Image via Marvel Studios
Marvel’s newest film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, comes full circle on the narrative arc of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ever since Iron Man 3 in 2013, we’ve been led to believe that The Mandarin, the leader behind the terrorist global syndicate the Ten Rings, was fabricated. The “real” villain, Aldrich Killian, used the Mandarin as a bogeyman to distract the populace, while he went about accomplishing his real goal of weaponizing the Extremis virus.
The whole thing felt like whitewashing. The MCU has an unfortunate history of erasing its Asian characters: Yinsen in Iron Man. The Mandarin in Iron Man 3. The Ancient One in Doctor Strange. But now, we finally have what we wanted from the start: the real Mandarin, in all his villainous glory, and a feature-length film with extensive world-building, starring an all-star Asian cast. The initial reviews have been stellar—with many calling Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings the best MCU film since Black Panther (2018).
If you primarily know and love Marvel from the movies, you may have never heard of Shang-Chi, who is not as well-known as Spider-Man, Thor, or Hulk. But as Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) demonstrated, all it takes is a good director, a solid script, and a stellar cast to change that overnight. Here is a quick primer on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings before you head out to the theater this weekend.
When does the movie come out?
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings hits theaters on Friday, September 3. Due to the pandemic, Marvel pushed the movie back three times; its original release date was February 12, 2021, which would have been the first day of the Chinese New Year.
How can I see 'Shang-Chi'?
For a while, fans speculated that Marvel/Disney might release the movie on Disney+ in conjunction with its theatrical release. Disney had previously made new movies like Mulan, Black Widow, and Cruella available as Premier Access titles, which meant that people would pay an additional fee, on top of the monthly subscription cost, to watch a theatrical feature from the comfort of their homes. Shang-Chi, however, is releasing in theaters only. Then, after a 45-day “theatrical window,” it will debut on Disney+.
There's a Delta variant going around. I don't want to get sick.
Find a theater that employs safety guidelines. The Delta variant is contagious, but if you wear a mask and you’re vaccinated, it’ll cut down the risk of infection, and if you catch it, you’ll likely dodge the most serious symptoms. That said, use your head. Figure out, based on the science, what you would consider to be a negotiable, reasonable risk.
Personally, I’m watching Shang-Chi at a drive-in theater, which eliminates the infection risk almost entirely. Drive-ins have become increasingly popular over the past year and a half. If you haven’t made Labor Day weekend plans yet, this might make for a nice overnight trip.
Who is Shang-Chi? This is the first time I'm hearing about him.
The character debuted in 1973 and was partially based on Bruce Lee.
In the comics, Shang-Chi is the half-Asian son of Dr. Fu Manchu. Shang discovers that his father is a villain and subsequently thwarts Fu Manchu’s evil plans. Shang then joins with MI-6 agents to fight for good.
More recent comic appearances have depicted Shang-Chi joining the Avengers, and reconciling family disputes between his siblings and half-siblings, who are also martial arts masters and members of ancient fighting orders.
Dr. Fu Manchu. Isn't he the guy with the long moustache?
Yes, the character was a popular villain of old Hollywood, but his most enduring contribution to American culture is popularizing the “Fu Manchu,” a slender, long moustache that dangles on both sides of a person’s mouth. You probably know it best from create-a-character video game modes as one of the facial hair options that you never choose.
The character, with its yellow skin, claw-like nails, and bizarre mixture of lecherousness and duplicity, was a one-stop-shop for negative Asian stereotypes. Fu Manchu played upon people’s fears of “Yellow Peril,” especially in the wake of America’s conflicts in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
Over time, Marvel has distanced itself from the character, especially after losing the rights to it. In 2010, Marvel revised Shang’s origin, claiming that “Fu Manchu” was an alias for the real man: a Chinese sorcerer named Zheng Zu who had discovered the secret to immortality.
How does the movie version of Shang-Chi differ from the comics version?
