"Who ARE you?"
April 19, 2021 3:02 PM Subscribe
We now have an idea of what a kung fu movie in the MCU looks like, as Marvel has premiered the first trailer for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
And it looks like an amalgam of shots from every popular martial arts-based action flick of the last 25 years.
posted by Saxon Kane at 3:19 PM on April 19, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by Saxon Kane at 3:19 PM on April 19, 2021 [5 favorites]
Please don't take this as me being rude - but check out the second link.
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 3:19 PM on April 19, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 3:19 PM on April 19, 2021 [8 favorites]
EW has a first look.
(From a friend's reaction: looks all right but there are other Asian/Asian Am actors/actresses besides Michelle Yeoh and Awkwafina right?)
That being said, I wasn't interested until I saw Tony Leung Chiu Wai in the trailer. I will watch him in anything.
posted by toastyk at 3:34 PM on April 19, 2021 [8 favorites]
(From a friend's reaction: looks all right but there are other Asian/Asian Am actors/actresses besides Michelle Yeoh and Awkwafina right?)
That being said, I wasn't interested until I saw Tony Leung Chiu Wai in the trailer. I will watch him in anything.
posted by toastyk at 3:34 PM on April 19, 2021 [8 favorites]
Having read the second link...
Lot's of "character development" there...
Martial arts hero, gains some powers, doesn't have those powers, etc. What can you say? Marvel.
posted by Windopaene at 3:36 PM on April 19, 2021
Lot's of "character development" there...
Martial arts hero, gains some powers, doesn't have those powers, etc. What can you say? Marvel.
posted by Windopaene at 3:36 PM on April 19, 2021
Shang-Chi is kind of a Marvel deep cut. He was developed in the '70s as part of Marvel trying to get some of that sweet-sweet martial arts money. I don't think Shang Chi really took off as a long-term property, but he had some popularity at the time and has popped up over the years here and there. Now it looks like Marvel is dusting him off because diversity is good business sense and they don't have a ton of asian characters in their stable (and many of them are either villains or problematic ninja femme fatale types).
I think Marvel has been slowly working to popularize Shang-Chi and ret-con some aspects of his backstory for a while now. He was kind of brought back in 2007 as part of Heroes for Hire and if I were conspiracy-minded I might think Marvel was planning to make him a tentpole hero for the MCU all the way back then.
This article at Marvel goes over the history of their more successful martial arts based characters if anyone is interested. It obviously isn't particularly critical about, say, the white savior trope of Iron Fist, but it will give you some context for Shang-Chi.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 3:37 PM on April 19, 2021 [9 favorites]
I think Marvel has been slowly working to popularize Shang-Chi and ret-con some aspects of his backstory for a while now. He was kind of brought back in 2007 as part of Heroes for Hire and if I were conspiracy-minded I might think Marvel was planning to make him a tentpole hero for the MCU all the way back then.
This article at Marvel goes over the history of their more successful martial arts based characters if anyone is interested. It obviously isn't particularly critical about, say, the white savior trope of Iron Fist, but it will give you some context for Shang-Chi.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 3:37 PM on April 19, 2021 [9 favorites]
But the car advertisement/product placement amalgam looks distinctly MCU.
posted by Ashenmote at 3:42 PM on April 19, 2021
posted by Ashenmote at 3:42 PM on April 19, 2021
I'm not happy with how muddy many of those fight scenes are. I don't want things to distract me from the moves made by the martial artists, such as panning/moving cameras or night scenes that are too dark to follow what happens. Show me the dance of the fists.
The presence of Tony Leung helps, but I think I'd rather pop one of his prime-career-time movies in the player. Or Donny Yen, Jet Li, or Jackie Chan.
posted by Quasirandom at 3:54 PM on April 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
The presence of Tony Leung helps, but I think I'd rather pop one of his prime-career-time movies in the player. Or Donny Yen, Jet Li, or Jackie Chan.
posted by Quasirandom at 3:54 PM on April 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
This looks like great fun. Thanks for posting!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 4:04 PM on April 19, 2021
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 4:04 PM on April 19, 2021
Ummmm....can someone please explain this one to me since I have not read decades of comics and I have never heard of this guy in the MCU before?
Variety takes a shot here
posted by stevil at 4:05 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
Variety takes a shot here
posted by stevil at 4:05 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
Cinematography is Bill Pope (from the Matrix, Scott Pilgrim, etc. etc.) and it looks like the Stunt Coordinator is also an Edgar Wright alum (Scott Pilgrim, The World's End, Baby Driver) so I am excited about this.
posted by sleeping bear at 4:06 PM on April 19, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by sleeping bear at 4:06 PM on April 19, 2021 [4 favorites]
"Did you read my email?"
"I, skimmed it..."
posted by Windopaene at 4:08 PM on April 19, 2021 [7 favorites]
"I, skimmed it..."
posted by Windopaene at 4:08 PM on April 19, 2021 [7 favorites]
I was afraid the martial arts scenes would be full of fast cuts and unfortunately, I was right. At best the action sequences will be comic movie good, not martial arts movie good.
There's a lot of this character's comics backstory that is bad/lazy/racist and I'm glad to see they've scrapped 90% of it. I do wish this were just a de-anglicized Iron Fist instead. Both are kung-fu dudes but Iron Fist has a much weirder and more fanciful backstory
posted by thecjm at 4:11 PM on April 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
There's a lot of this character's comics backstory that is bad/lazy/racist and I'm glad to see they've scrapped 90% of it. I do wish this were just a de-anglicized Iron Fist instead. Both are kung-fu dudes but Iron Fist has a much weirder and more fanciful backstory
posted by thecjm at 4:11 PM on April 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
If you happen to watch previews on youtube, or see it on reddit, do NOT read the comments. Seriously.
posted by Splunge at 4:12 PM on April 19, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Splunge at 4:12 PM on April 19, 2021 [3 favorites]
that's one hell of a step up from Kim's Convenience.
posted by hearthpig at 4:17 PM on April 19, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by hearthpig at 4:17 PM on April 19, 2021 [9 favorites]
You’ve clearly never worked retail.
posted by mhoye at 4:23 PM on April 19, 2021 [29 favorites]
posted by mhoye at 4:23 PM on April 19, 2021 [29 favorites]
Ummmm....can someone please explain this one to me
Disney wants to make a lot of money in the Chinese market.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 4:29 PM on April 19, 2021 [11 favorites]
Disney wants to make a lot of money in the Chinese market.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 4:29 PM on April 19, 2021 [11 favorites]
From a friend's reaction: looks all right but there are other Asian/Asian Am actors/actresses besides Michelle Yeoh and Awkwafina right?
