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The Great Wall

2016

Zhang Yimou

Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, Andy Lau ...

4.6

12,266

Action. Fantasy Set in 15th century China, the film revolves around soldiers in search of gunpowder who happen upon the construction of the massive wall, and learn that its hurried construction isn’t just to keep out the Mongols, but mystical creatures.

	Author	Review
United States	Clarence Tsui The Hollywood Reporter	"Beyond the casting and the ceaseless onslaught of diverse special effects, Zhang and his Hollywood screenwriters have delivered nothing more than a formulaic monster movie"	NEG
United States	Maggie Lee Variety	"Capably directed but generic fantasy spectacle extolling Chinese culture and military excellence."	NEU
United States	Peter Travers Rolling Stone	"What a bummer that all Chinese master Zhang Yimou and Hollywood star Matt Damon come up with is a B-level creature feature with delusions of grandeur. (...) Rating: ★½ (out of 4)"	NEG
United States	Manohla Dargis The New York Times	"Snarling digital monsters, a glowering Matt Damon and battalions of unfaltering Chinese warriors mix it up in 'The Great Wall', a painless, overstuffed spectacle that works overtime as a testament to China’s might."	NEU
United Kingdom	Helen Roxburgh The Guardian	"It won’t be remembered as Zhang’s best film, but the director’s artistic touch is on display in his long panoramic sweeps and artful use of colour (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"	NEU
United Kingdom	Jamie Fullerton Empire	"There are plenty of fun CGI monster-skewering scenes, but a clunky plot, rigid script and equally stiff acting make this a crumbling disappointment, if not quite a disaster (…) Rating: ★★ (out of 5)"	NEG
United Kingdom	Lisa Nesselson Screendaily	"Viewers are in good hands - if they’re not too demanding - as Zhang Yimou puts the easily distinguishable characters through their paces."	POS

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