Film Critic: Shangqi and the Legend of the Ten Rings-Manila Bulletin

2021-12-13 14:04:10 By : Mr. Alex Shen

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As far as comic characters are concerned, Shangqi is not a household name. He is not like Spider-Man, Captain America or Wolverine, even those who do not count themselves among the readers of comics can recognize them.

But for those who are really immersed in these fictional worlds and the fascinating continuity of the universe, Marvel Pictures' decision to make a Shangqi movie caused quite a stir. This character is a bit famous, has been around for a while and is full of potential, but has not received much attention. What will the MCU version look like? You can feel the excitement build up.

Hisashi, created by artist Jim Starlin and writer Steve Engleheart, has long been one of the few Asian characters in the Marvel comics roster. Marvel Studios wisely adopted the oriental elements of film materials, including stunning vistas, magical forests, and of course, fantasy creatures from China. It has a novelty, and it immediately makes this movie stand out among other products in the Marvel series.

Of course, Shangqi's movie universe iteration is different from the origin of his comics, but it does not deviate far from it. His history is relatively complete, and his fighting skills are also in place. the difference? The movie Shangchi (Liu Simu from Jin’s Convenience Store) would rather sing karaoke with his best friend Katie (from Raya and the Last Dragon, Okafina farewell) than thinking about eight right way.

However, what comes with changes is the accessibility and relevance of roles. This and the fact that "Legend of Ten Rings" is almost an independent movie, it is not too deeply intertwined with the rest of the Marvel Universe, which makes it suitable for those who are not familiar with the character and the world he now lives in. A good starting point.

Although the stakes are high, the tone is generally light. Ben Kingsley shined again during the battle against Trevor Slattery of Liverpool. He created a character for Iron Man 3, a self-styled actor, and Trevor pretended to be a member of the Ten Rings. The leader is in trouble.

Hand-to-hand combat has also appeared in other Marvel movies, such as Black Panther or The Winter Soldier, but never to such an extent. Liu Simu's background as a stuntman is reflected in the carefully choreographed fighting scenes. This style borrows heavily from Hong Kong movies and is full of anti-gravity and dance-like movements. It also pays tribute to Jackie Chan's unique action comedy style, integrating props and his environment into battle, such as bamboo scaffolding.

The end result is a superhero story with obvious Asian flavor but no political baggage. Yes, this movie features the MCU’s first Asian protagonist and is almost entirely composed of Asian actors, which is important in itself. It even includes Asian movie legends such as Michelle Yeoh and Tony Leung, but thankfully, it does not seem to cater to any demographics or careers, nor does it force audiences to swallow diversity.

It's fun to watch, and sometimes it's beautiful. Shangchi is like a superhero movie, a celebration of Asian culture. This is a very good thing. #Movie #Marvel #ShangChi #SimuLiu #Asian

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