There certainly are, and some of them are in the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie, coming out this Friday! Also Bruce Lee's Warrior has been renewed for season 3! (It freaking rules.)
posted by Apocryphon at 4:46 PM on April 19, 2021 [5 favorites]
There certainly are, and some of them are in the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie, coming out this Friday! Also Bruce Lee's Warrior has been renewed for season 3! (It freaking rules.)
posted by Apocryphon at 4:46 PM on April 19, 2021 [5 favorites]
Ever seen at least the highlights film of Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon? Put one man in a jumpsuit and have him fight a neverending wall of bad guys... that is the image and cool factor which Marvel wanted to capture. And, with the success of Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians - find a property that will create a character that fits that niche.
On edit: this is also a take my money endorsement. If this Trojan horses a Renaissance of Golden Harvest films we all win.
posted by Nanukthedog at 4:51 PM on April 19, 2021 [3 favorites]
On edit: this is also a take my money endorsement. If this Trojan horses a Renaissance of Golden Harvest films we all win.
posted by Nanukthedog at 4:51 PM on April 19, 2021 [3 favorites]
I wish y'all weren't so cynical about this.
Marvel movies are at their best when they don't have a lot of associated baggage. The more unpopular or obscure the comic, the less faithful they have to be, and they can have fun with it. For example, Guardians of the Galaxy.
Simu Liu is a great actor with a ton of charisma.
One of my Chinese friends said that he hopes this is to him what Black Panther was for Black folks.
Yes, it won't be too out there. Yes, it's Marvel cashing in like they always do. But let people be excited about this. It won't be THE BEST kung fu movie, but it will be the one that gets seats into the theater and lets an Asian man be the hot, sexy, powerful, masculine protagonist that rarely happens in Hollywood.
posted by explosion at 4:54 PM on April 19, 2021 [87 favorites]
Marvel movies are at their best when they don't have a lot of associated baggage. The more unpopular or obscure the comic, the less faithful they have to be, and they can have fun with it. For example, Guardians of the Galaxy.
Simu Liu is a great actor with a ton of charisma.
One of my Chinese friends said that he hopes this is to him what Black Panther was for Black folks.
Yes, it won't be too out there. Yes, it's Marvel cashing in like they always do. But let people be excited about this. It won't be THE BEST kung fu movie, but it will be the one that gets seats into the theater and lets an Asian man be the hot, sexy, powerful, masculine protagonist that rarely happens in Hollywood.
posted by explosion at 4:54 PM on April 19, 2021 [87 favorites]
Set in San Francisco? Dare I hope for an Ant-Man cameo?? (Unless this takes place during the Blip, of course.)
posted by ejs at 5:07 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by ejs at 5:07 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
Or just Michael Peña walking by, explaining something to someone.
posted by jquinby at 5:20 PM on April 19, 2021 [31 favorites]
posted by jquinby at 5:20 PM on April 19, 2021 [31 favorites]
IT'S GOT SIMU LIU IN IT
NOTHING ELSE MATTERS
*begins counting down to September 3rd*
posted by Anonymous at 5:20 PM on April 19, 2021
NOTHING ELSE MATTERS
*begins counting down to September 3rd*
posted by Anonymous at 5:20 PM on April 19, 2021
Can't wait to have more Tony Leung in my fanfics and can't wait to have even more Ipoh accent representation (I'm Malaysian I'm allowed to say this).
Reading up on the changes they've made to the backstory makes me a little more excited and hopeful that MCU!Shang Chi gets to leave most of that racist baggage behind. I'd be impressed if they could actually cut the fight scenes in a manner that befits their target genre but you know what, that's minor in the scheme of things. Of all the MCU debuts, Thor's persistent use of Dutch angles (i get it narratively but it's still a headscratcher in execution) still has the top spot in my personal wtf.
The China market angle is not one i would bet on, considering Simu Liu's being a standup guy on social media with political opinions (heh, tho he's gone a bit more quiet and i had expected that), but please like the Chinese diaspora doesn't exist? At least 80% of us watched that trailer being hyped for Tony Leung.
(On that note maybe we should distribute pronunciation guides to nerd/fan youtubers because it's truly killing me softly)
posted by cendawanita at 5:21 PM on April 19, 2021 [20 favorites]
Reading up on the changes they've made to the backstory makes me a little more excited and hopeful that MCU!Shang Chi gets to leave most of that racist baggage behind. I'd be impressed if they could actually cut the fight scenes in a manner that befits their target genre but you know what, that's minor in the scheme of things. Of all the MCU debuts, Thor's persistent use of Dutch angles (i get it narratively but it's still a headscratcher in execution) still has the top spot in my personal wtf.
The China market angle is not one i would bet on, considering Simu Liu's being a standup guy on social media with political opinions (heh, tho he's gone a bit more quiet and i had expected that), but please like the Chinese diaspora doesn't exist? At least 80% of us watched that trailer being hyped for Tony Leung.
(On that note maybe we should distribute pronunciation guides to nerd/fan youtubers because it's truly killing me softly)
posted by cendawanita at 5:21 PM on April 19, 2021 [20 favorites]
I just have a high pitched sound of pure glee.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 5:23 PM on April 19, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 5:23 PM on April 19, 2021 [3 favorites]
And it looks like an amalgam of shots from every popular martial arts-based action flick of the last 25 years.
I was afraid the martial arts scenes would be full of fast cuts and unfortunately, I was right. At best the action sequences will be comic movie good, not martial arts movie good.
We don’t know how good this movie will be since we haven’t seen it yet. But I think a couple people should do a Google search for “what is a movie trailer?” before filling this thread with their shit.
posted by snofoam at 5:26 PM on April 19, 2021 [32 favorites]
I was afraid the martial arts scenes would be full of fast cuts and unfortunately, I was right. At best the action sequences will be comic movie good, not martial arts movie good.
