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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings


Marvel's phase 4 is gathering pace with Shang-Chi following on the heels of Black Widow (though the Johansson vehicle would ideally have been released in 2020). This is a relatively unknown character in the Marvel universe, at least to a non-com like me, so the prospect of a new avenue was semi-tantalising. In a nutshell, there's nothing really new here, but also nothing terrible or disappointing. 

Simu Liu and Awkwafina play 20-something slacker mates in San Francisco, working as valets and singing karaoke into the wee hours. A pretty gnarly bus incident sets the plot into action and the ABCs (American Born Chinese) find themselves in Macao looking for Shaun's (Shang's) sister, Xialing, played by newcomer, Meng'er Zhang. Cue another mintox fight scene, this time on wooden scaffolds up the side of a high-rise, reminiscent of classics such as Drunken Master 2 and um, Rush Hour 2. 

Here is where the daddy issues ramp up, as the legendary Tony Leung enters the game. He needs his children to help him rescue their mother, who he believes is being held captive the village of Ta Lo, which just happens to be in another dimension. This utter balderdash is where some people I know lost patience but this was the point where it became Crouching Tiger, Kung Fu Panda 3 with some Fantastic Beasts thrown in. And any film that can make me think of Bullitt, In the Mood for Love, and Jackie Chan's portfolio, is ok in my books.

Oh, and one cameo in particular warmed my cockles.

See also:

As well as (some of) the films mentioned above, I'm partial to Zhang Yimou's House of Flying Daggers (2004) and Tran Anh Hung's Cyclo (1995), the latter starring Tony Leung.

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