", which might suggest that it was originated from China.
A long list of writers was credited with "The Great Wall", most of whom were prolific filmmakers. They were respected ones, which surprised some moviegoers. Could they be accused of whitewashing this very tall tale? Two members of a mercenary group ventured into inland China, searching for gunpowder. They came from Europe. Viewers would be led to believe that this could be another function of the Great Wall, the so-called Big Secret. It turned out that the other side of the wall was an imitation of Mordor, where taoties inhabited it. Anyone familiar with Chinese culture would guess a familiar motif, but the screenplay described a pack of lizard-like creatures with knife-life teeth. They would attack the Nameless Order, a Chinese military order, every sixty years.
The premise seemed too hard to believe, but some doubted Marco Polo's claims that he visited Inner Mongolia. Zhang Yimou highlighted the distinctive Chinese virtues, namely loyalty and serving for the greater good. CGI might have lessened the grandeur of the battle scenes, but the audience would be impressed at the Crane Troop. (They were female soldiers who have acrobatic skills, risking death by the taoties after leaping off the wall.) They also admired the survival skills of the mercenary group. The Fifth Generation filmmaker wouldn't be scolded by the authorities, as this was old-fashioned yarn in the grandest Chinese tradition.
The Fifth Generation were renowned for their attempt to portray an objective picture of Chinese society during the tumultuous 20th century, which infuriated the Communist government. Foreign audience saw a critical stance on how history unfolded in China. (Chinese people don't like to lose face in front of foreigners.) Zhang Yimou depicted an incompetent bureaucracy, the underbelly in glitzy Shanghai, and the hapless state of commoners in Chinese society. Age mellowed him (or he might sensed China's receptiveness to capitalism.) Some might be dismayed at this latest picture of Zhang Yimou, but it could be a matter of perspective.
The most popular director of the Fifth Generation deserved an Academy Award, but politics would prevent him from being recognized for such an honor. (And Hollywood would keep an eye on exceptional filmmakers.) Perhaps "The Great Wall" would be followed by an Oscar-worthy project. Zhang Yimou was at the twilight of his career. For the meantime, viewers should enjoy the magnificent view of the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park. Colored sandstone and minerals would result to rainbow mountains, which could enable viewers to forget Matt Damon's presence. There was hardly any (European) accent in his voice, but it would be a minor blip in this saga.
