This monsters at the Great Wall movie is a lot of fun for several reasons. First, at one hour and 43 minutes, it doesn't drag on endlessly like so many action pictures these days. Something is happening pretty much all the time. Second, the actors are good, although the Western ones are certainly not convincing as coming from the era of the Crusades, which seems to be about the right timeframe. Third, the special effects are imaginative and well-done without overwhelming the plotline. Fourth, there is no artificial love story introduced. Instead, we have to settle for the looks between Matt Damon and Jing Tian, which is how it should be. It isn't quite the level of tension that Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis generated in Witness, but for a silly action picture, it isn't bad. Fifth, the plot basically makes sense, at least if we accept it on its own terms. Which isn't to say it isn't ridiculous, but at least we aren't scratching our heads at the end wondering what happened.

Some may lament that Zhang Yimou, who was once a very serious filmmaker, is now doing stuff like this, but I think it is encouraging to see any film that promotes the idea that Chinese and Westerners can cooperate for the greater good. ( )