Super exciting and very beautiful are the first words that come to mind about this movie. Even though the story is pretty simple and the plot runs straight all the way through, I was still genuinely excited and entertained from start to finish. It’s obviously pure fiction, yet it manages to spark thoughts of a time when black powder was considered an extreme technological advancement.
Matt Damon is perfect in his role, strong and stoic throughout. Pedro Pascal is nicely cast as the charming sidekick, though I couldn’t help but be reminded of The Mandalorian a few times. Willem Dafoe is a great fit for his smaller role, while Jing Tian didn’t show much emotion—perhaps because of the writing, or maybe cultural nuances I simply didn’t pick up on.
What impressed me most was the imagery. The scenes are consistently stunning and beautifully composed, and the visuals left a strong impression. The effects and stunts are equally well executed, even when they’re completely over the top—fancy armored warriors battling terrifying beasts with exotic weapons, bungee-jumping off the Great Wall. It’s all wild and extensive, yet so well done and pleasing to watch that I just enjoyed every moment.
If you like historically adjacent fantasy movies filled with monsters, fights, and striking visuals, this one could easily be a hit for you.
