The Great Wall

The Great Wall Analysis

​📝 The Critical Verdict: Reception in the East and West (Part 10/20)

​Divided Critical Opinion
​The reception of The Great Wall was notably polarized, reflecting the very East-meets-West structure of its production. Critics and audiences in China generally viewed the film differently than their counterparts in North America and Europe.
​Western Criticism
​In the West, the film received predominantly negative to mixed reviews. The main points of contention were:
​The "White Savior" Trope: As previously discussed, this issue dominated many reviews, overshadowing the film's technical merits. Critics found Matt Damon's central role distracting and culturally insensitive given the setting.
​Thin Narrative: The plot was often criticized for being overly simplistic and existing merely as a scaffolding for the large-scale action sequences. The character development, outside of the basic survival arc, was deemed shallow.
​Tonal Inconsistency: Some reviewers found the serious medieval fantasy setting clashed jarringly with the hyper-stylized, brightly colored action and creature feature elements.
​Chinese Reception
​In China, the reception was generally more favorable, though not without nuance:
​Visual Pride: Many appreciated the massive scale, the use of Chinese mythology (even if highly stylized), and the opportunity for a world-renowned Chinese director like Zhang Yimou to lead a blockbuster of this magnitude. The visuals were celebrated as world-class.
​Cultural Sensitivity: While some local critics echoed the "White Savior" complaint, many audiences were less concerned, seeing the film as a vehicle for spectacular entertainment and a showcase of Chinese cinematic capability.
​Box Office Validation: Its strong performance in the local market underscored that, despite Western critiques, the film successfully resonated with the core Chinese audience it was designed to attract.
​Ultimately, the film received a "Rotten" rating on the aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting the generally harsh assessment from Western critics, which cemented its reputation as a visually impressive but narratively problematic cinematic venture.