Shang Chi Review (and Mythical Creature Review)
Just saw Shang-Chi! Really impressed me! Went in with medium expectations, thinking it would just be another Marvel punch out, maybe with some added first generation immigrant/daddy-angst vibes, but it surprised me. Tony Leung as Wenwu genuinely moved me, and more than once. Perhaps my favorite Marvel villain of all time.
Also was it just me, or did anyone else think Katy and Xu Xialing kind of had vibes? āSorry Shawn, Iām dating your crimelord(?) sister now, I donāt make the rules,ā is a vibe I think Awkwafina could pull off beautifully. Her friendship with Shang-Chi was very wholesome too, I loved the intimate trust there. Wuxia is a great look for Marvel, some of the best fight scenes theyāve ever done, more reliant on choreography and skill of the actors and doubles than a raw CGIfest (although thereās plenty of that goodness too).
Speaking of which letās talk magical creatures!
Impressively, basically all the creatures of Talo were drawn from real myths (except, I think, for the villainous ones which I will leave unnamed here for spoilersā sake). Which is fine, since I think they were supposed to have a not-of-this-world vibe anyways.
Some of the most famous: the Qilin (āweird horseā), Fenghuang (ābird on fireā), and Hulijing (nine tailed fox) all make appearances in Talo, although none of them exactly pitch in much. Come on guys! The Dragon is pulling her weight! As does the Shishi lion dog!
Morris is the most obscure of the bunch, but even heās real, a Dijiang!Ā
Thought to be a manifestation of the primordial chaos that existed before the universe known as Hundun, the lack of a face coupled with six legs and four wings is meant to indicate that chaotic lack of direction. Also supposedly they love to sing and dance! The Hundun is also known as the primordial egg from which the universe hatches, which helps explain Morrisās pleasing round shape.
Truly, a creature that has seen things no mortal could even begin to comprehend, Morris might just be one of the oldest beings in the MCU!
Anyways, great movie, really pleasantly surprised me.
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