The Teddies Review - Dec 2021

Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings marks Marvel’s first Asian -led superhero film. While there of course have been characters of Asian descent within the Marvel Universe, they often act as sidekicks to the main hero, or merely as comedic relief. Shang-Chi, however, not only stars an Asian protagonist, but also a predominantly Asian cast, and its core themes are intrinsically linked with Chinese culture.

for Katy’s Chinese name. Accompanying the subtle references to Chinese culture is the very unsubtle inclusion of a dragon, which seems somewhat compulsory of an eastern- inspired Hollywood film. Regardless, family can be changed by grief. The well- choreographed action and charismatic cast make for an entertaining leap in the right direction for Asian representation. November 5th saw the debut of Marvel’s Eternals : a group of immortal super-beings who’ve hidden amongst humanity since the dawn of time. The film is spearheaded by acclaimed director Chloé Zhao who, as most recent winner of both Best Director and Best Picture Oscars, undoubtedly brings prestige and critical success into her ambitious Marvel debut. Eternals boldly introduces ten main characters in a story that spans over 7000 years. Zhao however is, at heart, an indie director. Her first three films, all meticulously paced, vividly explored urban American landscapes to better understand oppressed people surviving on the outer edges of society. So, what happens when the most humanistic of directors is let loose with superheroes? Unfortunately, a critical hit-and- miss. Eternals is currently the lowest-rated MCU film of all time on Rotten Tomatoes, breaking the record that Thor: The Dark World held for nearly a decade, and the only film with a “rotten” score. According to the critics, “Zhao’s trademark realism and semi- documentarian approach is gone, substituted by stiff fantasy exposition and blockbuster conventions.” Playing on such a Eternals

The film introduces Shang-Chi , portrayed by Simu Liu, who must confront his past when his father, the formidable crime-lord Wenwu, forcefully reunites him and his sister. Accompanying Shang-Chi is his friend Katy, played by Awkwafina, who, uncharacteristically for Marvel, provides a pointedly platonic counterpart to our main hero throughout the film. Despite a refreshingly grounded antagonist in Tony Leung’s Wenwu, the real villain of Shang-Chi is grief. Grief is what drives Wenwu to perform nefarious acts, even at the expense of his own children. In an earlier scene, one of the characters comments on how moving on from a loved one’s death is a Western idea. Shang- Chi’s subtle nods towards Chinese culture never feel forced or contrived - for example when Shang-Chi taking off his shoes before entering Katy’s home, Katy’s grandmother asking Shang-Chi when he and Katy are getting married, or when Wenwu asks