The visuals are decent, but it lacks originality. I’ve always believed that the Great Wall of China represents China’s defense against the Mongols throughout history. So, when I first saw the promotional material, I was taken aback and questioned its accuracy. It felt like they were disregarding historical truth to create something entirely new. However, this is a familiar pattern in Chinese culture—ideas often originate elsewhere before being adapted. The film itself quickly addressed my concerns by establishing that it’s based on legend. This was an encouraging start after the misleading advertising. This appears to be China's attempt to produce a movie comparable to Hollywood standards. They brought in top technical talent from Western countries, including Matt Damon. Given this effort, one would have expected success. The graphics were impressive; however, checking the end credits revealed that it wasn’t entirely a Chinese production, despite the predominantly Chinese cast. 'Kung Fu Yoga' serves as a good example of what “Made in China” looks like. The director is known for traditional films blending art, martial arts, and culture, especially those set in the medieval period. I appreciate his earlier work from the 2000s, but this film felt purely commercial. The scenes throughout the movie reminded me of recent Hollywood blockbusters—the monsters resembled zombies from 'World War Z,' and the Chinese soldiers were reminiscent of the Elves of Woodland Realm. This demonstrates that the Chinese are skilled at imitation. It has decent visuals, but lacks a fresh vision. Perhaps it would have been better to hand over complete creative control for a more successful outcome. The story takes place in the early 11th century along one section of the northern China Wall. Two white men are captured by the Chinese army after being pursued by bandits. They arrive with an agenda, but something larger is at play. Initially, they gain the Chinese’s trust, but things change as conditions worsen. They have little choice but to cooperate, yet differences arise between the two men. Their paths diverge and their fates are sealed in the film's climax. > ❝They have trained all their lives for this war.❞ Many Western actors and filmmakers have tried their luck in Chinese cinema, with varying degrees of success. Tapping into the Chinese market is complex due to restrictions on themes and content. Compliance also requires using a certain percentage of Chinese cast and crew. The biggest surprise was Matt Damon’s decision to forgo an Oscar-winning role from his own production for this film. I always appreciate quality films, regardless of their origin. It all comes down to the quality and content; however, there are exceptions when a production has limited funding. This film doesn't have that excuse. My main issue isn’t the graphics—aside from borrowing ideas—but rather the weak screenplay. It feels like a computer game similar to the 'Resident Evil' series. While Western audiences have moved on from digital 3D, China maintains an obsession with it, and I share that enthusiasm. This is why films that embraced the technology, despite financial setbacks such as 'Age of Extinction' and 'Warcraft,' managed to survive by earning revenue in Yuan. The director clearly wanted to give the domestic audience what they desired: a large-scale digital 3D film—and so it had to be an action-adventure rather than the dramatic style he’s known for. The film lacks character development and a compelling story. If you enjoy action, you might find something to like; however, many of the sequences are illogical, such as women performing acrobatics to kill one or two monsters—essentially baiting them into traps. The focus is on delivering action without any underlying logic. Average viewers in China may be entertained, but audiences elsewhere will likely not be fooled. It’s a watchable film, but ultimately, it's not worth the time. _3/10_

Source on TMDB