Movie Name: The Great Wall
Released Date: 2016

The Great Wall (simplified Chinese: 长城; traditional Chinese: 長城) is a 2016 monster film directed by Zhang Yimou, marking his first English-language production. The screenplay was written by Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro, and Tony Gilroy, based on a story by Max Brooks, Edward Zwick, and Marshall Herskovitz. A joint American and Chinese co-production, the film stars Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, and Andy Lau. It follows two European mercenaries (played by Damon and Pascal) who are captured by imperial Chinese forces while searching for gunpowder near the Great Wall of China. The mercenaries eventually join the Chinese in battling an alien threat known as the Tao Tie.

Plot

During the reign of the Renzong Emperor, a group of European mercenaries ventures to China in search of gunpowder. Near the Great Wall, they are attacked by a monstrous creature. Only William Garin, an Irishman, and Pero Tovar, a Spaniard, survive, severing the creature's arm as they escape. Upon reaching the Great Wall, they are imprisoned by the Nameless Order, a military force led by General Shao and Strategist Wang, dedicated to defending against the Tao Tie—alien monsters that emerge every sixty years following a meteorite impact.

The Tao Tie attack the Wall earlier than expected, leading to a massive battle. During the skirmish, Garin and Tovar showcase their combat skills, saving young warrior Peng Yong and killing two monsters. Their bravery earns them the Order's respect, though the fight ends with significant casualties on both sides. The Tao Tie queen aborts the attack, hinting at a larger strategy.

While Garin and Tovar secretly plan to steal gunpowder and flee during the next attack, two Tao Tie breach the Wall that night. General Shao is killed, and Commander Lin is placed in charge of the Order. Meanwhile, an envoy from the capital delivers an ancient scroll suggesting that magnets can pacify the Tao Tie. Strategist Wang theorizes that Garin's magnetic stone allowed him to kill a Tao Tie earlier. Garin proposes capturing a live Tao Tie to test the theory, delaying his escape plans and angering Tovar.

During the next battle, the Order captures a Tao Tie, confirming the magnetic hypothesis. However, the creature is claimed by the Imperial envoy and sent to the capital. While investigating further, Lin discovers the Tao Tie have dug a tunnel beneath the Wall. At the same time, Tovar and another European, Ballard, betray Garin, stealing black powder and leaving him unconscious. Ballard is killed when bandits ignite the powder, while Tovar is left stranded.

At the capital, the captive Tao Tie awakens and alerts its queen, prompting a full-scale attack. Lin deploys hot-air balloons to warn the capital, freeing Garin beforehand. Despite being encouraged to leave, Garin joins the mission, arriving just in time to save Lin during the assault. Wang proposes a plan to use the captured Tao Tie, rigged with explosives, to kill the queen. During the mission, Peng sacrifices himself to protect the others.

Lin and Garin climb a tower to detonate the explosives with an arrow. Despite initial failures, Garin uses his magnet to create an opening in the queen’s defenses, allowing Lin to strike the killing blow with her spear. With the queen's death, the entire Tao Tie horde perishes.

Garin declines a reward of black powder, opting instead to return home with Tovar, much to Tovar's irritation.