What sets Shang-Chi apart from previous all-Asian movies is that it is not exclusively a story about Asians or Asian culture – it is still a pure-bred superhero movie, with Asian elements delicately interwoven into it. The film adopts a unique Asian aesthetic and pays proper tribute to the wuxia genre, capturing its essence through insanely satisfying martial arts sequences. No need for the direct punches, the bloodshed, the gore – Shang-Chi puts a twist on fighting, with every move carefully choreographed to the extent that the sequence resembles a dance performance.
This effect was achieved with the director purposefully slowing down the movements to submerge the audiences in the harmony of the choreography. The lack of special effects and the usual extra fluff was further emphasized by Simu Liu, where “[what] you see is what you get.”
Growing up, I always stumbled upon Asian martial films, yet I never imagined that one day, Hollywood would be able to capture these cultural elements in such great detail and nuance that nothing feels stereotyped or played up. See, Hollywood, that’s why Asian filmmakers and actors should take this responsibility, not random people who fail to grasp the culture and whatever it entails fully.
Source: Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings Review: How is Marvel’s First Asian Superhero Holding Up?