It differs significantly. The original comic was so steeped in racist baggage from the outset that the new movie made an effort to reinvent the character. His father is different. His mother is different. His siblings are different. His rivals are different
The current movie incarnation is more in line with Marvel Comics’ 2015 Secret Wars reboot, but even so, the filmmakers played faster and looser with the canonical details than they did with Black Panther or Captain America. “We were all on the same page right off the bat,” said Simu Liu (Shang-Chi) in an interview. “We were going to introduce an all-new origin story for this character, and the only things we were going to take from the comics were his name, his martial arts skills, and the fact that he had a complicated relationship with his father.”
Who's starring in 'Shang-Chi'?
Asian Canadian actor Simu Liu (Blood in Water, Kim’s Convenience) stars as Shang-Chi. Akwafina (Crazy Rich Asians, Raya and the Last Dragon, Nora From Queens) plays Katy, one of Shang’s closest friends. Tony Leung (In the Mood for Love, Hero, Infernal Affairs) plays Wenwu/The Mandarin, who is reimagined as Shang-Chi’s father.
Meng’er Zhang plays Xialing, Shang-Chi’s sister and Wenwu’s daughter. Fala Chen plays Shang-Chi’s mother. Michelle Yeoh plays Shang-Chi’s aunt.
Benedict Wong has a cameo appearance as Wong, reprising the character he originated in Doctor Strange.
There's plenty of Asians in front of the camera. But what about behind the camera?
That’s one of the best things about this movie. It’s one thing to put Asian people in front of the camera. It is groundbreaking to put Asians behind the camera and allow us to tell our stories. The director is Japanese-American filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton (The Glass Castle, Just Mercy), who also co-wrote the script.
Who are the villains?
In addition to the Mandarin, the other two villains we know of are Razorfist and Abomination. Razorfist (Florian Munteanu) is probably best known in the comics for his role in the 2015 Secret Wars storyline, where he was an enforcer and assassin for the Ten Rings and had mastered the art of making his hands razor-sharp.
The last time we saw Abomination was in The Incredible Hulk (2008). Abomination appears again in this movie, in an all-out, dark web cage fight. He is portrayed by character actor Tim Roth, reprising his role.
What do we know so far from the trailers?
We know that this is a family story, about a man who realizes that his father does terrible things and that his lineage has a bloody legacy. He tries denying it and running away from it, but he learns that he cannot escape his past and must confront it. It is the classic superhero narrative, exemplified by the iconic Stan Lee quote, “With great power comes great responsibility.” But it’s colored by the additional weight and angst of Asian filial piety.
The movie leans heavily into its mysticism. There are lots of magical sequences in the trailer, and many of the fighters have a lighter-than-air grace that pays homage to the wuxia films of the ‘70s.
Lastly, there’s humor. There’s the signature Marvel humor, of course—the quippy, self-referential one-liners that humanize the characters and prevent them from being insufferable. But there’s also a very Chinese, slapstick sort of humor, based on physical comedy and pratfalls, that is best exemplified by Jackie Chan. When you watch the movie’s fights, watch them like a kung fu fan. Consider the hand-to-hand fight scenes as self-contained narratives unto themselves, with their own callbacks and inside jokes.
How are the reviews looking?
They’re looking phenomenal. The movie currently has a 91 precent on RottenTomatoes, with critics giving it a “Fresh” review. Most critics have called positive attention to the performances—particularly to Liu’s performance as Shang-Chi and Leung’s performance as the Mandarin. Multiple reviewers predict a star turn for Liu.
Is there anything else we need to know?
According to people who attended the premiere, the Shang-Chi post-credits scene is something of a doozy; it prompted cheering, shocked reactions, and anticipation over the future of the MCU. So as always, make sure to stick around.
And lastly: this movie is important. It would be important in any year because it’s the first movie of its kind, where an Asian American superhero has this kind of mainstream recognition and celebrity. But it’s especially important at a time when anti-Asian hate crimes are on the rise.
Positive representation is important. But nuanced representation is even more so. In Shang-Chi, there’s an Asian hero, an Asian villain, and an Asian sidekick. No token character bears the responsibility of representing everything that Asians are. We get to be human, with complexities and flaws. That makes us visible and is much more meaningful than checking off a box.