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Summary: top flight action sequences, gorgeous cinematography and an all-time great performance by a legendary movie star make this the best Marvel movie since Black Panther.
(Mild spoilers ahead....)
Before even a single foot of film was shot, a cinematic Shang-Chi had huge obstacles to box office success. The kung fu master, created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin in 1973, was originally the son of Fu Manchu, British writer Sax Rohmer's embodiment of "yellow peril" supervillainy.
The movie had to jettison the problematic backstory (while maintaining the inter-generational conflict) and update Shang-Chi himself to appeal to modern, international audiences. The movie accomplishes both goals with style.
Marvel's most inspired choice is casting legendary Hong Kong movie star Tony Leung as Shang-Chi's father, Wen-Wu, the master of the mystical ten rings. I am not a big fan of Hong Kong martial arts movies, but I am familiar with Leung--most memorably from Wong Kar-Wai's "In the Mood for Love", a classic, smoldering romantic melodrama. Leung's screen presence in that movie was undeniable, and he's just as good here. In fact, the first ten minutes of this movie is exclusively devoted to Wen-wu--his rise to power and then meeting his wife in the shadow of a Shangri-la like village. The opening sequences set up the stakes of the movie, with Wen-Wu's cold blooded quest for power and his genuine love for Ying Li providing the motivational conflicts that would fuel the conflicts with his children--and nearly lead to apocalyptic destruction.
With Leung carrying most of the dramatic weight, the pressure is off Simu Liu to carry the movie by himself. The kid just needs to be charming with Awkwafina, be pissed at his dad, and kick ass in the action sequences. He does fine. There's a cleverly executed, vertiginous fight on a construction site's metal latticework, and the battle on a moving bus between Shang-Chi and his father's minions is Jackie Chan-level good.
The movie effectively balances the street-level realism of the U.S. scenes, the familial drama, and the wilder fantasy elements. (Stick around for the mid-credits and post-credits scenes, which set up a sequel that's a perfect continuation of the character development in the rest of the movie.)
Highly recommended.
(Mild spoilers ahead....)
Before even a single foot of film was shot, a cinematic Shang-Chi had huge obstacles to box office success. The kung fu master, created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin in 1973, was originally the son of Fu Manchu, British writer Sax Rohmer's embodiment of "yellow peril" supervillainy.
The movie had to jettison the problematic backstory (while maintaining the inter-generational conflict) and update Shang-Chi himself to appeal to modern, international audiences. The movie accomplishes both goals with style.
Marvel's most inspired choice is casting legendary Hong Kong movie star Tony Leung as Shang-Chi's father, Wen-Wu, the master of the mystical ten rings. I am not a big fan of Hong Kong martial arts movies, but I am familiar with Leung--most memorably from Wong Kar-Wai's "In the Mood for Love", a classic, smoldering romantic melodrama. Leung's screen presence in that movie was undeniable, and he's just as good here. In fact, the first ten minutes of this movie is exclusively devoted to Wen-wu--his rise to power and then meeting his wife in the shadow of a Shangri-la like village. The opening sequences set up the stakes of the movie, with Wen-Wu's cold blooded quest for power and his genuine love for Ying Li providing the motivational conflicts that would fuel the conflicts with his children--and nearly lead to apocalyptic destruction.
With Leung carrying most of the dramatic weight, the pressure is off Simu Liu to carry the movie by himself. The kid just needs to be charming with Awkwafina, be pissed at his dad, and kick ass in the action sequences. He does fine. There's a cleverly executed, vertiginous fight on a construction site's metal latticework, and the battle on a moving bus between Shang-Chi and his father's minions is Jackie Chan-level good.
The movie effectively balances the street-level realism of the U.S. scenes, the familial drama, and the wilder fantasy elements. (Stick around for the mid-credits and post-credits scenes, which set up a sequel that's a perfect continuation of the character development in the rest of the movie.)
Highly recommended.
