MovieChat Forums > The Great Wall (2017) Discussion > What a disgraceful rewriting of history

What a disgraceful rewriting of history

posted 8 years ago by KangYW2013
61 replies | jump to latest

Monsters attacking at the Great Wall? This ain't Jurassic Park!

Although I thought William Dafoe was a good choice to play the lead monster. That dude's scary.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] billybizar 8 years ago

We already have enough fantasy films. I'm disappointed Zhang Yimou takes that boring, beaten path again. I expected a serious approach of an interesting piece of history but it seems we have to settle with dragons, lore and wizards. YAWN!

[–] ronnet_2 8 years ago

To each their own, I'm sure there are still plenty of films out there for you to enjoy.

Having said that, Fantasy films have been increasing in popularity since Lord of the Rings (which was released shortly after the twin tower tragedy). If you look at history then it makes sense too. In harder times Hollywood often upped the unrealism in their films as can also be seen in action flick of the 80's (another economically bad period) which had unrealistic action sequences where heroes easily saved the day. Whereas during the 60's and 70's there were more drama's and disaster films which even had sad endings.

So once again is a time where many people like to go to the cinema to escape reality for a while. Nothing wrong with that. In the future the amount of people interested in visiting the cinema to learn and experience history (and tragic) events will increase again.

[–] cdreid1 8 years ago

Exactly. When things are hard people want fantasies, hero stories, magic, glamor. When times are much better they want darker, more clever more realistic things

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] GreenTintedSpecs 8 years ago

less of the 'we'please, thats always so self important. Had enough of that bollox with Brexiters acting as tho 16million of us dont exist. ;)

many of my fav childhood films were fantastical, from Sinbad to Jason and the Argonauts. Film is exactly where I want to see fantasy. For historical pieces I can watch the *beep* BBC

[–] curryla_07 8 years ago

All those movies you named did poorly at the box office

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[–] thebefallenangel 8 years ago

I swear 99% of the criticism of this film is pure ignorance.

It's a fantasy film based on (from what I hear) an Ancient Roman who visits Ancient China during the construction of the Great Wall of China.

[–] guitarman4124 8 years ago

Keep whitsplaining there buddy.

How would you feel about an American independence movie circa 1775 where an Asian man gallantly appears on a white horse to lead the Americans to victory against the Brits? Now, imagine growing watching movies where white people are only depicted as one dimensional caricatures. I don't think you're capable of empathizing even when I hold your hand and through it.

[–] Mattfinbell 8 years ago

jsblitz-13513
Keep whitsplaining there buddy.

How would you feel about an American independence movie circa 1775 where an Asian man gallantly appears on a white horse to lead the Americans to victory against the Brits? Now, imagine growing watching movies where white people are only depicted as one dimensional caricatures. I don't think you're capable of empathizing even when I hold your hand and through it.

if it was done well I would accept it

it happened in blazing saddles! LOL

You get my drift?

people forget in the old west there were blacks slaves Black who owned slaves chinese built the trains in California

The chinese made there own settlements in Deadwood Seattle Washington

yes gay people were in the old west too! females were cow girls look at Annie Oakley Calamity Jane

Look like Tarzan talk like Jane! HAHA

[–] Jack_LesCamela 8 years ago

How would you feel about an American independence movie circa 1775 where an Asian man gallantly appears on a white horse to lead the Americans to victory against the Brits? Now, imagine growing watching movies where white people are only depicted as one dimensional caricatures. I don't think you're capable of empathizing even when I hold your hand and through it.

You mean a story where an Asian man gallantly appears on a white horse to lead the Americans to victory against the Brits AND THEIR HORDES OF MONSTERS? You forgot the fantasy monsters part.

YES. I am down with all of that. Are you going to make it? If not, don't tease people like that.

Matt Damon's character is clearly meant to be a point of view character that will draw in a Western audience and introduce them to aspects of Chinese culture they might otherwise not be curious enough to find out about on their own. At least that's what the Chinese half of the production is hoping for. That's why they started the project and sought to partner up with an American studio on it in the first place.

"I speak Spanish to God, French to women, English to men, and Japanese to my horse."

[–] aquarianbrass 8 years ago

I'm a westerner, and I don't need some POV white character that I can "identify" with. I can identify with Asians just fine.

[–] Jack_LesCamela 8 years ago

Me too, but for many others that's not the case. Moreover, you know that's true. So the Chinese director and production team cast an American actor as the lead.

[–] Mattfinbell 8 years ago

aquarianbrass
I'm a westerner, and I don't need some POV white character that I can "identify" with. I can identify with Asians just fine.

How can you?

kaskait
Uhm, China has a real legend that one of its towns was founded by the lost legion of Roman soldiers who were captured and forced to fight in Asian armies.

http://www.saporedicina.com/english/liqian-the-chinese-town-founded-by-roman-legionnaires/

people are still going to say your wrong

Look like Tarzan talk like Jane! HAHA

[–] Cstyle12 8 years ago

Good thing the film isn't catered especially to you then.

[–] blazingmaddogs 8 years ago

I'm a westerner who likes having a POV white character or black character or at least a westerner I can identify with in an Asian country. This makes me feel a part of the story.

