There are many scenes of hand-to-hand combat, swordplay, and the utilization of bayonets instead of bullets. To defend this concept, if a man is surrounded by another party, you're less likely to shoot a target in the middle for fear of crossfire. The proper reason I'm certain of is purely cinematic, since it's a war/martial arts flick. I guess in one way, it lengthens the movie. The downside is that it feels Hollywood-ized like those artificial Stallone/Arnie super-soldier movies. Overall, it is still enjoyable and worth viewing.

The film was shot in Taiwan (not at the Great Wall as depicted), with the assistance of the Taiwanese armed forces add to the huge cast and props.