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Though the lavish sets frequently impress, the action upon them is stilted and stubborn, as lazy and uninspired as its dream-inducing plot.Ĭaptured by a daunting army and forced to answer to a slew of generals of some Northern Chinese province or other – who it should be noted are decked out in hysterically colorful full-body armor, making them look like some kind of Chinese Power Rangers – the two disloyal scoundrels are questioned about how they managed to slaughter one of the Nameless Order’s near-invulnerable nemeses, not-so-menacingly called the “Taotie.” Soon the two dirt-smeared rapscallions stand before the Great Wall – which for all its IRL majestic glory is reduced to a cheap prop that may as well have been computer graphics. The year is…sometime? The non-Chinese characters are from…somewhere? And all anyone can seem to be talking about is this coveted “black powder.” The hunt for this costly, explody stuff lands anti-hero William (Damon) – a character so poorly written that I literally can’t tell you anything about him other than the fact that he wants to steal black powder and is good at archery – in hot water when he and thief pal Tovar ( Pedro Pascal, better than Damon, but straining to earn laughs) encounter a mythical beast who they promptly kill with the power of magnets and steel. At only 90 minutes, The Great Wall somehow begins to strain credulity in the shallows of the first act and it only gets worse from there. If that does not describe your tastes then beware, you’re in store for a long walk off a short plank of stupidity. However if you can feign excitement for a sleep-walking Damon channeling Hobbit-era Legolas to shoot arrows at an endless horde of dog-raptors then please read no further The Great Wall is the flick for you. A historical epic-meets-monster movie ostensibly designed for Chinese and American audiences both, the latest Matt Damon vehicle fails on nearly every level. If you are interested in visiting one or all these film locations, please contact our China experts.An unmitigated juggernaut of bad, pointless cinema, The Great Wall is what happens when globalization and movie-making meets. Spend a day with pandas or hike along the Great Wall. From private access at some of the most important sights to lesser visited areas. Travel with Steppes and experience the best that China has to offer. Why not time your travel to China to coincide with a performance at the Beijing Concert Hall. To absorb the culture of China, Zimmer spent time in the company of the China National Symphony Orchestra as part of his preparation. Winning numerous Annie awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Music in an animated feature the musical score alone is worthy of a watch, produced by Hans Zimmer collaborating with John Powell. Kung Fu Panda (2006) – A computer animated action movie, revolving around a panda who aspires to be a Kung Fu Master in ancient China. This epic movie is still a feast for the eyes. Visit the filming locations including the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and the Museums of the Imperial Palace, Changchun. Shot on location in China, the film won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Told in flashback, the film covers the years 1908 to 1967. The Last Emperor (1987) – A true story of Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi, the last ruler of the Chinese Ching Dynasty. The floating Hallelujah Mountains in the imaginary universe of Pandora were inspired by the sandstone karst formations of Zhangjiajie National Park within the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. It also alerted many to the spectacular scenery of Jiuzhaigou National Park, a short flight from Chengdu in Sichuan Province.Īvatar (2009) – The highest grossing film of all time and credited for the use of impressive 3D visual effects. Hero (2002) – The highest grossing film in China on release and won several awards for its cinematography. Here are Steppes Big 5:Ĭrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) – The highest grossing foreign-language film in the USA was filmed in several magnificent locations in China such as the UNESCO-listed Hongcun Ancient Village near Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). This is not the first movie to display China’s stunning beauty. The best preserved are just outside of Beijing, with many Steppes clients visiting the Mutianyu or Jinshanling sections of the Great Wall. The wall is made up of many sections built over time by the different ruling dynasties. Directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Matt Damon, the story may not be historically accurate (there were no monsters attacking China), but it reveals stunning panoramas of the man-made marvel that is the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall, released today, is the most expensive shoot set entirely in China.