We don’t know how good this movie will be since we haven’t seen it yet. But I think a couple people should do a Google search for “what is a movie trailer?” before filling this thread with their shit.
posted by snofoam at 5:26 PM on April 19, 2021 [32 favorites]
Yeah, this thread (as with many, many, many Metafilter threads) is quickly taking a smug turn into "oh, you enjoy [thing]? Let me tell you why [thing] is problematic."
posted by micketymoc at 5:31 PM on April 19, 2021 [30 favorites]
posted by micketymoc at 5:31 PM on April 19, 2021 [30 favorites]
Hey I'm looking forward to it! As someone who worked down the street from the real Kim's Convenience, I'm all for a starring vehicle for Simu Liu. I'm going to see this opening weekend, whether it's at home or we're back to the real world.
But they're going to sell this as a martial arts movie, and this is not that. Or it is, but as much as a Captain America movie is a martial arts movie. I'm not expecting them cutting it like Taken, but also not getting my hopes up for a Shaw Bros style martial arts film.
posted by thecjm at 5:33 PM on April 19, 2021 [3 favorites]
But they're going to sell this as a martial arts movie, and this is not that. Or it is, but as much as a Captain America movie is a martial arts movie. I'm not expecting them cutting it like Taken, but also not getting my hopes up for a Shaw Bros style martial arts film.
posted by thecjm at 5:33 PM on April 19, 2021 [3 favorites]
Mark my words it's a bait and switch. It's a triad movie.
posted by cendawanita at 5:36 PM on April 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by cendawanita at 5:36 PM on April 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
Today I learned Gene Yang has penned a reboot of the character, which is awesome. Shang-Chi was one of my favorite comics as a teen, and unusual that it was mostly written by one person, Douglas Moench, and illustrated by a relatively small number of artists, making for long runs of relatively coherent stories with character development. Also, for all its Sax Rohmer roots, it had an Asian lead who was presented as competent, principled, and desirable, which was not exactly common in the comics of the 70s. I’ve avoided going back to it for 30 years for fear it will be even more racist than I remember, but a Gene Yang comic and this movie might be just what I need.
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:55 PM on April 19, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:55 PM on April 19, 2021 [9 favorites]
I came for Simu Liu, but omg Tony Leung??? I didn't know he was in it. I am getting vaccinated ASAP and will be booking the day off work to see this on the big screen.
posted by biggreenplant at 6:11 PM on April 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by biggreenplant at 6:11 PM on April 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
I'm a big Marvel fan, but had never read anything with this character and was not particularly excited about this movie. Awkwafina and Simu Liu are so charming, though, the trailer had me sold pretty quickly. "But is it really a Marvel superhero movie?"
Then Liu saves that woman in the bus crash with his foot.
"OH YEAH IT IS."
posted by straight at 6:25 PM on April 19, 2021 [5 favorites]
Then Liu saves that woman in the bus crash with his foot.
"OH YEAH IT IS."
posted by straight at 6:25 PM on April 19, 2021 [5 favorites]
But they're going to sell this as a martial arts movie, and this is not that. Or it is, but as much as a Captain America movie is a martial arts movie.
Maybe it can be at least as much of a martial arts movie as Winter Soldier was a 70s conspiracy thriller. (That is to say, not very much, but enough to bring something new to the Marvel movie genre.)
posted by straight at 6:38 PM on April 19, 2021 [7 favorites]
Maybe it can be at least as much of a martial arts movie as Winter Soldier was a 70s conspiracy thriller. (That is to say, not very much, but enough to bring something new to the Marvel movie genre.)
posted by straight at 6:38 PM on April 19, 2021 [7 favorites]
ScreenCrush's trailer breakdown of the easter eggs and references is pretty good, and with a key assist from an Asian twitter follower on some more cultural bits that could be pertinent.
though... no one has mentioned or caught how the retcon from the initially positioned Ten Rings as a middle eastern-based outfit in IM-verse can be seen from the switch of character set used in the logo: the Arabic characters switched to the Chinese (LOL). That video reminded me they've worked in that retcon via an IM3 DVD extra, with the Ben Kingsley's character's interrogation session which I've never watched.
posted by cendawanita at 6:51 PM on April 19, 2021 [4 favorites]
though... no one has mentioned or caught how the retcon from the initially positioned Ten Rings as a middle eastern-based outfit in IM-verse can be seen from the switch of character set used in the logo: the Arabic characters switched to the Chinese (LOL). That video reminded me they've worked in that retcon via an IM3 DVD extra, with the Ben Kingsley's character's interrogation session which I've never watched.
posted by cendawanita at 6:51 PM on April 19, 2021 [4 favorites]
I'm easily more excited for this than pretty much anything else in the pipes aside from the next Thor and Spider-man movies. It looks fun, and it looks like a way to expand the universe they're building in a way that moves on/away from the core Avengers thing. Not every character has to be an Avenger, but that's where we are now. With rumblings here and there that they might be able to keep Daredevil and Luke Cage going, damn, it would be nice to have that "not Avengers" part of the world being built.
This looks a lot more interesting than whatever Eternals ends up being (which my mind won't let me comprehend any possibility other than that film being just dumb).
posted by Ghidorah at 6:51 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
This looks a lot more interesting than whatever Eternals ends up being (which my mind won't let me comprehend any possibility other than that film being just dumb).
posted by Ghidorah at 6:51 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
I am 110% all in on this. I really like Simu Liu and I looooove Tony Leung. And Michelle Yeoh. And I like Awkwafina too. I am looking forward to seeing this on opening night.
posted by rednikki at 7:10 PM on April 19, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by rednikki at 7:10 PM on April 19, 2021 [6 favorites]
Here's another person who doesn't know the characters, but think this looks great.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:14 PM on April 19, 2021
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:14 PM on April 19, 2021
This looks a lot more interesting than whatever Eternals ends up being (which my mind won't let me comprehend any possibility other than that film being just dumb).
