THE GREAT WALL (2016)

Summary:

Set in ancient China, "The Great Wall" tells the story of William Garin and Pero Tovar, two European mercenaries who journey eastward in search of the legendary black powder. Their quest leads them to the formidable Great Wall, where they are captured by the Nameless Order, an elite military force dedicated to defending humanity from an ancient, monstrous threat known as the Taotie. These carnivorous creatures, appearing every sixty years, emerge from the Jade Mountain to assault the Wall and, if successful, devastate the world.

William, a skilled archer, and Tovar, a master swordsman, find themselves embroiled in a war far grander than they could have imagined. As they witness the incredible discipline, advanced weaponry, and unwavering courage of the Nameless Order, particularly Commander Lin Mae, William begins to question his mercenary motives. He must choose between escaping with the coveted black powder or joining the fight to protect a civilization that has shown him honor and purpose, ultimately playing a crucial role in humanity's last stand against the ravenous horde.

Keywords: The Great Wall, 2016, Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Monsters, China, Ancient Warfare.

Plot:

The story begins in the desolate landscapes of 11th-century China, where two European mercenaries, William Garin (Matt Damon) and Pero Tovar (Pedro Pascal), are on a perilous expedition deep into the empire. Their primary objective is to acquire "black powder," a mythical and highly valuable explosive. After narrowly escaping a Khitan raiding party, only William and Tovar survive, but not before an unseen creature attacks them in the night, leaving William with a strange, green claw as a trophy. Exhausted and wary, they continue their journey, eventually stumbling upon the awe-inspiring Great Wall of China.

Upon reaching the Wall, they are immediately captured by the Nameless Order, an elite military force comprised of various specialized units, each identified by the color of their armor and their animal emblem: the Bear Troop (infantry), the Crane Troop (female acrobatic archers), the Tiger Troop (engineers), the Eagle Troop (archers), and the Deer Troop (cavalry). William and Tovar are brought before Commander Lin Mae (Jing Tian) of the Crane Troop, General Shao (Zhang Hanyu), and Strategist Wang (Andy Lau). Their green claw is recognized instantly as belonging to a Taotie, monstrous beasts that attack the Wall every sixty years, emerging from the Jade Mountain to devour humanity.

Before they can be executed, the Taotie launch a massive assault on the Wall. William and Tovar are shackled, forced to witness the terrifying spectacle. The Nameless Order's sophisticated defenses are showcased: massive ballistas, retractable spears, and the daring Crane Troop archers who bungee jump from the Wall to rain arrows upon the creatures. During the chaos, William, despite being a prisoner, demonstrates his exceptional archery skills by saving Lin Mae from a stray Taotie, earning him a temporary reprieve and the grudging respect of General Shao. Tovar, meanwhile, attempts to use the distraction to escape but is thwarted.

After the attack, Strategist Wang explains the nature of the Taotie: they are a hive-minded species led by a Queen, who communicates telepathically with her drones. Each attack is a coordinated effort, and their primary weakness is their reliance on the Queen. If the Queen is killed, the drones become disoriented and vulnerable. William and Tovar are introduced to Sir Ballard (Willem Dafoe), another European mercenary who arrived at the Wall 25 years prior, also seeking black powder. Ballard, now an English teacher, has been held captive ever since, awaiting an opportunity to steal black powder and escape. He sees William and Tovar as his ticket to freedom and begins to subtly manipulate them.

General Shao, impressed by William's combat prowess, allows him to participate in further defense efforts. William continues to distinguish himself, forming a growing bond with Lin Mae, who recognizes his honor and skill despite his mercenary past. Strategist Wang devises a plan to capture a live Taotie for study, hoping to discover a definitive weakness. This plan, however, goes awry during the next assault. General Shao sacrifices himself to save William from a Taotie, passing command of the Nameless Order to Lin Mae. His death deeply affects William, who is increasingly torn between his desire for wealth and his newfound sense of purpose.

With Lin Mae now in command, the plan to capture a Taotie is revisited. A specialized trap is set, and a Taotie is successfully captured, though not without significant casualties. During the study, it is discovered that the Taotie Queen is located in the capital city, and the captured drone's behavior is directly linked to her. The Queen is preparing for a final, overwhelming assault on the capital, which will lead to the extinction of humanity if not stopped. Strategist Wang deduces that the Queen uses a specific frequency to control her drones, and if this frequency can be disrupted, the drones will become chaotic.

