Shang Chi and The Legend Of The Ten Rings: When a movie has a soul, it has everything.
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Writers(screenplay): Dave Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham
Stars: Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung
Respect to the chinese culture
We are all aware that Hollywood has (and always had) been racist many times with all kinds of etnics. For a while now they had tried fix it, but most of these times the outcome is shameful, really cringe, not giving the fans what they want and neither showing real respect to the people they say constantly they do respect (cough, cough Mulan, cough, cough), and it happens because usually these apologies are fake or sounds like it. But now, Marvel found the right tone to at least make us and the asian inhabitants feel sincere respect and appreciation for the Chinese culture.
The consideration started already in the conception of bringing asian artists not only to act but in the technical crew as well.
And in adapting and updating, in a modern and intelligent way, the Kung Fu Master comics (I've never read it, I didn't even know it existed, I'm sorry the oldest and most ingrained nerds) which dates back to the 70s, when martial arts and Asians heroes were in vogue (if you have anyone in the family who lived at that time, they are certainly Bruce Lee fans).
Impeccable pace and plot
The film has some flaws, it's not a masterpiece. But there is one thing nobody can call it. No one can say this movie has no heart and soul. It has a deep and sensitive soul. Held me captive after the first 15 minutes and did not lose my attention until the very ending. It says a lot, because I demand real good entertainment in order to not have will to check my twitter or do other stuff on the mobile (anxiety I blame you). It may sound easy to make a piece with good rythm, specially in this kind of movie: the origin of the hero.
But, no, it is not so. To make you care not only about the main character but about almost anyone who shows in the screen, and do it in a way that the plot grows constantly but without seem megalomaniac or getting lost along the way, without sounding pretentious or simplistic, is a delicate task. The hero's journey of self-knowledge has to be genuine, we have to empathize with what he has gone through and is facing, root for him, suffer with him, even if we have no idea what that experience is. And, as Spider-Man showed well in the Tom Holland era, Marvel could have gone wrong even if we already had been in the hero's situation. (I am sorry if you are Tom's Spider-Man fan, but, I know many people who understands - and relates to)- Peter and the way he idolized Stark but do not find a way to really connect with him).
One thing I liked a lot and maybe it is a foolish detail but still I want to point it out: Thank God they skipped the misunderstood intentions cliché part. Sorry if there is a real name for it. If you do not know what is this, it is that old thing used a lot (more often in romantic comedies but also in other genres) when the protagonist lies to a friend or romantic interest but after a fight and a time separated they talk to resolve themselves and everything is fine.
The daddy/family issues
Many of us have a toxic father and a loving, lost mother (whether in childhood or not, tragically or otherwise), but unfortunately, no one I know has mythological parents.
Shang-Chi loves his father (despite everything), he wants to make up to his sister and unite the family again, but his dad is so focused in what he lost that can not see what he is pushing away being attached to his pain and grief.
Off course his methods to deal with widowhood are not defensible but if you had a huge loss you can at least try to feel his despair.
Tony Chiu-Wai Leung is such a good actor (and how charismatic a man can be?!) that I believe even toddlers who never lost neither a toy in their lives can feel the pain the character feels and still not fall in the he's right in some point trap (again, sorry if it is a real thing and has a real name).
The way he is always craving for power and money is the real him, the only thing that made him better was his wife, but if someone is only good because of another person or thing (like religion for example), this person is not really good.
Although nobody there is dealing well with their sadness. Shang-Chi fleed away and changed his name. Xialing created her own fight club. Someone call a family therapist right away!
Breathtaking action
The fights! OMG, the fights! I did not get so involved in action scenes in a Marvel production since Daredevil series. It is fast but not confusing, you can see clearly what is going on and feel amazed.
There are different styles of fighting but they are all great to see and you wish they last longer. Usually the complete lack of blood in Marvel movies annoys me a lot, but here, even makes sense and the fights itself are so good to watch that I did not care about this detail.
Different Levels, Tones and depths
But in perfect cadence. The way it begins with Sean and Katy partying hard and living like irresponsible teenagers (and here Awkwafina shines so as the actresses who plays her mother and grandmother, I wish there were more scenes with Katy at home with her family) to the revelation that Sean is Shang-Chi and everything involving his father, to the real core that is his path to self-knowledge and facing the loss of his mother. He needs to save the world but to do that he has to defeat Wenwu in battle, to make him realize that even with Jiang Li gone, a part of her would always be alive in their children and he could still have a family who loves and cares about him.
The smooth changes in the tones and levels, the nearly imperceptible way the production goes getting deep and deeper is almost as magical as the mythical Ta Lo village. It doens't matter if you had any experiences as Shang-Chi, Xialing you can capture their feelings, their loneliness, confusion, pain (a deep and excruciating pain in their hearts that comes from losing a parent to death and the other to grief, and in Xialing's case...well, you watch and tell me if she suffers more than Shang-Chi or is it just my own pain that ressonates in her) and the relieve that comes from doing the right thing and getting things how they should be.
Excellence in acting
Perhaps ironically, the actor whose performance I least liked was Simu Liu, who plays the title character and protagonist of the feature film. But no, he is not bad (not so bad), but in a cinematographic work with so many superlative talents his scenes were just reasonable. Don't hate me (or do) but his part with Awkawfina's Katy has a good chemistry because she is another one stuck in the same level and has way more charisma than real talent. This limitation gets even more visible when they're acting with the likes of Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Michelle Yeoh and Meng'er Zhang (and this was only her first film role, being her previous theater experience only). Even the extras are performing worthy of note. I need to see more of that clumsy stewardess and Lin-Manual Miranda's cosplay who makes one of Katy and Sean's friends who demands maturity at the beginning of the film.
There's not much more to say, (no spoilers) other than that it's a touching, light movie, with good moments of humor, lots of adventure, action, humor, Asian culture, but also touching (albeit carefully and more close to the childish - which is not inherently bad -) on themes such as family union, mourning, justice and loyalty.
Grade: 8,8
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