I have hope for Eternals, rooted in wondering how wonderfully subtle and human story teller Chloé Zhao will handle the bonkers source material. The cast and relatively unknown Kaz and Ryan Firpo writing team do worry me, though I still imagine CZ will pull off something quite unique.
posted by angelplasma at 7:25 PM on April 19, 2021 [4 favorites]
I have hope for Eternals, rooted in wondering how wonderfully subtle and human story teller Chloé Zhao will handle the bonkers source material. The cast and relatively unknown Kaz and Ryan Firpo writing team do worry me, though I still imagine CZ will pull off something quite unique.
posted by angelplasma at 7:25 PM on April 19, 2021 [4 favorites]
angelplasma, good point, I'd forgotten about Zhao directing it. Hopes slightly elevated, thanks.
posted by Ghidorah at 7:27 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Ghidorah at 7:27 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
Personally, I'm interested to see what a big-budget marvel take on fantastical martial arts will look like. They have Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir doing editing and she was involved with John Wick and Atomic Blonde, so we might be in for a different action editing than we are used to from Marvel.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 7:33 PM on April 19, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by forbiddencabinet at 7:33 PM on April 19, 2021 [5 favorites]
For some reason the lead character falls flat for me, like the guy can't act. Yet I've heard great things about him, so I dunno.
Hopefully future trailers will grab me!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:50 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
Hopefully future trailers will grab me!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:50 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
Marvel movies are at their best when they don't have a lot of associated baggage.
Or when they're willing to cut away anything and everything that gets in the way of a good story. I just started rewatching Captain America: The Winter Soldier, because of the currently-running series, and it's really remarkable how it picks and chooses from that character's considerable baggage to make a story that's tight, but not so tight that it can't breathe a little.
And, despite the original Master of Kung Fu comics series' considerable virtues (it's probably the best thing that Doug Moench has ever done, and I was also a fan of Mike Zeck's art), it also had the burden of the overweening orientalism of being based in the Fu Manchu stories of Sax Rohmer. Marvel already had the problem of still occasionally using the "Yellow Peril" character of the Yellow Claw (although the character was revised in later appearances to be less egregiously racist); they seem to be going in a different direction here, using a different version of the Mandarin than was seen in Iron Man 3. I don't know if they'll actually give the Mandarin the super-powered rings, which would be too bad, as I liked them as a kid in a cheesy, sort of ultimate cereal box prize sort of way. The trailer doesn't seem to deal with that stuff, but as long as it's a good movie, that's fine too.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:13 PM on April 19, 2021 [3 favorites]
Or when they're willing to cut away anything and everything that gets in the way of a good story. I just started rewatching Captain America: The Winter Soldier, because of the currently-running series, and it's really remarkable how it picks and chooses from that character's considerable baggage to make a story that's tight, but not so tight that it can't breathe a little.
And, despite the original Master of Kung Fu comics series' considerable virtues (it's probably the best thing that Doug Moench has ever done, and I was also a fan of Mike Zeck's art), it also had the burden of the overweening orientalism of being based in the Fu Manchu stories of Sax Rohmer. Marvel already had the problem of still occasionally using the "Yellow Peril" character of the Yellow Claw (although the character was revised in later appearances to be less egregiously racist); they seem to be going in a different direction here, using a different version of the Mandarin than was seen in Iron Man 3. I don't know if they'll actually give the Mandarin the super-powered rings, which would be too bad, as I liked them as a kid in a cheesy, sort of ultimate cereal box prize sort of way. The trailer doesn't seem to deal with that stuff, but as long as it's a good movie, that's fine too.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:13 PM on April 19, 2021 [3 favorites]
It's mostly set in the 5-year gap apparently, and uses that to explain how many other MCU regulars aren't around. A certain bowman however does figure, if the rumor sites are to be believed.
posted by bonehead at 8:16 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by bonehead at 8:16 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
> It's mostly set in the 5-year gap apparently
Ooh. That's the period I'm most curious about.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:32 PM on April 19, 2021
Ooh. That's the period I'm most curious about.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:32 PM on April 19, 2021
I was afraid the martial arts scenes would be full of fast cuts and unfortunately, I was right. At best the action sequences will be comic movie good, not martial arts movie good.
It’s a teaser trailer.
For some reason the lead character falls flat for me, like the guy can't act. Yet I've heard great things about him, so I dunno.
It’s. A. Teaser. Trailer.
posted by schoolgirl report at 8:47 PM on April 19, 2021 [26 favorites]
It’s a teaser trailer.
For some reason the lead character falls flat for me, like the guy can't act. Yet I've heard great things about him, so I dunno.
It’s. A. Teaser. Trailer.
posted by schoolgirl report at 8:47 PM on April 19, 2021 [26 favorites]
That video reminded me they've worked in that retcon via an IM3 DVD extra, with the Ben Kingsley's character's interrogation session which I've never watched.
It was actually a Marvel One-Shot called All Hail the King; even though it's a follow-up to Iron Man 3 it was released on the Thor: The Dark World DVDs (and is arguably more fun than that entire movie). Here you go. (It can also be found on Dailymotion if that link doesn't work for some reason.) They didn't really establish anything about the Mandarin except that he was real, though.
Now I'm gonna hoping for a Ben Kingsley cameo in this movie.
posted by mstokes650 at 8:51 PM on April 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
It was actually a Marvel One-Shot called All Hail the King; even though it's a follow-up to Iron Man 3 it was released on the Thor: The Dark World DVDs (and is arguably more fun than that entire movie). Here you go. (It can also be found on Dailymotion if that link doesn't work for some reason.) They didn't really establish anything about the Mandarin except that he was real, though.
Now I'm gonna hoping for a Ben Kingsley cameo in this movie.
posted by mstokes650 at 8:51 PM on April 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
that's one hell of a step up from Kim's Convenience.
Between Liu's role here and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee getting a recurring role in The Mandalorian, I gotta say that the sleeper hit play from the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival is casting a shockingly large pop cultural shadow.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:56 PM on April 19, 2021 [8 favorites]
Between Liu's role here and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee getting a recurring role in The Mandalorian, I gotta say that the sleeper hit play from the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival is casting a shockingly large pop cultural shadow.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:56 PM on April 19, 2021 [8 favorites]
It’s. A. Teaser. Trailer.
