Shang-Chi: Son of Fu Manchu reloaded
With the Sino-American conflict, Black Lives Matter, demands for more diversity and anti-Asian racism in the USA, now also in comic films from Marvel: Chinese secret organization, a fake and a real bad Mandarin. Dr Fu Manchu sends his regards. In the 70s there was already the Marvel comic series Son of Fu Manchu, in which the Chinese kungfu-tempered son rebelled against his cruel Chinese father and fought him in a generational conflict. Something like Joshua Wong against Xi Jinping, but this is not how it is apparently perceived by the CCP because it remains abstract and the film can also be shown and discussed in China. Perhaps the CCP sees itself in the role of Shang-Chi as the new, modern China against the old, feudalist China. Kungfu against Dr. Fu Manchu. Marx and Xi Jinping thoughts, which are to be taught in elementary schools against Confucius.But the CCP is probably satisfied and sees this as the best propaganda for the unstoppable rise to the new world power No. 1 and its historical materialism when the US, Hollywood and Marvel are forced to integrate more Chinese superheroes into their films. At the moment the usual classic Martial Art stuff with, not even flying Kungfu fighters like in Tigers and Dragons, just the hands and feet and without superpowers like real superheroes, but maybe next comes from China an AI- Huawei supported Chinese Iron Man with the latest Chinese Silicon Valley and armaments industry equipped superhero software and hardware .The CCP, as far as modern superhero films are concerned, has so far imported everything from the USA and Japan from mangas to Marvel, has not yet built up a gamer and superhero community in these dimensions, especially since that still falls under the suspicion of superstition as a result of scientific socialism.
Now Marvel is introducing a brand new Marvel hero with “Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings” and is opening the door to a new era after “Avengers: Endgame”. At the same time, the upcoming Marvel cinema event is also closely linked to the previous films by the MCU. Shang-Chi made his first appearance in Marvel Comics in 1973. The comic book hero profited from the then very popular kung-fu films and enjoyed great popularity for several years. In the recent past, however, the martial arts hero has been forgotten. After the great success of „Black Panther“, Marvel is now again focusing on diversity and is making a solo film with an Asian superhero for the first time. Behind the scenes, Destin Daniel Cretton („Just Mercy“) is responsible for the direction, the script is contributed by Dave Callaham („Wonder Woman 1984“).
In addition to Liu and Leung, other well-known actors * could be won for the film: We see Awkwafina (“The Farewell”) as Shang-Chi’s friend Katy, as well as Michelle Yeoh (“Tiger & Dragon”) and Florian Munteanu (“Creed 2: Rocky’s Legacy ”), which by their film vita are almost predestined for action-packed and precisely choreographed fight scenes. There is also an MCU reunion with Wong (Benedict Wong), Abomination (Tim Roth) and Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), the actor who pretended to be the Mandarin in „Iron Man 3“.
When “Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings” starts in German cinemas on September 2, 2021, a new Marvel hero and a completely new cast of other characters will be the focus: the fighter Shang-Chi, who has been trained since early childhood (Simu Liu as the first Asian MCU title hero) is caught up with his past and now has to face it. A new main character and a new setting do not mean that we are entering completely new territory in the 25th MCU film – on the contrary: With “Shang-Chi”, Marvel mastermind Kevin Feige and Co. are also reflecting on the beginnings of the Avengers Universe back – the connections even go back to the very first MCU blockbuster „Iron Man“! Because the mysterious criminal organization „Ten Rings“, which was mentioned again and again afterwards, played an important role in the 2008 film.
In „Shang-Chi“ the motivations and the background story of the organization and its leader Wenwu alias the Mandarin (Tony Leung Chiu-wai) are revealed when Shang-Chi is involved in the machinations of the „Ten Rings“ against his will „Ten Rings“ have appeared a few times so far, but have always remained a mystery: MCU fans will remember, for example, that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) from the „Ten Rings“ at the beginning of „Iron Man“ “Is kidnapped.
When the members of the secret organization shoot a video of demands with the kidnapped billionaire, a banner with the logo of the „Ten Rings“ can be seen in the background for the first time: ten interlocking rings. And even after a successful escape, Iron Man keeps clashing with the organization’s thugs. In “Iron Man 2” the “Ten Rings” only play a marginal role, but in “Iron Man 3” – at least it seems that way at the beginning of the film – they come to the fore again: Because with one of the cleverest twists in the MCU it is revealed that the „ten rings“ in „Iron Man 3“ are not the real „ten rings“ at all. Even the Mandarin shown in the film (Ben Kingsley) is not the real Mandarin at all, but an actor. All just a front for the activities of Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) and his organization A.I.M. The Marvel short film „The Mandarin“, which is included as a bonus on the Blu-ray of „Thor: The Dark Kingdom“, shows that the real Mandarin is not enthusiastic about it. In it, fake mandarin Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley) enjoys his fame in prison and is even said to become the protagonist of his own documentary. But the filmmaker (Scoot McNairy) turns out to be the stooge of the real Mandarin. The next (and so far last) MCU appearance of the „Ten Rings“ then took place in „Ant-Man“. In it, villain Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) wants to sell his yellowjacket suit to HYDRA and the „Ten Rings“ – which Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and Co. can just prevent in the end.
