Shang-Chi: The legend of the ten rings. Marvelovka more Asian than you would expect (film review) – Živé.sk

These days, the second of four Marvels planned for this year – Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings – is coming to theaters. The comic book is part of the 4th phase of the Marvel Film University (MCU). WITH Black Widow the films Ethernals and Spider-Man: No Way Home will be included this year.

Marvel has previously shown that he wants both sexes (Black Widow, Captain Marvel) and different ethnic groups (Black Panther) to be represented among his film superheroes. After the great success of the film Black pantherwho introduced the first dark-skinned superhero, now comes Shang-Chi, the first Asian superhero in MCU.

About the Shangve Chi Marvel: The Legend of the Ten Rings is also discussed in the current part of the SHARE_talks podcast:

Mandarin (Tony Leung Chiu-wai) is a Chinese warrior who possesses a mythical artifact called the Ten Rings. These give him tremendous strength with which he can defeat entire armies.

For centuries, Mandarin has fearlessly expanded its power and destroyed anyone who dares to stand up to it. One day, however, Leiko (Fala Chen) meets the mysterious settlement of Ta Lo, where he falls in love, decides to settle down and live a family life.

But circumstances will develop differently. Mandarin returns to the old methods and their two descendants, Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) and Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) have to figure out for themselves what their place is under the sun. In addition, when they discover Mandarin’s new plan, their identity will be far from the only thing they have to fight for.

More Asian than you would expect

The new Marvel is not only played in Asian, but it really is as much as it was possible without ceasing to be a full-blooded Marvel. It is already clear in the first minutes what kind of film he wants to be. All introductory dialogues are in Mandarin Chinese with subtitles. Only later, when the viewer sees an adult Shang-Chi living in the USA, Chinese is replaced by English. In addition, these scenes take place for the most part in the environment of the local Asian community.

That Marvel is serious about focusing on the Asian market can also be seen from the selection of actors. High above the others (including the main character) stands out Tony Leung Chiu-wai, who plays Mandarin. This Hong Kong man is considered one of the most respected Asian actors. At the same time, it is practically non-existent in Western films, and in Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings, his English dialogues were dubbed.

Michelle Yeoh (Shang-Chi’s aunt Jiang Nan) became famous in Hong Kong action films in the 90’s, but later gained recognition in the West as well (Bond and Tomorrow never dies, Tiger and Dragon or Geisha).

The inspiration for the East does not end with the actors, the environment and the language. Destin director Daniel Cretton let the influence of Asian work penetrate even deeper. Several fight scenes are inspired by the Chinese genre of wuxia (very expressive, even artistically tuned fight scenes, often reminiscent of dance rather than combat).

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The main characters in the film have to find their place under the sun and (as usual) save the world.

Source: Cinemart

Shang-Chi: The legend of the ten rings shows that the MCU is so diverse that it can absorb other than the Hollywood way of making films, and that even English does not have to be the only language of the universe.

The film goes much further, such as the celebrated Black Panther, which, despite all the praise, was essentially a classic Marvel dress dressed in African costumes, cultural motifs and their inspired fiction.

With some simplification, it could be said that while the Black Panther was the standard Captain of America, just in an African costume, Shang-Chi is a true cross between a Hollywood comic book and a Chinese martial film.

Read also

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A hybrid of Hollywood and Asia

The crossbreed is a good expression, because in addition to the mentioned Asian elements, the film also retains the hallmark of a classic Marvel. While a few fight scenes are inspired by the wuxia genre, the others are still typically Marvel.

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Recently, we see relatively few stories about the birth of new heroes. This time, however, we see everything from scratch.

Source: Cinemart

Classic Marvel is also humor. He is really successful in the picture. This is mainly due to the rapper Awkwafina (Shang-Chi’s friend Katy), who – although she is an ethnic Asian herself – plays a typical American girl surprised by Chinese traditions.

Shang-Chi is not a particularly interesting hero. Compared to others, it is quite boring. The plot itself is also weak, ie the threat that the main characters face. A dangerous enemy from another dimension, which is already entering our world and needs to be stopped at the last moment, is probably the most troubled comic book plot we know.

The combination of Asian and Hollywood elements is, after all, the most interesting thing about the film. And while it may not seem like much, it works quite well. The indistinct hero and the story are overcome by a fresh touch of the new. Inspiration by Asia was the right choice for the MCU, not only because of Asia itself, but because the Marvels in their original form are already beginning to be shabby.

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Shang-Chi returns home to come to terms with who he is and thwart his father’s plans.

Source: Cinemart

Worth to see

Black Widow did not set the bar very high for this year’s marvel games. Therefore, the claim that Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings is the best Marvel of the season so far will probably not put anyone out of their seat.

However, that would be an insufficient statement. Although Shang-Chi does not offer a particularly interesting plot, it brings a much-needed new wind to the very creation of Marvel comics. That’s why it’s worth seeing him. If you also like Asian movies, you have two reasons.

Now in cinemas:

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