1. Yep.
2. Changes nothing, including the fact that I’m still gonna see it. This trailer just isn’t that great, imo.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:35 PM on April 19, 2021
1. Yep.
2. Changes nothing, including the fact that I’m still gonna see it. This trailer just isn’t that great, imo.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:35 PM on April 19, 2021
I don't know if they'll actually give the Mandarin the super-powered rings
Going by the trailer, Tony Leung has five super-powered bracelets on each wrist, so, yes, he's got super-powered rings. Maybe not exactly like the comics, but.
posted by mightygodking at 9:42 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
Going by the trailer, Tony Leung has five super-powered bracelets on each wrist, so, yes, he's got super-powered rings. Maybe not exactly like the comics, but.
posted by mightygodking at 9:42 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
And it looks like an amalgam of shots from every popular martial arts-based action flick of the last 25 years.
Shut up, and take my money!
posted by Beholder at 10:15 PM on April 19, 2021
Shut up, and take my money!
posted by Beholder at 10:15 PM on April 19, 2021
This trailer just isn’t that great, imo.
I didn't love this trailer either, but I can't put my finger on why. I think I liked the recent Black Widow trailer more?
Obviously I wouldn't judge a movie by its trailers, but it does makes me wonder about how what makes an action movie trailer good or bad.
posted by polymodus at 10:52 PM on April 19, 2021
I didn't love this trailer either, but I can't put my finger on why. I think I liked the recent Black Widow trailer more?
Obviously I wouldn't judge a movie by its trailers, but it does makes me wonder about how what makes an action movie trailer good or bad.
posted by polymodus at 10:52 PM on April 19, 2021
I didn't love this trailer either, but I can't put my finger on why.
The main character who the movie is going to be based around expresses virtually nothing about himself directly, saying only "That's not gonna happen.", which is pretty routine action movie dialogue, one of the fight scenes is dark and appears to be with Shang Chi as a youngster, so not the lead character, Simu Liu, a number of the other scenes aren't especially coherent to get a read on for being used to just introduce those Shang Chi will be fighting, without revealing much of their abilities, or his. The trailer appears to be designed out of a sense of nervousness over white audiences not getting the vibe, so they have it entirely narrated for a history and choose some scenes that might best carry association to other movies instead of selling this one as unique I think.
posted by gusottertrout at 11:43 PM on April 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
The main character who the movie is going to be based around expresses virtually nothing about himself directly, saying only "That's not gonna happen.", which is pretty routine action movie dialogue, one of the fight scenes is dark and appears to be with Shang Chi as a youngster, so not the lead character, Simu Liu, a number of the other scenes aren't especially coherent to get a read on for being used to just introduce those Shang Chi will be fighting, without revealing much of their abilities, or his. The trailer appears to be designed out of a sense of nervousness over white audiences not getting the vibe, so they have it entirely narrated for a history and choose some scenes that might best carry association to other movies instead of selling this one as unique I think.
posted by gusottertrout at 11:43 PM on April 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
Yeah I actually looked at the Black Panther teaser again, and while it was also quite narration heavy, I think they sold the whole theme of "there's a secret world called Wakanda" pretty well. Whereas in this trailer the theme seems to be more, hero character may have daddy issues and needs to find himself, but the main visual excitement is the Asian martial arts, and I guess the underground fighting, etc.
posted by polymodus at 12:58 AM on April 20, 2021
posted by polymodus at 12:58 AM on April 20, 2021
As more of a guess, it might also be that they're still working on some of the effects, so this might be more an intro teaser than a complete trailer, which they'll release later. But Disney is also possibly having some Captain Marvel anxiety, where Danvers, like Shang Chi, wasn't exactly a quipster in the comics, so the story might rely on secondary characters more for the "fun" while Shang Chi is working out his past in more stoic hero fashion. That kinda sailed for Captain America, but that character has more cultural resonance and a back story fighting Nazis, which is easy to invest in for being so familiar.
With Captain Marvel they fucked up a bit by having the central character a complete blank even to herself, for most of the run time, so there wasn't much personality Brie Larson could project beyond some ironic humor, as she wasn't sure who she really was, so went from enigma to god tier without allowing for much in-between development. Shang Chi likely doesn't have the exact same issue, but the whole "past returning to haunt him" and reveal his true power set up carries some similar concerns if the character isn't all that expressive and amusing. Awkwafina then would be used to pick up the slack, but establishing that kinda leaves them needing to give some idea of who Shang Chi is in the first place.
posted by gusottertrout at 1:32 AM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
With Captain Marvel they fucked up a bit by having the central character a complete blank even to herself, for most of the run time, so there wasn't much personality Brie Larson could project beyond some ironic humor, as she wasn't sure who she really was, so went from enigma to god tier without allowing for much in-between development. Shang Chi likely doesn't have the exact same issue, but the whole "past returning to haunt him" and reveal his true power set up carries some similar concerns if the character isn't all that expressive and amusing. Awkwafina then would be used to pick up the slack, but establishing that kinda leaves them needing to give some idea of who Shang Chi is in the first place.
posted by gusottertrout at 1:32 AM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
This is the part in our show where I think back and remember how Marvel screwed up Iron Fist - from writing to casting to EVERYTHING - and weep when I think of what might have been.
They seem to have learned their lessons and are doing up Shang Chi right.
I hope they'll take a second cut at Iron Fist somewhere down the road, because he's one of my favorites.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 1:53 AM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
They seem to have learned their lessons and are doing up Shang Chi right.
I hope they'll take a second cut at Iron Fist somewhere down the road, because he's one of my favorites.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 1:53 AM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
I don't think Shang Chi really took off as a long-term property
125 issues of his own series is nothing to sneeze at. The Doug Moench/Paul Gulancy run is classic, though the Moench/Gene Day run later on is excellent too. Sadly Day died of a heart attack, with 120 being his last issue and Moench leaving shortly after. By that time the central conflict between Shang Chi and his father, Fu Manchu had been resolved so it's one of the few Marvel series that actually told a finished story.
It is of course rooted in Sax Rohmer's yellow peril racism for its background, villains and supporting characters, but the ways in which these are used are far less racist. Just having the protagonist himself being Chinese (and I think the first Asian protagonist of an US comic?) helps of course. It's all very seventies exploitation though with all the tropes that entails.
Compare it to the competition and Shang Chi is miles ahead. At Marvel you had Iron Fist, a blue eyed blonde haired spoiled millionaire's son taken to a mystical realm (and who needed Luke Cage to have any real succes). There was also the Sons of the Tiger, which is what happens if you take the three dudes from Enter the Dragon and replace the white one with Oliver Queen. That led to the White Tiger however, the first Puerto Rican superhero, so it's not all bad. Also the Daughters of the Dragon, with an Irish girl ninja and Pam Grier.