The Chinese party newspaper Global Times describes the reactions the film is getting in China on social media: assessments vary between racism and typically American and harmless popcorn film.
„Shang-Chi debuts first trailer but racism controversy persists among Chinese audience
By Zhang Han Published: Apr 20, 2021 09:01 PM
Marvel Studios‘ new superhero movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, whose production and screening were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, released a new trailer on Monday, but many Chinese moviegoers seemed underwhelmed by the first Asian hero in the Marvel Universe, while racism debates surrounding the movie recurred.
The 125-second trailer revealed some aspects of the hero Shang-Chi’s life, including his childhood, his rebellion against his father and how he saved people on a running bus. There were also scenes featuring characters doing kung fu in traditional Chinese attire.
The trailer intrigued foreign Marvel fans and kung fu movie lovers, with some comparing it to the works of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, but the Chinese market appeared less excited.
The Global Times found many Chinese netizens‘ first impression of the film was that its story is associated with an early-20th century novel featuring Fu Manchu, a representative of the „Yellow Peril“ in the West. The connection already sparked controversy in 2019 when Marvel announced the project.
On China’s popular video platform Bilibili, typical comments included „As I said when Marvel announced the casting — who they pick already said: Hollywood will never change its stereotype of Asians, slanted eyes.“
„After seeing a hodgepodge of Japanese ninja, US skyscrapers, gangs and Chinese ancient swordsmen, my brain turned to mush,“ a net user said jokingly.
Shi Wenxue, a Beijing-based film critic, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the movie could be sold to some for its „oriental elements“ and the presence of Tony Leung, who plays the role of Shang-Chi’s father, but whether it can be a success depends on the story itself and how it is told.
Some Chinese netizens compared Shang-Chi to Mulan, another Disney movie that had ambitions to conquer the Chinese market but eventually failed in both box office and reputation.
Disney messed up the well-known Chinese story in live-action film Mulan, while its poor artistic level and misrepresentation of Chinese culture led to its failure. Shi believed if the Shang-Chi movie could tell a good superhero story, it could still succeed among certain groups of moviegoers.
Production of the movie was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning the trailer is being released at a time when hate crimes against Asians are peaking in the US.
Some observers said Shang-Chi’s lack of visibility in the Marvel Universe and the debut in theaters at the moment seem to be a metaphor of systemic „invisible discrimination“ against Asians in the US and the recent hate crimes, including killings.
It is just a popcorn superhero movie, which means it is tailored to the mainstream ideology of the US. „If you see Asian stereotypes in it, that’s right, because that’s American society,“ a Twitter user posted.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202104/1221600.shtml
The Indians seem angry that the first Asian hero in the Marvel Hollywood blockbuster Shang-Chi is Chinese and not Indian, although they have their own martial arts hero. Shang-Chi is also viewed as a cheap copy of the alleged Indian original and some proud Indians call for an own Bollywood production.
“Marvel fans discover Ajay Devgn’s Jigar, call it ‚Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Vimal Packets‘
Ajay Devgn did it before Marvel’s Shang-Chi; at least that’s what fans who’ve seen the film Jigar are saying. Watch humorous mashup videos here.
By HT Entertainment Desk
September 13, 2021
Marvel fans are having a whale of a time poking fun at the 1992 Ajay Devgn film Jigar, particularly a scene in which the actor appears to be performing some sort of mystical martial arts, wearing large rings on his arms, much the like the character Shang-Chi. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Asian superhero recently debuted in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
A couple of humorous video mashups have been posted online. Filter Copy on Monday shared a video captioned “Coming soon at a Panvadi near you, IN 3D.” It showed Ajay Devgn in a scene from Jigar, shooting red liquid out of his hands. Going by the comments section, the video seemed to be taking a dig at the actor’s endorsement of a pan masala brand.
“Shang Chi and the Legend of Ten Vimal Packets,” one person joked in the comments section. “Vimal: legends of the ajay devgan,” commented another.
Previously, a mashup video showed visuals from Jigar cut to the audio track of the Shang-Chi teaser. “What if..? Shang-Chi was from our Bollywood universe. Our very own indian Shang-Chi Ajay Devgn. Hope you love this edit,” the description for the video read. The mashup was posted by a channel called Projekt-A Music.
Jigar, directed by Farouq Siddique and co-starring Karisma Kapoor, was said to be ‘inspired’ by the film Kickboxer.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh and Tony Leung. The film released in India on September 3, and has so far grossed $250 million worldwide.