When martial arts join superheroes there is only one possible outcome: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the best martial art movie of 2021. In this Marvel’s movie that finally introduces to the audience all the Chinese mythological figures, it is appropriate to say that: “from great power comes great responsibility”.
Marvel martial art legacy
Back in 1998, when the majority of the people knew Marvel for its comics, it was born the movie Blade. From that moment on, the House of Ideas will gradually transpose a growing number of superheroes and their stories, until the birth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2008 with Iron Man movie. But what did so good Blade to guide all its followers? Above all, choosing an extremely talented actor and martial artist in the role of the protagonist. Wesley Snipes was so perfect as Blade that became sooner one of the most beloved superheroes characters of all time.
The Master of Kung Fu comic books
The character of Shang-Chi like the one of Blade, was not very popular prior to their cinematic transposition. Shang-Chi as comic book was born in the seventies, by the pencils of the writer Steve Englehart and the artist Jim Starlin. The initial idea was to develop a Kung fu focused comic book about a martial art champion, hardly influenced by the 1972 American TV series Kung Fu. Remembering that the myth of Bruce Lee played obviously a very important role (in 1973 Bruce died). Marvel agreed at one condition: to include in the story the famous villain of Sax Rohmer novels, Dr. Fu Manchu. So Shang-Chi become the unknown son of the genius and master, who discovered the means to immortality, Fu Manchu, the Mandarin.
During the years the character of Shang-Chi did not get so notice like others, despite that, the Kung fu master participates to a lot of comic books and original stories. Authors found many occasions to propose him again with other martial art champions, like Iron Fist or Moon Knight. Capable of beating with his non superhuman fighting skills characters like the Thing of the Fantastic four. In other words, a hero who was trained all his life and became something more. Exactly what has done so far the cast of this beautiful movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Marvel Wuxia
Let’s begin with Tony Leung and Fala Chen, respectively father and mother of Shang-Chi in the movie. If the character of the Mandarin was already well-known, at least in the comics, the character of Ying Li is new. The movie it is focused on Shang-Chi mother’s lost, so the characters behaviour are very affected by this tragedy, specially Xu Wenwu, who was madly in love with. This Wuxia scene is not only a demonstration of high fighting skills, but also poetry, approaching to high levels similar to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
After talking about Wuxia genre, it is impossible not to mention at least Michelle Yeoh, the Malaysian actress who rose to fame in the ninety and collaborate with the greatest martial art masters of the movies, like: Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen and Jet Li. Her presence alone, legitimates the movie to go beyond its potential.
Shang-Chi: the first Martial Artist
And last but not least, our protagonist Simu Liu, that really embodies a contemporary and funny Shang-Chi, who his divided between his past, represented by his sister Xu Xialing, played by Meng’er Zhang. And his present, depicted by Katy, portrayed by the actress Awkwafina. The combat style of Shang-Chi tries to really mix a lot of martial art, which interpretation makes sense and personally, I think that Simu Liu found his own style, or at least his discovering his own Kung fu.
I just want to point out the final dedication of the movie to Brad Allan, who supervised the movie as stunt coordinator and disappeared on August 2021.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the best martial art movie of 2021, are you agree with us? Let me know with a comment below.
I wish you all a good start in the new year!