What makes ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings’ more impressive is not because of the numbers but the representation that it means to the Asian community.
It is not just your typical kung-fu fighting Asian stereotype movie as Marvel's ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings’ takes the Asian representation in Hollywood to another level.
Released last September 3, ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings’ Marvel's first leading Asian superhero, reportedly scored an unexpectedly strong $71.4 million opening.
This is the second biggest opening of this pandemic year, behind Marvel's "Black Widow," which had an $80 million opening.
What makes the movie more impressive is not because of the numbers but the representation that it means to the Asian community.
"Shang-Chi" presents a riveting tale that's at times heavy on flashbacks, but unwavering in its fundamental conflicts and revelations on trauma and loss, on family and regret.
Most of the ‘Shang-Chi’ cast are making their MCU debuts, including lead actor Simu Liu and Awkwafina, playing Katy Chen. Michelle Yeoh plays Shang-Chi’s aunt, Ying Nan, and is actually her second Marvel movie character following her Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Other major cast members are Tony Leung (The Mandarin), Yuen Wah (Master Guang Bo), Fala Chen (Jiang Li), and Ronny Chieng (Jon Jon).
It is not just because of the star-studded Asian cast behind the movie which emphasizes the movement behind ‘Shang Chi’. That began with recruiting actual Asian-Americans to the writers’ room; Destin Daniel Cretton, who’s half-Japanese, directed and co-wrote the movie, while Andrew Lanham, who’s of Chinese descent, co-wrote the screenplay.
The result is a movie with relatable characters who feel like real-life, modern-day Asian-Americans, sans any ancient proverbs or goofy mustaches.
“We are not an experiment. We are the underdog; the underestimated,” Simu Liu, who plays the movie’s titular protagonist, wrote on social media. “We are the ceiling-breakers. We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year. We are the surprise. I’m fired the f**k up to make history on September 3rd; JOIN US.”
Another significance of ‘Shang-Chi’ being released is because we are at a time when anti-Asian hate crimes are surging across North America.
“I think a lot of it comes from fear, a lot of it comes from ignorance, and I think it speaks to this general atmosphere in our society where people who look like us aren’t considered Canadian or aren’t considered American,” the Chinese-Canadian Liu tells of the rise in violence.
The martial arts movie genre has been a double-edged sword for Asian Americans for decades which continued to stereotype the Asian actors for the longest time.
However, with ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings’ breaks the mold into this hero’s world-saving mission against a universe-threatening, soul-sucking force of evil is a rich and subtle commentary about identity, masculinity, and assimilation, punctuated by beautiful martial arts sequences.
More importantly, it is a movie that speaks to the Asian American experience in a compassionate and historical way.
(Nicole Pulido)
Tags: #Marvel, #movies, #ShangChiandtheLegendofTenRings, #Asianrepresentation