In 2016, Matt Damon starred in The Great Wall, an ambitious American and Chinese co-production that was meant to be a blockbuster in both countries.
By the time The Great Wall arrived in America in 2017, it was clear that it had failed to become a hit in either country. Damon has even shared a story about his daughter mocking him for making the film.
Nearly eight years later, The Great Wall has suddenly become one of the most popular movies on HBO Max.
Now, the Watch With Us team is diving into the film as we share three reasons to watch The Great Wall on HBO Max.
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Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal Give the Film Star Power
It has to be said that neither Matt Damon nor Pedro Pascal is at their best in The Great Wall. Nearly a decade after its release, it feels more like random chance that Pascal has gone on to greater stardom. These two performers are clearly an attraction for HBO Max subscribers, even if they weren’t able to draw in American crowds in 2017.
One of this film’s shortcomings is that Damon’s William Garin and Pascal’s Pero Tovar never really gel as a duo. Pascal gets to share a few quips, but Damon largely plays it straight as a mercenary who comes to appreciate and admire the Chinese people and their refusal to bend to a seemingly unstoppable enemy. Damon has given better performances in such classics as The Talented Mr. Ripley with Jude Law and the Ocean’s Eleven movies, but he’s just good enough here to make this work.
Willem Dafoe also has a very welcome turn as Sir Ballard, the only other prominent Western character in the film. Ballard has been in China a lot longer than either William or Pero, but he’s all too willing to betray his captors/hosts. Perhaps if Dafoe had a larger role, The Great Wall would have been even more enjoyable.
‘The Great Wall’ Has Some Genuinely Good Action Sequences
The Great Wall may falter when creating compelling human drama or relatable characters, but it comes to life during the film’s epic battle scenes. Since the great enemy in this film is a race of alien monsters called the Tao Tei, a lot of CGI is used to bring them to life. Director Zhang Yimou found some interesting ways to keep that fresh, including in the video above, where William and Pero are surrounded by smoke and unable to see the enemy.
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The action is ultimately a bigger attraction than any of the actors in this movie. While it would have been preferable if the film had more compelling characters, The Great Wall‘s battle sequences do exactly what they were supposed to do.
Stunning Visuals and Great Designs Make ‘The Great Wall’ Worth a Watch
Because The Great Wall cost $150 million to make, it’s been saddled with a reputation as a flop because $334.9 million worldwide simply wasn’t enough to break even. For a film designed to appeal to American and Chinese audiences, The Great Wall managed to underperform in both countries by grossing just $45.5 million and $170.9 million, respectively.
Regardless, that budget shows up onscreen with some of The Great Wall‘s visual flourishes, including the impressive hot air balloon sequence. The costume designs were particularly well made, and this never feels like a movie that doesn’t have money to burn. The Great Wall may not have been a hit, but it’s still entertaining and enjoyable for what it is rather than for what it could have been.
The Great Wall is streaming on HBO Max.
