Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - Movie Review

 

   Back for a quick movie review! 

   

   My oldest son and I caught the newest Marvel movie - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - and we both enjoyed it, with a few caveats.

   I've been a fan of the character since I picked up his first appearance in Special Marvel Edition in 1973. 

   Obviously, the film version had to make some changes - so gone is his costume and his "original" father, Fu Manchu, now replaced by a modern (and no longer offensive) version of the classic villain, The Mandarin. 

   There are lots of things to like about this movie, the most important one being: the actors are all terrific! Simu Liu plays Shang-Chi, and is charismatic, charming and very convincing as an action star. 

   His best friend Katy is played by Awkwafina, a heartfelt and very funny role, and Tony Chiu-Wai Leung is amazing as Xu Wenwu, the master of the ten rings.

   The story follows Shang-Chi, who's trying to build a life for himself - but he's drawn back into conflict with his father (who has an amazing backstory), and to ultimately discover the hidden secrets behind his mother's past - and a force that threatens the world.

   Along the way there are lots of great fighting sequences (those work best when they're done in the "real world" - not via CGI). There's lots of humor and some touching moments, as well.

 

   The film's only problem is that it tries to pack too much... well, stuff... into the story, especially in the chaos of the final act. (And like any first Marvel movie, there's always some origin-itis to deal with.)

   But it's a great start for the hero and there are plenty of plot threads to continue over into the next film in the series.

   It reminds me a lot of the first Black Panther movie - a film that breaks new ground, broadens the Marvel horizons, and plants many seeds for future stories - and is centered around a hero with amazing potential. 

   I'm also happy to finally learn the proper pronunciation of the hero's name - since 1973 I've been calling him SHANG ("HANG" with an "SHH" in front of it) CHEE, and only now do I find out that it's SHAUNG CHEE. You learn something new every day!

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Grade: A-

Shang-Chi #1

    As a fan of the character since his first appearance, I'm glad to see Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung Fu, back in his own title again

   The character's genesis was tied into the Kung Fu craze of the early '70s, though those comics eventually moved in different directions - but the character's core decency and incredible fighting skills were always at the center.

    Happily, that seems to be continuing in this series, as it embraces some traditional martial arts movie tropes.

   Here we learn some background on Shang-Chi's father - it was Fu Manchu in the original comics, but licensing rights have lapsed, so his father is now referred to by his Chinese name.

    This issue finds Shang-Chi (well known as a hero and an Avenger) working in a small restaurant, where he happily tries to sort out his life - and then danger comes calling in the form of a cult with ties to his father - and other twists along the way.

   It's a great start to the new series, mixing terrific artwork, martial arts action, an actual dragon, and both new and familiar faces.

   So far, I like it a lot!

Grade: A-

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Iron Fist #6

   I've always enjoyed Iron Fist's adventures, but to be honest, he's my second-favorite martial artist, trailing Marvel's first entry in that category - Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu.

   So I was happy to see this issue's guest star (although he's barely recognizable on the cover).

   The issue finds Iron Fist under attack by a small army of hooded mystery men - and trying to survive a plane crash.

   Just as he's about to be overwhelmed, an old friend shows up and together they tackle the mystery figure behind the attack.

   The story is a basic fight from start to finish, with a good twist at the end.

   My biggest complaint is that the fighting sequences don't really show off the fighting prowess of either hero. Part of the joy of martial arts combat is the poetry of the fighting, the precision of the moves (offense and defense) and the skill of the fighter.

   We don't really get that here - it's just a slugfest, which is, frankly, disappointing.

Grade: B-

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Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1

   I'm a sucker for this kind of comic - a "throwback" to the Kung Fu era, starring Shang-Chi, a character I've always been a fan of - so it's a shame that I ended up disgusted by this comic.

   I get that they're making an effort to riff on Kung Fu film tropes. The opening is directly stolen from the movie "Enter the Dragon," all to give revenge as to motive for Shang-Chi's return, and to set up his fight with seemingly unbeatable foes.

   So what's not to like? Everything.

   The issue kills off a character beloved to long-time fans in a brutal and senseless fashion. Dear writer (in this case, Mike Benson): if you feel the need to kill off a character to tell your story, please invent one of your own, rather than taking out one that another gifted writer and artist created.

   Hiding behind that excellent Dave Johnson cover is some rough art by Tan Eng Huat and Craig Yeung that doesn't really fit this story at all. The characters are barely recognizable, the fight sequences are flat, the layouts are bland. It just feels rushed and uninspired.

