Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - 尚氣與十環傳奇

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings(尚氣與十環傳奇) is an 2021 film. The movie stars Simu Liu, Awkwafina, and Tony Leung. The supporting cast include Meng'er Zhang, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, Benedict Wong, Michelle Yeoh, and Ben Kingsley. This is the 25th and the first Asian led movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was originally set for release in February of 2021, but due to the pandemic, things got shifted around many times. During the shuffling, summer dates came and went.



Simu Liu is Shang-Chi and Awkwafina is Katy, whom are valet parking attendants at a high end hotel. On the way to work on the bus, they are attacked by a brute with a sword attached to his arm. Shang-chi comes clean with Katy about his past and that they were sent by the Ten Rings organization. Shang-Chi also tells Katy that his father is the leader and he must stop him. How will Shang-chi do that?



I went in with very low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. It is hard to put into words exactly how I feel as there is a sense of pride. Because Asian led products in the "west" have generally been very high on playing to stereotypes. This movie however played very little to it. It was also the first one that I felt was able to mix the world I grew up into a movie a little. I mean this in terms of the mix of English and Mandarin. The use and mix of the two was the best that I've seen in "western" films.



The story itself was fundamentally simple. But the items of each piece was complex in nature. In all, the movie was 4 acts. Each act built up to the next. The pace was really good as I didn't really want it to end. Tony Leung was his amazing self. Because I haven't seen his recent films, it was good to see him onscreen again. The rest of the cast met up with an amazing script so it was hard to mess up.



Some other parts of the MCU made their appearance to welcome their Asian buddy in. Very happy about that. I highly recommend this film. Go watch it!

My Expectations for Shang-Chi

In a few weeks, Marvel will be debuting their first Asian lead movie with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. I am excited and cautious at the same time. Currently, my opinion of Asian lead activities in the "west" are that they play too much into the stereotypes. Mind you that I do not watch all of the Asian lead stuff, but watch some of the more mainstream ones.

I will admit that since the pandemic started, 75% or more of what I watch are directly out of Asia from Zhong Guo, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan.

My opinion is based on a couple of trailers and some recent Facebook clips. And I have high hopes! Seems that Simi Liu is going to bring a regular guy role who turns out to be awesome. Kinda like Ant-man.



Tony Leung, Tony Leung. My favorite actor from the 1980s through 1990s. I first saw him in Duke of Mount Deer, then in Heaven Sword, to the first TVB of Handsome Siblings. I grew up on his TVB series. Then his transition to movies with John Woo's Bullet In the Head and Hard Boiled. I have been a life long fan of his. I am hoping Kevin Feige lives up to his word that they will not play to Asian stereotypes, especially with Tony's role.

I have purchased tickets to watch the movie during its first weekend out. Although I am no longer brave enough to make the open nights, I still want to watch them in the theatre.

As much as I love seeing Asian representation in the West. I am sad that some of my favorite Asia based actors cannot join the fun. My favorites right now are a pair of Darrens in Darren Wang and Darren Chen. I also think Xiao Zhan and Yang Yang can play both gritty and slick roles. But Hollywood is not likely to tap the Asia market for their leads. We'll continue to see the same faces over and over again, because the pool is so small. It's a numbers thing in my opinion. Not likely to change in my lifetime.