What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:
*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*
Movies
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
We’re finally starting to see more diversity in the Marvel universe, as Shang-Chi kicks off the introduction to East Asian culture (yes, there was Wakanda before this film, but it is was a fictional country). Approximately the first 20 minutes of the film were entirely in Mandarin, something that I found an interesting choice for Marvel Studios, since they usually tend to avoid large chunks of subtitling.
By far my favourite performance in the film was delivered by Tony Leung, who brought a much needed realism and emotional heart to the film. While the other characters can all fit into neat boxes, Leung’s Wenwu was a layered and nuanced character, and he was engaging to watch throughout the film. By contrast, Shang-chi (Simu Liu) felt a bit flat, and was much harder to connect with, perhaps because he himself was a bit aimless.
Although the film does have a tendency to sensationalize Chinese culture to some degree, I liked that the film didn’t rely too heavily on showing highly advanced civilizations using futuristic technology in Ta Lo, but rather had them incorporate the available resources into their clothing and weaponry. The dragon in particular was a cool addition to the MCU as it opens up more avenues for magic to co-exist with science.
The directing of the film was a good balance to the style of the film, and I particularly liked the way the fight sequences on the bus and in Macau. They felt reminiscent of the martial arts films that come out of China, where the camera is set up, and the actors are allowed to show off their skills without the need for multiple cuts and edits. The visual style of the film was overall very fitting.
That being said, this film does feel very different from the other MCU films, and I’m not sure that there is much potential for Shang-Chi to fit into the bigger picture. While the film did hint at the rings having greater significance, I’m not sure what this entails for the character other than merely being a vehicle for other superheroes’ plot progression. I’m hoping they can tie him in well, but I’m not holding my breath, and am happy with this film just being a standalone entity.
Colourful Granny 