#The great wall movie plot full#

He does not believe in trust between people. At one point William briefly reveals his past: he started to work in the army as a cleaner and proceeded to become a mercenary that fought вЂњfor many flags.вЂќ Thus, his motivation was always material: he first worked for food and then for money. Throughout the story Chinese values always emerge superior in comparison to the Western ones. At this point the plot may hint at the contrast between the egalitarian organization of the Order (were men fight along the women, and the latter can lead as well) and the feudal order above them. While the sturdy warriors of the Nameless Order are faultless, the young emperor is depicted as a coward. Nevertheless, the image of the Chinese state is not always perfect. If the capital of China falls, we are told, then nothing will save the world from the danger of Taotie. The plot reveals various military technologies in possession of the Order one by one, at right moments, as if suggesting that China is using its advantages in a responsible way. The movie sends the Western audience a clear message: China is a peace-loving power, the actions of which are important for the global stability.

#The great wall movie plot full#

Therefore, it is fully understandable why the OrderвЂ™s values are so emphasized вЂ“ according to the movie plot, only unity, mutual trust, equality, and care for common good may face and defeat greed, egoism, and cruelty.Д®njoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. In this perspective, the Order fights (metaphorically) with what actually brought Europeans to China вЂ“ a relentless pursuit of profit. They symbolize greed and self-indulgence, including gluttony and corruption. Get the NewsletterДЄs far as the cultural dimension of The Great Wall is concerned, it is worth noticing that the Taotie monsters come from Chinese mythology. Get briefed on the story of the week, and developing stories to watch across the Asia-Pacific.

It shouldnвЂ™t be surprising why the Chinese try to hide the secret of black powder at any cost вЂ“ neither out of jealousy, nor to control the trade themselves, but to limit black powderвЂ™s usage to defense against Taotie. They come to China to steal black powder (depicted in the film as one of ChinaвЂ™s many inventions) and grow rich by selling it in war-ridden Europe, ignoring the fact that this will lead to even more bloodshed. The Europeans, in turn, are represented as envious, false-faced, focused on making profits and realizing their own interests. The OrderвЂ™s most important principle is to care for other members: relations between soldiers, generals, and strategists are based on boundless trust ( дїЎд»», xГ¬nrГЁn) and willingness to sacrifice life in order to protect brothers and sisters in arms. It soon turns out that the Order protects the whole of China вЂ“ and consequently the whole of humanity вЂ“ from Taotie, hideous creatures which once in 60 years rise and try to overcome the Wall, killing all men they encounter.Дue to the appearance of three Europeans (William, Tovar, and Sir Ballard, who came to China 25 years prior for the same purpose as the two mercenaries) on one side, and the Nameless OrderвЂ™s members on the other, The Great Wall is a tale of an encounter between two civilizations. After being attacked by a mysterious monster, they are imprisoned by the Nameless Order, an organization that guards the Great Wall. Two mercenaries, William and Tovar, who claim to be tradesmen, come to China in search of black powder. The plot takes us back to the period of the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD). However, it seeks to engage not only the Chinese viewer but also the Western one with a political and moral message. This most expensive Chinese film production in history - with a budget of approximately $135 million - is in fact an epic tale deeply rooted in Chinese history and culture. The Great Wall, a recent Chinese movie starring Matt Damon, is more than an unsophisticated form of entertainment.