I feel like we’ve had this discussion before — Hollywood making a movie set in [insert Asian country here], casting a huge and fantastic Asian ensemble, and then giving the lead role to a white actor. I mean…we have have talked about this scenario before, right? And yet here we are again with The Great Wall, a movie set in what looks like a feudal era in China starring Matt Damon, plus Pedro Pascal, for some reason. Complaining aside, this movie actually looks fudging amazing as frak. I’m still waving my finger at you, Hollywood, but damn it…this trailer, tho!
I know. I’m part of the problem in this case. As a half-Asian American who cares about media representation for people of color, I accept this fatal flaw of mine. I also appreciate good-looking foreign films, which this is, definitely.
Look at it!
Look at it!
Look at it!
LOOK AT IT!!!!!!!
This movie already looks so amazing and gorgeous, I wanna turn it into a chocolate cake and eat it all!
The Great Wall is directed by one of the most breathtaking visual stylists, Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of Flying Daggers). It tells the story of an elite force making a valiant stand for humanity on the world’s most iconic structure. This is the first English-language production for Yimou, and is the largest film ever shot entirely in China. The Great Wall also stars Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe and Andy Lau.
You can watch the trailer below.
This isn’t a Hollywood production though. Legendary, and the China Film Group Corporation are the primary producers. it is directed by a Chinese director. I don’t believe this is another case of whitewashing a movie. Sometimes, the creative choice, the story choice, is not what we expect, or want.
Which is why I’m giving this one a pass. I didn’t really convey that too well in the post, but yeah. We’ll just see when the movie comes out. I’m all about some dragon fighting anyway. As long as it’s not Reign of Fire… Please please please don’t let it be like Reign of Fire.