A Great Wall Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		2.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

A Great Wall Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 5, 2017

Co-writer/director Peter Wang makes a very unassuming picture with 1986’s “A Great Wall.” While its claim to fame is the distinction of being the first U.S. production permitted to film a Chinese story in China, Wang doesn’t wear the impressive access with arrogance. Instead, he creates a family dramedy that explores disparate cultures with sensitivity and remarkable insight, making a movie about characters, not just previously forbidden locations. While it has elements of humor, “A Great Wall” is best in meditative mode, simply taking in the sights and sounds of a newly welcoming country.

“A Great Wall” highlights a visit home to China for San Francisco computer engineer Leo (Peter Wang), who takes his Western family to meet their Eastern relatives, triggering all sorts of strange energy and memories as the extended clan gets together. In many ways, “A Great Wall” is a travelogue, making its way around China, including a trip to the titular border, but Wang keeps the feature as intimate as he can, putting more effort into behaviors and concerns than vistas, though the snapshot of a mid-1980s China is fascinating to watch, with luxuries such as Coca-Cola and the dominance of ping-pong adding touches of idiosyncrasy to the movie.

A Great Wall Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation handles the essentials of "A Great Wall," which mixes stronger exterior shots in natural light with softer interior visits. Detail is satisfactory with periods of slightly processed sharpness, providing textured close-ups and costuming. Chinese tourism is also cared for, handling distances and different environments without distraction. Colors are secure, detailing primaries and bright greenery. Skintones are natural. Whites are a bit bloomy. Source has some issues with damage, with a few bursts of speckling along the way, but nothing dominates the viewing experience.

A Great Wall Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix has one significant issue. Around the 21:00 mark, the sound quality takes a major dip in clarity, almost lasting an entire "reel." Dialogue is muffled and quiet, which causes a significant distraction during the listening event. Clarity is restored after a 15 minute break, returning to stronger, more distinct dialogue exchanges. Despite such a sonic hurdle, the track fares well the rest of the way, with clear scoring cues covering a range of Chinese and orchestral instruments. Atmospherics are acceptable, bringing life to outdoor adventures and workplace bustle.

A Great Wall Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (18 pages) contains essays by Shirley Sun and Oliver Wang.

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:00, SD) is included.

A Great Wall Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"A Great Wall" is charming and emphatically acted, and showcases a directorial generosity from Wang as subplots are allowed time to take shape, while formula is lightly massaged into the story. It's a film that could be enjoyed on location visits alone, but Wang has more in mind for his family saga, embracing a collision of cultures, which brings out organic conflicts and effective comedy.