new Documentary about the Kaiu wall.
Crane, Gaijin,, Scorpion, Lion
That movie does look pretty neat, but I wonder why in the world they're casting Matt Damon.
Then again, that's probably just showing my L5R mindset. You have a bunch of rainbow-hued Asian warriors (including women) battling monsters on a giant wall, and my mind seizes on the white guy as the unrealistic part.
Then again, that's probably just showing my L5R mindset. You have a bunch of rainbow-hued Asian warriors (including women) battling monsters on a giant wall, and my mind seizes on the white guy as the unrealistic part.
Well, if the art is any measure then Rokugan has its own share of caucasoid and mixed asian/caucasoid people. Also Matt Damon's character is totally Mantis.
Also:
Unicorn - Lion - Crab - Phoenix - Crane. Even the costumes fit: the Unicorn has helmet with horns, Lion has lion-face helmet, the Crab decorates his uniform with his enemies' body parts, the Phoenix has bird thingies, and the Crane is a pretty girl (actually, the Blue Army looks all-female).
Edited by AtoMakiThey cast Matt Damon for the same reason western movie studios cast Matt Damon: Folks buy tickets to movies with Matt Damon in them. Have you seen how high ticket sales were for Bourne movies in China? You can expect to see this happen with more western actors in the coming years, as long as the Chinese film industry continues to expand.
Edited by IsawaChuckles
This looks like a movie I must watch; seriously, my bro and I were naming all the L5R references we could think of while watching the trailer. I showed it to my friend, telling him it was really a L5R movie and he believed it!
As to why there is a white actor in a Chinese setting, the character is a mercenary/rogue from Europe who wants to steal the secret of Chinese gunpowder and use it to get rich back home. Out of universe, the director, Zhang Yimou, who made such films as Hero, House of Flying Daggers and Curse of the Golden Flower, and got to direct the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening and closing ceremonies (he's kind of a big name, if you haven't guessed), is making the movie to be a celebration of both American and Chinese the talents and perhaps help bring the two powers a bit closer. And, being a talented director pretty much means he can hire whoever he wants. Besides, it's a movie with warrior women in ancient China (can't tell the exact time it supposed to be set in yet) and the Great Wall is keeping the Shadowlands at bay in this universe; is a white mercenary really that big a deal?
It's not a big deal, I just found it odd. Though if Matt Damon is popular in China, that explains it perfectly.
If you watch one of the newer trailers Matt Damons character has come from a far off land and it eludes to having to deal with the things assailing the wall.
Damon and his partner are there to "trade" for Gunpowder...looks like they get caught trying to steal it
I've just watched this move, and while it is pretty good and it does give away Kaiu Wall feelings, then enemy that assaults the Great Wall is in fact the Tyranids from the Warhammer 40k universe and not the Shadowlands. Also, there are some hilarious details like how they literally included the Daidoji Family and gave homage to the Battle of the Tidal Bridge. I recommend watching it.
I'd just like to point out a little detail about the movie posters. I won't include the image as it would be excessively large, but click on http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/36/590x/secondary/thegreatwall-607875.jpg to see the poster I'm talking about.
Note how the white text reads, "1700 years to build. 5500 miles long. What were they trying to keep out? Matt Damon ."