DC had another white dude who learned kung fu (Richard Dragon) and a Legion of Superheroes member who travelled back in time to the Disco Era, Karate Kid.
There was also Yang, a rather decent Kung Fu rip off published by Charlton and that was about it.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:27 AM on April 20, 2021 [5 favorites]
125 issues of his own series is nothing to sneeze at. The Doug Moench/Paul Gulancy run is classic, though the Moench/Gene Day run later on is excellent too. Sadly Day died of a heart attack, with 120 being his last issue and Moench leaving shortly after. By that time the central conflict between Shang Chi and his father, Fu Manchu had been resolved so it's one of the few Marvel series that actually told a finished story.
It is of course rooted in Sax Rohmer's yellow peril racism for its background, villains and supporting characters, but the ways in which these are used are far less racist. Just having the protagonist himself being Chinese (and I think the first Asian protagonist of an US comic?) helps of course. It's all very seventies exploitation though with all the tropes that entails.
Compare it to the competition and Shang Chi is miles ahead. At Marvel you had Iron Fist, a blue eyed blonde haired spoiled millionaire's son taken to a mystical realm (and who needed Luke Cage to have any real succes). There was also the Sons of the Tiger, which is what happens if you take the three dudes from Enter the Dragon and replace the white one with Oliver Queen. That led to the White Tiger however, the first Puerto Rican superhero, so it's not all bad. Also the Daughters of the Dragon, with an Irish girl ninja and Pam Grier.
DC had another white dude who learned kung fu (Richard Dragon) and a Legion of Superheroes member who travelled back in time to the Disco Era, Karate Kid.
There was also Yang, a rather decent Kung Fu rip off published by Charlton and that was about it.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:27 AM on April 20, 2021 [5 favorites]
and I think the first Asian protagonist of an US comic?
No of course not. How could I forget Yellow Claw, Marvel's very own Fu Manchu ripoff from the fifties, who battled FBI agent Jimmy Woo.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:34 AM on April 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
No of course not. How could I forget Yellow Claw, Marvel's very own Fu Manchu ripoff from the fifties, who battled FBI agent Jimmy Woo.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:34 AM on April 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
MoKF was one of the comics I bought forty years ago, and I've not read it since, but as I remember it the use of Fu Manchu was very much like what Alan Moore was doing during the subsequent decade - take an established mythos and invert it or elide its meanings without changing anything. Fu Manchu was still the villain, but in the manner of Dr Doom rather than the cackling stereotype of 1930s movies - it looks like they've directly substituted in the Tony Leung character and I'm sure it will work perfectly well. And Shang Chi didn't trust MI6 or the CIA any more than he did his father, for good reason. That said, forty years, I'm sure I'm not remembering that clearly.
Personally I find a lot of things coming out of Disney fantastically problematic - Disney is a machine for appropriating, assimilating and monetising cultures and stories - but I'm too old and tired not to enjoy it. I'll probably watch it anyway, actual or metaphorical popcorn in my lap.
posted by Grangousier at 3:43 AM on April 20, 2021 [5 favorites]
Personally I find a lot of things coming out of Disney fantastically problematic - Disney is a machine for appropriating, assimilating and monetising cultures and stories - but I'm too old and tired not to enjoy it. I'll probably watch it anyway, actual or metaphorical popcorn in my lap.
posted by Grangousier at 3:43 AM on April 20, 2021 [5 favorites]
It was actually a Marvel One-Shot called All Hail the King
Speaking of problematic, there's a really gross homophobic mid-credits scene in the Ben Kingsley one-shot, with prison queerness played for "ooh yuck" laughs by Sam Rockwell. It was right out of the 1980s and I'm amazed/horrified to see the short was released in 2014. What the fuck were they thinking?
posted by mediareport at 3:55 AM on April 20, 2021
Speaking of problematic, there's a really gross homophobic mid-credits scene in the Ben Kingsley one-shot, with prison queerness played for "ooh yuck" laughs by Sam Rockwell. It was right out of the 1980s and I'm amazed/horrified to see the short was released in 2014. What the fuck were they thinking?
posted by mediareport at 3:55 AM on April 20, 2021
A certain bowman however does figure, if the rumor sites are to be believed. hero character may have daddy issues and needs to find himself
*spoilers for a 70s comic*
Don’t know how they will handle it, but, in the original comic (as I recall; it’s been more than 30 years), Shang Chi was raised in some isolation, taught to revere his father as a Confucian patriarch, fell in with his dad’s enemies (an elderly Smith and Petrie from Rohmer) who get our hero to fight criminals connected to the heroin trade, tracing it back to Fu Manchu. Along the way, Shang Chi meets a lot of people with good, bad, and enigmatic motivations, falls in love, falls out of love, realizes that he’s being used as a patsy by the “heroes,” and finally faces his father. In the comic, as I recall, Fu Manchu is an undeniable genius, driven by a laudatory goal (restore China), but, after years of using criminality and cruelty as a means, has utterly corrupted himself. In a twist, it turns out that the Rohmer characters are still around is that Fu Manchu has an immortality potion to which he is thoroughly addicted, making a nice parallel to the junkies earlier in the series. Shang Chi leaves that climax shattered and horrified by the web of lies and carnage he’s been exposed to. All of this was somewhat before the “daddy issue hero” became such a thing.
Moench did a pretty good job (again, in memory) for a white New Yorker in the 70s of humanizing the worst orientalism of the source material and using Fu Manchu’s highly-problematic multi-ethic network of cults and murder societies to mostly furnish our hero with a wide range of martial arts to overcome (not an unfamiliar tactic for the martial arts films of the time). It also featured the first break up in comics (well, that I noticed) that was caused by trauma and emotional incompatibility rather than, say, one partner getting mind controlled by Dr Doom. I think the breakup was also caused by Moench listening to Rumors like 10,000 times, but, hey.... Anyway, as I said above, I’ve avoided rereading it because I bet the 70s comic would be problematic as fuck now, but for a teen in the 70s discovering that his father was just another person with failings and shitty ideas? it meant a lot. It was better than Marvel deserved for a quick cash-in on 70s martial arts fads.
