On the contrary, the impassive faces of the Nameless Order's soldiers remind us that all of these people, together, are remarkable.
Each crowd shot in this film is remarkable, but not because director Zhang Yimou ("Hero," " House of Flying Daggers") and his assistant directors know how to direct extras. They launch themselves at their enemies using pulleys, bungee cords, hot-air balloons, boulder-spewing catapults, and many, many arrows. But eventually, William and Tovar's agendas drift apart after William becomes seduced by the formal control and selfless zeal that defines the Nameless Order.Īnd who wouldn't be impressed? The Nameless Order marches around in colorful suits of armor that come in hues of indigo, crimson and cerulean. William and Tovar are initially unmoved by the Nameless Order's considerable plight they want to make their fortunes by stealing gunpowder from their hosts, and selling it to European traders. The monster, they are told, is a "Tei Tao," one of a horde of creatures that attacks the now-famous Great Wall of China once every 60 years. This CD release for the first time contains the two new tracks, previously available as download only, though Cloud Face has apparently been shortened by about one and a half minute.Damon and Pascal play William and Tovar, respectively, wandering European mercenaries who are captured by the Chinese army of the Nameless Order shortly after they slay a mysterious green monster. In June 2010 the album was re-released in the USA with a different track order. The track listing as printed on the back side is completely different and represents the tracks of the 2010 US release (see below), additionally misspelling The South Gate Knights as The Fourth Gate Knights.
It has the same front artwork as the download release but contains the original tracks.
In June 2009 the album was re-released in Japan as part of a series of HiQualit圜Ds with mini LP paper sleeves. On this download re-release the only two of the original tracks that were composed by Jerome Froese have been replaced by new compositions by Edgar Froese.
In January 2007 this release became available as MP3 download at the Tangerine Dream Download Shop, slightly renamed to The Great Wall Of China (this title would be used for all subsequent re-releases of this album). The regular CD was released in early 2000 and featured a slightly different cover artwork.
In December 1999 TD released the soundtrack album for a Chinese documentary titled Great Wall Of China, though it is unknown whether this movie was ever officially released.Ī pre-release version of this CD was available via the TDI website: Collectors, who ordered the so-called "Millennium Booster" from TDI, got a package including the pre-release of Great Wall Of China, the second limited edition of The Keep, the extraordinary rare Sony Center Topping Out Ceremony Score CD-5 and an autographed promotional poster.