The Great Wall - An era of consumption and entertainment

This film has received much controversial arguments since the trailer came out. The release in China so far has received more than 86 Million US dollars box-office in a week and the projection will be 150 million US dollars in China.

The comments from the viewers on internet are very divided into 2 extremes. 1 star or full 5 stars on Douban (equivalent level as Rotten tomato in China). 

The biggest discontent perhaps, is not from the fact that the Great Wall is a bad film but the disappointment. From "Raise the Red Lantern "to "Hero"Zhang Yimou has established his leading position as a talented director in both artistic creation and commercial success: Three best foreign film Oscars nominations, a Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes and 177m US dollars box-office worldwide in 2004.

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The Great Wall

The spotlight the Great Wall is under this time seems focus on Matt Damon, lack of true culture representation etc. But these arguments really stem from one important fact that this is film is a first-time true co-production attempt between China and US. 

Co-production has not been easy and made many jokes in the past such as adding unnecessary minor roles for Chinese actors for a script does not really need any Chinese content added, or abrupt ad implantation (Yili milk in Transformers 4). And it will not be easy.

The undeniable fact is the rising demand from the second large film market in the globe and the market and content makers are trying to adapt and push the edge.

The harder part is the audiences' criticism and tastes grow more sophisticated and diversifies too. Will they catch the audiences step? Will the audience be trained to adapt to super story series just like western super hero series that the more disappointment and harsh criticism rise but more box office follows?

The Great Wall has so far, the highest production budget in Chinese film history and for a China and US co-production film. It seems no pressure of covering the cost of 150m US dollars from domestic and worldwide box-office if we do a rough formulation by three-times budget worth box-office cover the whole pipeline production and marketing etc. At least from this perspective,Zhang Yimou has been an excellent project manager on a budget on this scale cross countries.

I spent about 7 dollars on my 3D ticket in a 4K Doby theater and I think for a standard commercial film with good VFS and OST plus Matt Damon, it is worth the money. If the investors get their moneys back, then we will be seeing the Great Wall 2, 3, 4, 5 because that's how the industry works. And if Batman vs Superman can get a 6.8, I follow a 6 for this film.