I am sad that it looks likeFu Manchu Zheng Zu Will have super powers. Shang Chi always worked best in a martial arts/James Bond level of realism, with the great mastermind being a genius, plotter, and director of shadowy front groups than a super powered brawler, but I guess Marvel’s gonna Marvel.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:11 AM on April 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
*spoilers for a 70s comic*
Don’t know how they will handle it, but, in the original comic (as I recall; it’s been more than 30 years), Shang Chi was raised in some isolation, taught to revere his father as a Confucian patriarch, fell in with his dad’s enemies (an elderly Smith and Petrie from Rohmer) who get our hero to fight criminals connected to the heroin trade, tracing it back to Fu Manchu. Along the way, Shang Chi meets a lot of people with good, bad, and enigmatic motivations, falls in love, falls out of love, realizes that he’s being used as a patsy by the “heroes,” and finally faces his father. In the comic, as I recall, Fu Manchu is an undeniable genius, driven by a laudatory goal (restore China), but, after years of using criminality and cruelty as a means, has utterly corrupted himself. In a twist, it turns out that the Rohmer characters are still around is that Fu Manchu has an immortality potion to which he is thoroughly addicted, making a nice parallel to the junkies earlier in the series. Shang Chi leaves that climax shattered and horrified by the web of lies and carnage he’s been exposed to. All of this was somewhat before the “daddy issue hero” became such a thing.
Moench did a pretty good job (again, in memory) for a white New Yorker in the 70s of humanizing the worst orientalism of the source material and using Fu Manchu’s highly-problematic multi-ethic network of cults and murder societies to mostly furnish our hero with a wide range of martial arts to overcome (not an unfamiliar tactic for the martial arts films of the time). It also featured the first break up in comics (well, that I noticed) that was caused by trauma and emotional incompatibility rather than, say, one partner getting mind controlled by Dr Doom. I think the breakup was also caused by Moench listening to Rumors like 10,000 times, but, hey.... Anyway, as I said above, I’ve avoided rereading it because I bet the 70s comic would be problematic as fuck now, but for a teen in the 70s discovering that his father was just another person with failings and shitty ideas? it meant a lot. It was better than Marvel deserved for a quick cash-in on 70s martial arts fads.
I am sad that it looks like
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:11 AM on April 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
Literal chills. I am so excite.
posted by Kitteh at 4:52 AM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitteh at 4:52 AM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Just to add a footnote to GenjiadProust's summary, the comic book was drawn by some of the best comic book artists of its day, including Paul Gulacy and Gene Day.
posted by Paul Slade at 5:00 AM on April 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Paul Slade at 5:00 AM on April 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
>and I think the first Asian protagonist of an US comic?
No of course not. How could I forget Yellow Claw, Marvel's very own Fu Manchu ripoff from the fifties, who battled FBI agent Jimmy Woo.
There was also the Green Turtle, created by Chu F. Hing in 1944. He was, apparently, never revealed as Asian because of his publisher, but he's maybe the first Asian-American superhero (and by an Asian-American creator). Gene Yang resurrected the character for a short run in 2014.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:42 AM on April 20, 2021
No of course not. How could I forget Yellow Claw, Marvel's very own Fu Manchu ripoff from the fifties, who battled FBI agent Jimmy Woo.
There was also the Green Turtle, created by Chu F. Hing in 1944. He was, apparently, never revealed as Asian because of his publisher, but he's maybe the first Asian-American superhero (and by an Asian-American creator). Gene Yang resurrected the character for a short run in 2014.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:42 AM on April 20, 2021
Also, apparently, I cannot post from my phone:
A certain bowman however does figure, if the rumor sites are to be believed.
The most unnecessary Avenger, whose superpower is that he will not go away.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:43 AM on April 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
A certain bowman however does figure, if the rumor sites are to be believed.
The most unnecessary Avenger, whose superpower is that he will not go away.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:43 AM on April 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
Just to add a footnote to GenjiadProust's summary, the comic book was drawn by some of the best comic book artists of its day, including Paul Gulacy and Gene Day.
I'm a fan of Wuxia fiction, mostly film and tv, but the occasional novel when I can get it. And I was listening to a podcast where they talk about such things, and one of the hosts noted that, in Wuxia, emotions are always circumspect; the characters feel deeply, but they refer to their feeling obliquely, so the audience has to pay attention and parse the relationship. However, the place where warriors do communicate openly is in combat; their martial techniques are an extension of their personalities, so every combat becomes a conversation, often a more honest conversation than ones they have via words.
The MoKF artists, especially Gulacy, were pretty good at expressing this in a way that most superhero fights don't, and, so far, no Marvel film really has (I feel like the first season of Luke Cage might have gotten closest). If this movie manages to make that jump... well, that would be something.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:55 AM on April 20, 2021 [5 favorites]
I'm a fan of Wuxia fiction, mostly film and tv, but the occasional novel when I can get it. And I was listening to a podcast where they talk about such things, and one of the hosts noted that, in Wuxia, emotions are always circumspect; the characters feel deeply, but they refer to their feeling obliquely, so the audience has to pay attention and parse the relationship. However, the place where warriors do communicate openly is in combat; their martial techniques are an extension of their personalities, so every combat becomes a conversation, often a more honest conversation than ones they have via words.
The MoKF artists, especially Gulacy, were pretty good at expressing this in a way that most superhero fights don't, and, so far, no Marvel film really has (I feel like the first season of Luke Cage might have gotten closest). If this movie manages to make that jump... well, that would be something.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:55 AM on April 20, 2021 [5 favorites]
I'm sorry, there is altogether too little Tony Leung squeeing in this thread for my comfort. Dude is a legit HK film legend and I CANNOT WAIT to see what he does. Marvel movies are often elevated by the quality of their villains and you couldn't ask for a better actor than Leung...
posted by adrianhon at 7:31 AM on April 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by adrianhon at 7:31 AM on April 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
I'm pretty excited for this without any knowledge of the character or comics. The combination of talent both in front and behind the camera combined with the freedom that comes with featuring a lesser known character buys a lot of good will in my books.
While I'm not the biggest MCU guy, I am a huge fan of genre films. So if you need to wrap your wuxia film in MCU to get a budget, I'm very OK with that.