So I guess that makes two point of views.

[–] T-eschberger 8 years ago

How would you feel about an American independence movie circa 1775 where an Asian man gallantly appears on a white horse to lead the Americans to victory against the Brits? Now, imagine growing watching movies where white people are only depicted as one dimensional caricatures. I don't think you're capable of empathizing even when I hold your hand and through it.

LMFAO! That's your rebuttal?! THAT'S your counter-argument? Nobody would give a sh!t, pal. Because people have bigger fish to fry than worrying about a fantasy film.

[–] kaskait 8 years ago

Uhm, China has a real legend that one of its towns was founded by the lost legion of Roman soldiers who were captured and forced to fight in Asian armies.

http://www.saporedicina.com/english/liqian-the-chinese-town-founded-by-roman-legionnaires/

[–] Jack_LesCamela 8 years ago

Uhm, China has a real legend that one of its towns was founded by the lost legion of Roman soldiers who were captured and forced to fight in Asian armies.

http://www.saporedicina.com/english/liqian-the-chinese-town-founded-by-roman-legionnaires/

Thanks for posting that.

"I speak Spanish to God, French to women, English to men, and Japanese to my horse."

[–] crissttigaldames 8 years ago

That compaisson make no sense. This is a fantasy movie, not "rewriting of history". There are dragons ffs.

[–] bayouski-284-590079 8 years ago

It's easy. Your feeling are about as importan as my cap in the toilet. Grow make your own movie and then absorb all the negative comments. But for now. I'd rather see Matt Damon other than some rang rang.

[–] bayouski-284-590079 8 years ago

Kinda like AL Pacino played a Cuban in Scarface. Who cares. He was perfect for the role so he got it.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] LeParas-1 8 years ago

Keep whitsplaining there buddy.

How would you feel about an American independence movie circa 1775 where an Asian man gallantly appears on a white horse to lead the Americans to victory against the Brits? Now, imagine growing watching movies where white people are only depicted as one dimensional caricatures. I don't think you're capable of empathizing even when I hold your hand and through it.

Well, theere have been celtic mummies found in China which are dated back to the stone age.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/a-meeting-of-civilisations-the-mystery-of-chinas-celtic-mummies-5330366.html

Also, having a Caucasian in the ancient Chinese armies isn't an outlandish thing. Since the warring states era, way before the construction of the Great Wall from the Ming dynasty, they were known to have -while rare- Caucasians lieutenants. They mostly came down from Russia.
Also in 1253, the Franciscan monk William of Rubruck mentions Hungarians and Russians, which formed the guard of the Mongol court in Beijing.

Just because you 'murricans don't know jackshyte about the world outside gun toting fatsoland it's not whitewashing or racism.

[–] Andy Bolstridge 8 years ago

why not, the last film that showed this had an drunk Australian anti-semite leading the Americans to victo.. sorry, "freedom", against the British :-)

There have been several westerns with Chinese actors in them, some as the leads - even Jackie Chan. Of course there were many Chinese in the American west, not so sure about the evil wizards or dragon, but movies weren't ever intended to be historically accurate.

This one has Matt Damon in it, and you had to question whether there'd be a one dimensional caricature?

[–] willmcdonald1982 8 years ago

for the win

[–] Cstyle12 8 years ago

I would be totally okay with a movie of one asian and four americans leading the american troops to victory. We're not all as easily offended as you seem to be

[–] excalibur1814 8 years ago

I'd watch that movie.

Staring Jacki Chan!

[–] brucehwangchen 8 years ago

"based on"

[–] lambizkit 8 years ago

Just thought I'd stop in to let you know that fantasy fiction does not rewrite history. Now you know.

[–] KangYW2013 8 years ago

J.C., I guess I should have held up a sign that said "THIS IS SARCASM".

The "rewriting of history" comment in the thread title had more to do with all the "white savior" backlash this movie is getting. My fake outrage was about monsters attacking the Great Wall (that was the joke), not Matt Damon in the movie saving other cultures.

Thanks for pointing out that this is fiction. I thought real monsters were the reason they built the Great Wall, but your explanations seem more plausible.

[–] jeremywong1965 8 years ago

This is a genre known as alternate history. It is not supposed to be historically accurate.

Don't judge my taste when you don't know if I have any.

[–] bayouski-284-590079 8 years ago

None ,except you maybe, will take this as "History". It's Just Sci-Fi fantasy that's all and probably entertaining as well.

[–] somf 8 years ago

What is wrong with you? So now you are going to try to claim that Raymond Burr did not save the world from Godzilla? History is history get over it. Without the Air Force King Kong would probably be walking around with your wife in his hand and picking at her clothes. You need to get a grip on history Mr. OP!

[–] Sagardoa 8 years ago

I think the 15th century Chinese Air Force is very accurately portrayed in this movie...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2034800/mediaviewer/rm4123593472

[–] mech_warrior 8 years ago

Everybody knows that China is the true birthplace of civilization when those hairy pale skinned Neanderthals were still dwelling in caves and fighting with sticks and rocks.

[–] ddbergkamp 8 years ago

Kid be trippin.