As anticipation builds for Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey," audiences are revisiting the filmographies of its stars, including Matt Damon. While Damon's work in films like the Bourne series, "Contagion," "The Martian," and "Interstellar" are frequently discussed, one of his earlier blockbuster roles offers a surprisingly mythical fantasy adventure with a distinct visual flair: Zhang Yimou's "The Great Wall." Despite its initial reception, the 2016 film stands as a testament to ambitious, singular visions in blockbuster filmmaking, even if they don't always land perfectly at the box office. It is currently available to stream on Tubi.
When "The Great Wall" premiered, much of the conversation surrounding the $150 million film centered on its status as Hollywood's first major US-China co-production and debates over its casting, rather than its narrative content. The film's premise follows two European mercenaries who arrive at the Great Wall of China seeking fortune, only to discover an elite Chinese army engaged in an ancient war against monstrous creatures known as Taotie.
Damon's character, Garin, embodies a classic heroic archetype. A mercenary driven by self-preservation and profit, he finds himself embroiled in a conflict far beyond his initial understanding, gradually shifting his priorities. Damon delivers this role with the grounded confidence that has defined his career, proving surprisingly adept at the film's more fantastical action sequences, including gravity-defying stunts reminiscent of classic wuxia films.
"The Great Wall" also provides an early glimpse of Pedro Pascal's career before his rise to widespread leading-man status. In the film, Pascal plays Damon's charismatic mercenary partner, sharing effortless chemistry with Damon as they trade dry banter before being drawn into the film's increasingly elaborate world.
Director Zhang Yimou, known for his visual mastery in films like "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers," brings his distinctive style to this large-scale production. His approach emphasizes extreme color, dynamic movement, and deliberate composition to tell a cohesive story. "The Great Wall" transforms a potentially grim fantasy narrative into a visually operatic spectacle. Rather than depicting action as chaotic, Zhang stages it with a theatrical quality. The elite Nameless Order, tasked with defending against the Taotie, performs its attacks with acrobatic grace, moving in synchronized formations. Brightly colored battalions flow across the Wall, and sweeping wide shots highlight geometric patterns, ensuring even the most ambitious battles are easy to follow. This deliberate visual style contrasts with the quick cuts and often indistinct digital effects seen in many contemporary blockbusters.
One striking image from the film features the all-female Crane Corps diving off the Wall with spears aimed at the monstrous horde below, a concept staged with such precision and conviction that it becomes genuinely exhilarating. Zhang commits fully to the fantasy, trusting in strong compositions and choreographed action to sell even the most outlandish ideas.
Nearly a decade after its release, "The Great Wall" endures not for its controversies or box office performance, but as a wildly entertaining fantasy epic executed with unwavering directorial conviction. Before Damon embarks on his next cinematic journey in "The Odyssey," revisiting this visually rich adventure offers a compelling reminder of his capacity to anchor a grand mythic tale.