   I'm being a bit harsh here, and part of that probably springs from the fact that I was delighted to see this series, this character, this concept, back in print again. With all that potential, and the actual comic is just a terrible disappointment.

   My apologies to the creative team, who will hopefully go on to bigger and better things - but this one is a miss.

Grade: D

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The Avengers #11

After 10 issues of big, cosmic events, this issue of The Avengers takes us down to Earth for some ground-level action.

Six members of the team go undercover to investigate some kind of weapon sale - but that's just the excuse for a series of (mostly) fun encounters between the good guys and the bad guys.

I'm a longtime fan of Shang-Chi, the Master of the Martial Arts (and son of Fu Manchu), and it's great to see him in the spotlight in this issue. His part of the story is written in a delightful, stylized fashion by Jonathan Hickman - a real treat.

Also included is the Black Widow (with an especially dark - but accurate - take on the super spy), Spider-Woman, Captain Marvel, Cannonball and Sunspot.

The other star in this issue is artist Mike Deodato, who seems to be having a blast here. From the ninja-packed action scenes to a showdown over a gambling table to a fun encounter between newbie heroes and nerdy villains, the visuals are lush and powerful.

I also love the cover art, a nice whimsical version of the heroes by Dustin Weaver and Justin Ponsor - it would make an excellent poster.

So, yet another outstanding issue in one of Marvel's best titles. Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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Secret Avengers #6

This issue had me at "Shang-Chi."

As I've mentioned before, I've been a big fan of the Master of Kung Fu series since it began in 1973.

So I was happy to see this issue featuring that character as the Secret Avengers uncover a plot to bring Shang-Chi's evil father back to life.

For those who came in late, his father is Fu Manchu, the original model for villains from the Far East. Presumably Marvel no longer has the rights to the character, so here he is not referred to by name.

Writer Ed Brubaker seems to have a good handle on martial arts characters - he did a terrific job resurrecting Iron Fist, and he does a great job here. The character really "feels" like the original Shang-Chi - ferocious in battle, always in control, yet gentle by nature.

Artist Mike Deodato turns in his usual phenomenal work, with near-photo realism, frantic action scenes and amazing panoramas.

One issue into the five issue series, and already I like this story much more than the first arc. This one is more down to Earth (more James Bond than Star Wars), with a formidable opponent, mysteries to solve and lives hanging in the balance.

All this and Shang-Chi, too! What's not to like?

Grade: A-

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Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu One-Shot (B&W) #1

Now this is a real oddity.

This comic is (I presume) an odd tribute to the classic black-and-white Marvel Magazines that starred Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. As such, it includes the oddest mix of stories you're likely to encounter.

The title character first appeared in his own title in December 1973, written by Steve Englehart and drawn by Jim Starlin. It was a clever twist on the Kung Fu craze and the idea of creating a comic using the pulp character Fu Manchu, the classic Sax Rohmer villain whose rights Marvel had secured.

The irony is that Marvel no longer holds those rights, so these days Shang-Chi's father is never clearly seen and never referred to by name.

After an outstanding start, different creators took on the title to varying degrees of success. The high points would include outstanding runs by writer Doug Moench with artists Paul Gulacy, Mike Zeck and Gene Day.

Of course, the Kung Fu craze finally waned, and eventually Shang-Chi's comic adventures did likewise (in 1983).

So this issue seems to appear out of nowhere, and like the character's original run, it's quite a mixed bag.

The opening story by writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Kody Chamberlin looks great and is totally off the wall as Shang-Chi takes part in a motorcycle race with a bizarre collection of characters, including Deadpool. It's fun, it's insane, and it makes no sense at all. Nice art, though.

The second story by writer Mike Benson and artist Tom Coker is much more along the lines of an actual Shang-Chi story, as he faces an assassin looking for revenge. Outstanding art, and a lean but effective story.

The third story feels like something that's been sitting in the archives for 30 years. Written by Charlie Huston and drawn by Enrique Romero, it includes a resurrection, belligerent cops and a silly fight sequence.

The final story is a text page by Robin Furth filled with bits of info about the martial arts and featuring some terrific illustrations by Gulacy.

As a fan of the character, I'm glad to see him appearing in a new comic. I just wish it were a better comic. (And why is he wearing tennis shoes on the cover?)

Grade: C