As a side note, I desperately wanted to like Iron Fist but a good score and Jessica Henwick can only do so much heavylifting punching.
posted by slimepuppy at 7:51 AM on April 20, 2021
While I'm not the biggest MCU guy, I am a huge fan of genre films. So if you need to wrap your wuxia film in MCU to get a budget, I'm very OK with that.
As a side note, I desperately wanted to like Iron Fist but a good score and Jessica Henwick can only do so much heavy
posted by slimepuppy at 7:51 AM on April 20, 2021
Note: Colleen Wing of the Daughters of the Dragon is mixed with a Japanese mother and father who is maybe mixed but his name is Lee Wing so it's presumed that he's of Chinese ancestry. Why she always has red hair is unknown but I think referring to her as Irish girl ninja is an unfair characterization.
Currently, Marvel throws Shang Chi a mini-series here and a support role there. He also pops up whenever Marvel decides to do another "Asians Assemble!" team book. He's beginning to take on the mantle of teacher to the stars (this is what Richard Dragon was in the DCU - he taught members of the Bat family, the Question and others).
Here's an example of what GenjiandProust mentions with regards to MoKF. And of course MoKF brought us Razor Fist, the man with razors for fists.
Looking forward to the movie. Hadn't seen the news so I was pleasantly surprised to see Tony Leung pop up. I'm not expecting to see Ip Man: The Comic Book Movie or anything like that. Andy Cheng from the Jackie Chan Stunt Team is working on the film but there are lot of people involved so who knows how the action will turn out. People were skeptical about Guardians of the Galaxy and it was the Phase Two movie I wanted to see the most so hopefully my luck holds.
posted by LostInUbe at 8:36 AM on April 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Currently, Marvel throws Shang Chi a mini-series here and a support role there. He also pops up whenever Marvel decides to do another "Asians Assemble!" team book. He's beginning to take on the mantle of teacher to the stars (this is what Richard Dragon was in the DCU - he taught members of the Bat family, the Question and others).
Here's an example of what GenjiandProust mentions with regards to MoKF. And of course MoKF brought us Razor Fist, the man with razors for fists.
Looking forward to the movie. Hadn't seen the news so I was pleasantly surprised to see Tony Leung pop up. I'm not expecting to see Ip Man: The Comic Book Movie or anything like that. Andy Cheng from the Jackie Chan Stunt Team is working on the film but there are lot of people involved so who knows how the action will turn out. People were skeptical about Guardians of the Galaxy and it was the Phase Two movie I wanted to see the most so hopefully my luck holds.
posted by LostInUbe at 8:36 AM on April 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
And of course MoKF brought us Razor Fist, the man with razors for fists.
I think he’s in the trailer!
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:03 AM on April 20, 2021
I think he’s in the trailer!
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:03 AM on April 20, 2021
I have very fond memories of the Doug Moench/Paul Gulancy run. If some of that complexity remains in the film, I'll be ecstatic. I wish I had my old MoKF comics.
posted by Ber at 9:32 AM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Ber at 9:32 AM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
And of course MoKF brought us Razor Fist, the man with razors for fists.
He appears to have just one blade in the trailer, and still sports a standard-issue hand on the other side. Of course, the presence in the comics of a man who had had both hands replaced with blades raises certain questions. I suppose most of them are answered by “bidet.”
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:58 AM on April 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
He appears to have just one blade in the trailer, and still sports a standard-issue hand on the other side. Of course, the presence in the comics of a man who had had both hands replaced with blades raises certain questions. I suppose most of them are answered by “bidet.”
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:58 AM on April 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
Though not the question involving soup.
posted by Grangousier at 10:02 AM on April 20, 2021
posted by Grangousier at 10:02 AM on April 20, 2021
Of course, the presence in the comics of a man who had had both hands replaced with blades raises certain questions.
That question may have actually come up in the comic. The answer, I suspect is "extremely personal assistant."
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:23 AM on April 20, 2021
That question may have actually come up in the comic. The answer, I suspect is "extremely personal assistant."
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:23 AM on April 20, 2021
It's mostly set in the 5-year gap apparently, and uses that to explain how many other MCU regulars aren't around. A certain bowman however does figure, if the rumor sites are to be believed.
... dare i... hope... to see HIROYUKI SANADA IN THE MCU AGAIN???? that fight with Hawkeye in Endgame was much too brief (and supposedly Clint was in Tokyo mopping up Ten Rings stuff)
posted by cendawanita at 11:44 AM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
... dare i... hope... to see HIROYUKI SANADA IN THE MCU AGAIN???? that fight with Hawkeye in Endgame was much too brief (and supposedly Clint was in Tokyo mopping up Ten Rings stuff)
posted by cendawanita at 11:44 AM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
I need to watch this just to figure out how the 1 California ended near Aquatic Park. 49 Van Ness or 19 Polk sure, maybe even 8? Could be the biggest mystery of the series.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 12:57 PM on April 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 12:57 PM on April 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
The answer, I suspect is "extremely personal assistant."
I believe for several British kings the office was "Groom of the Stool."
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:38 PM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
I believe for several British kings the office was "Groom of the Stool."
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:38 PM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
How many cast members from Kim’s Convenience will have cameos?
All of them, please.
posted by RakDaddy at 4:27 PM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
All of them, please.
posted by RakDaddy at 4:27 PM on April 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
During the five-year gap, Clint was dressed up as Ronin running around assassinating people instead of dealing with his grief like an adult.
So hopefully if he shows up in this movie it will just be for Shang-Chi to hand him his butt and show the door.
posted by straight at 6:54 PM on April 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
So hopefully if he shows up in this movie it will just be for Shang-Chi to hand him his butt and show the door.
posted by straight at 6:54 PM on April 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Technically we have seen Clint only in the first seconds and then in the final week or so of the five-year span. Presumably he didn’t become crazed tattooed assassin hobo on day one.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:52 PM on April 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:52 PM on April 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Yeah, it would've been way more satisfying if it was revealed that the whole melodramatic ronin fight was him actually changing careers into a a movie star, something unexpected.
posted by Apocryphon at 5:25 PM on April 21, 2021
posted by Apocryphon at 5:25 PM on April 21, 2021
« Older Move over, Nijinsky | ~> how about a nice game of chess Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:16 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]