Ballard, seizing the opportunity, convinces Tovar to help him steal black powder barrels. He offers William a share of the spoils and a chance to escape. William faces a moral dilemma. He has grown to respect the Nameless Order and Lin Mae, and the thought of abandoning them to their fate weighs heavily on him. In a pivotal moment, William chooses to stay and fight, sending Tovar and Ballard off with a pre-arranged signal. Tovar, initially hesitant, agrees to help Ballard escape. They manage to steal a substantial amount of black powder, but their escape is fraught with peril. Ballard is eventually killed by Taotie while attempting to flee through a canyon, leaving Tovar to continue alone.

With the Taotie Queen's location confirmed and her impending attack on the capital imminent, Lin Mae and Strategist Wang devise a desperate plan. They will use hot air balloons, developed by the Tiger Troop, to transport black powder and a small elite team, including William, directly to the capital. Their goal is to inject the black powder into the Taotie Queen, destroying her and incapacitating the entire horde. As they fly towards the capital, the Taotie launch their final, massive assault, overwhelming the remaining defenses of the Wall.

The journey to the capital is perilous, with Taotie-ridden hot air balloons attacking them. William and Lin Mae fight side-by-side, showcasing their combined skills. Upon reaching the capital, they find it under siege, with countless Taotie swarming the streets. Their balloon is damaged, forcing them to make a crash landing near the palace where the Queen is believed to be. Inside the palace, they discover the Queen, a massive, grotesque creature, surrounded by her protective drones.

Strategist Wang, having made it to the capital ahead of them, has developed a device that emits a specific frequency to disrupt the Taotie's hive mind, but it requires a Taotie head to function. William volunteers to distract the drones while Lin Mae uses her agility to reach the Queen. In a desperate final confrontation, William battles waves of Taotie drones, using his archery and quick thinking to buy Lin Mae time. Lin Mae, armed with the black powder-filled spear, confronts the Queen. She manages to impale the Queen, but the creatures' blood-like substance begins to corrode the spear, preventing the explosion.

In a final act of self-sacrifice, William uses a heavy chain and a magnet, previously used for transporting supplies, to attach himself to the Taotie Queen's head. He then pulls a burning piece of debris, igniting the black powder in the spear, causing a massive explosion that obliterates the Queen. With their Queen destroyed, the remaining Taotie drones become disoriented, collapsing and dying, their hive mind broken. The capital is saved, and humanity is spared from annihilation.

In the aftermath, William, having survived the explosion, is granted his freedom by Lin Mae. He is given the choice to return to Europe, but he reflects on his journey and the purpose he found fighting alongside the Nameless Order. Tovar, who had successfully escaped the Wall with black powder, is later captured by the Nameless Order and brought back. Lin Mae, now the revered Commander, allows Tovar to return to Europe with William, but only after he promises to spread the word of the Nameless Order's sacrifice and the true purpose of the Great Wall. William and Tovar begin their long journey home, forever changed by their encounter with the Taotie and the valiant defenders of the Great Wall, carrying with them not just black powder, but a story of heroism and the bond forged in the crucible of war.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Matt Damon as William Garin
• Jing Tian as Commander Lin Mae
• Pedro Pascal as Pero Tovar
• Willem Dafoe as Sir Ballard
• Andy Lau as Strategist Wang
• Zhang Hanyu as General Shao
• Lu Han as Peng Yong
• Kenny Lin as Commander Chen
• Eddie Peng as Commander Wu

Crew:

• Director: Yimou Zhang
• Screenplay by: Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro, Tony Gilroy
• Story by: Max Brooks, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz
• Producers: Thomas Tull, Charles Roven, Jon Jashni, Peter Loehr
• Music by: Ramin Djawadi
• Cinematography: Stuart Dryburgh, Xiaoding Zhao
• Editors: Mary Jo Markey, Craig Wood

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: December 16, 2016 (China), February 17, 2017 (United States)
• Language: English, Mandarin
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Monster Film
• Running Time: 103 minutes
• Accolades: None significant