If it were "pure fantasy" it wouldn't involve the great wall, in china, kind of about when it was built, or at least being used for its purpose.
Just because something screws up the history, doesn't make it pure fantasy.
The stupid demon dragon zombies, and the white guy, and their armour, and probably an awful lot of this film is obviously fantasy, but it hardly wholly unrecognizable as a place, or time, and the film makes no bones about representing China, at a time in history. So yeah, not pure fantasy at all.
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Ghost_Of_Me
8 years ago
But many fantasy films take references from the real world right? I mean its away to ground the film in some reality so the audience can relate to the subject matter. We know China didnt defend the world from Dragons. There is a London but no secret train that goes to Hogwarts.
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Smokey_T
8 years ago
Absolutely, but when a government like China's authorises a story you can bet unlike a film make in UK, that the train, and what it symbolizes, are going to be scrutinized, and based on that scrutiny the director spoken to, and made very much aware of what the government feels it needs to give the project a big tick.
A rather unsubtle difference to filmming in the UK.
For example you won't ever see a government-approved Chinese equivalent of V for Vendetta.
You might think Disney films are politically devoid as well, or not care what filmmakers are saying in their movies (or being coerced to say), that these are just entertainment, and you are not alone if this is the case. But I would argue that passive absorption of such obvious political messaging is dangerously lazy.
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Ghost_Of_Me
8 years ago
Agreed. But it also makes me wonder, if a government like China authorized this story, would they allow 'the great white savior' story aspect to stay? Wouldnt they make sure China didnt need any help from the outside world?
And from what I read, even Disney dosent want to get a ban from China since they have such a huge impact on the film market. I mean everyone knows why Dr Strange changed the gender and race of a Tibetan monk to a woman. They didnt want to lose out on 1.3 billion people by getting the ban hammer from China.
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Smokey_T
8 years ago
Well what would be offensive to the Chinese about his character?
He is white. China loves white people, COME INVEST IN CHINA.
He comes seeking to steal gunpowder (we assume). China was militarily great, and possessing technology and wisdom exceeding that of the of West. China, greatest nation in history.
Remember Japan you still owe China unpaid tributes, and don't think we have forgotten WW2
They catch him being a snaeky round eye. Because Chinese are smarter than silly people.
They change their minds about him, free him from his shackles, and trust him around their women and children. The Chinese are an open-minded and forgiving people.
He becomes conflicted, and turns away from his false Western thinking, and adopts the Chinese way. Chinese way is best.
He bonks their hottest princess. The Chinese are not bigoted.
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Ghost_Of_Me
8 years ago
Wow you got all that from two trailers? Who needs to see the film now, I know the whole story! But no, I didnt think of any of that. I was just thinking about the white savior role. Obviously the Chinese government wouldnt allow this film to get made if it portrayed them in any negative light. I wonder if every Chinese character is going to be amazing, good, and honorable. No shame must be brought to the mother land!
You think its just going to be one big propaganda film?
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Smokey_T
8 years ago
I think it will be a shallow retelling of a very familiar tale. And it won't hurt to hit the viewer over the head with its messaging.
Probably not half as brutally as Neill Blomkamp (white privilege=bad, socialism=good), or Paul Haggis (racism=bad, crippled=bad).
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ackmondual (206)
8 years ago
Hmm, it seems more so China loves white people's money. We got lots of investments there!
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Mahrez99 (236)
8 years ago
You hit it straight on the head!
This movie caters as much to the chinese as the westerners, if you only change the perspective from the individual to the power of the strong society. For the westerners Matt Damon saves the day. But for the chinese China is shown as the great empire, with technological achievements and smartness way above and beyond anything the western empires possessed at the time. As shown in (the greedy western way) that bringing just a bit of the "black powder" to the west would give you keys to anything there, while in China this is just one of many tools to use against the aliens. Add to that that the chinese girl general, loyal, brave and brought up in her "nameless" elite unit since childhood, is as much a part as Damon in bringing victory in the end, thus furthering the ideals of communism and the unity of people united against the greater evil where the individual is less important. All very nice for the strengthening of the chinese collective spirit.
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