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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Thomas Shey

Legend
I haven't seen it yet, but I find myself wishing that they'd quit doing those big CG-Laden "Final Battle" scenes. I know that they are expected but who cares?

Well, as you mention yourself, people who go to see superhero movies. Honestly, if there's one genre which damn near demands heavy special effects investment, its the superhero genre.
 

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FitzTheRuke

Legend
Well, as you mention yourself, people who go to see superhero movies. Honestly, if there's one genre which damn near demands heavy special effects investment, its the superhero genre.
Sure, sure, but they don't always have to end the thing with a giant CG battle. I can think of a few movies (Wonder Woman and Black Widow in particular, but others as well) which would have been better without, or at least with a significantly toned-down version of their final CG-laden battle. Sometimes more story or character and less flash and fight would serve the piece much better. It really doesn't matter if it's Superhero or any other kind of Action or Sci-Fi. IMO people have weird, somewhat dismissive expectations of Superhero stuff that the sub-genre really doesn't deserve.
 

Thomas Shey

Legend
Sure, sure, but they don't always have to end the thing with a giant CG battle. I can think of a few movies (Wonder Woman and Black Widow in particular, but others as well) which would have been better without, or at least with a significantly toned-down version of their final CG-laden battle. Sometimes more story or character and less flash and fight would serve the piece much better. It really doesn't matter if it's Superhero or any other kind of Action or Sci-Fi. IMO people have weird, somewhat dismissive expectations of Superhero stuff that the sub-genre really doesn't deserve.

You might have an argument regarding pacing. That said, its easy for a movie with an action focus, which pretty much every superhero story is liable to have, to sag at the end if you place its setpieces earlier, so I think there's a damned if you do, damned if you don't element here.
 


Umbran

Mod Squad
Staff member
Supporter
Someone I know rented an entire theater for a showing with about a dozen people today, so I got to see it on the big screen. It was awesome!

Saw this the other day and really enjoyed it. Tony Leung does a great job, but the whole cast was excellent. Definitely a vastly different take on Shang-Chi from the Master of Kung-Fu comics I used to read back in the day; they were more James Bond-ian affairs, IIRC.

Yes, but they are probably putting Iron Fist out to pasture in the MCU, and have now positioned Shang-Chi to take that role. The whole "heart of the dragon" thing makes that pretty plain.
 

Umbran

Mod Squad
Staff member
Supporter
I can't believe I didn't notice that (the non-lethal weapons for the 10 Rings flunkies) before. I like to think about what movies show you vs what they tell you and see how it changes the story.

I have been told it is actually a cultural point. He repeatedly notes that he is going to "burn the village to the ground". He does not say that he's going to kill them all. Burning the village while the defeated villagers watch is a culturally relevant note.

Also, there's a point about his origins - the guy is a thousand years old. So, his minions use things that are reminiscent of his original culture - updated crossbows and Asian weaponry. Machine guns are... very European.

This goes to explain some critiques that I've heard "Why did Wenwu send his mooks to kill Shang-Chi if he wanted to reunite his family/" (A: Obviously he didn't. He sent them to remind Shaun who he really was.)

Well, yeah, he says as much. People are questioning that? Plus, if his men weren't actually trying to kill, then he'd not have even given his son a good workout.
 

FitzTheRuke

Legend
I have been told it is actually a cultural point. He repeatedly notes that he is going to "burn the village to the ground". He does not say that he's going to kill them all. Burning the village while the defeated villagers watch is a culturally relevant note.
Interesting!

Also, there's a point about his origins - the guy is a thousand years old. So, his minions use things that are reminiscent of his original culture - updated crossbows and Asian weaponry. Machine guns are... very European.
Yeah, I prefer archaic weapons myself. I can see someone who's spent a thousand years participating in war seeing modern weapons as gauche. I mean, he's not stupid, I'm sure he understands how useful and powerful they are, but the old ways require more from the user. Maybe once they get good enough with staff weapons, they move on to blades, and eventually are allowed to use guns (but often won't bother by then). I dunno. There's more world-building that could be done - goes to show how good the world building was that I'd like to see more!

Well, yeah, he says as much. People are questioning that? Plus, if his men weren't actually trying to kill, then he'd not have even given his son a good workout.
Yeah, I read some complaints/nitpicks. I agree with you though.
 

Rabulias

the Incomparably Shrewd and Clever
Yes, but they are probably putting Iron Fist out to pasture in the MCU, and have now positioned Shang-Chi to take that role. The whole "heart of the dragon" thing makes that pretty plain.
Uh, ok. Not sure how you got Iron Fist involved from my post; the Master of Kung-Fu comics were about Shang-Chi. Even Iron Fist was pretty "street level" in the comics, and was rarely (if ever) hobnobbing with the Avengers or Captain Marvel.
 

Umbran

Mod Squad
Staff member
Supporter
Uh, ok. Not sure how you got Iron Fist involved from my post; the Master of Kung-Fu comics were about Shang-Chi.

You said, "...they were more a James Bond affair." I was responding with one reason why the MCU version isn't.

Even Iron Fist was pretty "street level" in the comics, and was rarely (if ever) hobnobbing with the Avengers or Captain Marvel.

He chose to take on street-level issues while hanging out with Luke Cage, sure. But then, in Secret Invasion, he downed a SHIELD helicarrier with a single punch.

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So, sure, street level.
 


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