The MCU- action, representation and shang chi

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 MCU - stands for Marvel Cinematic Studios 

Disney bought Marvel in 2009 when they first started creating well-liked films that reached the top i.e Iron Man 2nd place, this was a good time to purchase them as they were on the rise but hadn't reached their peak just yet, all superhero movies were becoming popular The Dark Knight was first so 1. cheaper to buy and 2. you will have owned them when they are at the top and most dominate within the film industry. 

Sony had the right to buy every single marvel character for $25 million. But instead they chose to only buy spider man for $7 million as they said " Nobody gives a damn about the other Marvel Characters"

7 Key facts 

  1. MCU - marvel cinematic universe
  2. 4 - marvel's worth before Disney purchased 
  3. 54 - latest worth after Disney purchase
  4. Copyright - laws are very strict
  5. Cross-media convergence - every product references the next product
  6. phases - 6 planned out phases for marvel
  7. 6 - since phase 4 they have declined
Phase 3- endgame 
Phase 4 - Shang-chi, declined 

Shang-chi Trailer 

typical vs not typical 
  • typical dialogue 
  • not typical evil vs good 
  • typical cgi 
  • not typical race 
  • not typical to talk about chinese culture/ immigrant 
  • character driven 
  • typical voilence and fighting action 
Shang-chi budget was $150 million but they grossed $432 million, 9th best grossing film in 2021. Being in 2021 due to COVID this was a very good amount of money. 

The 1973s comic was based off Bruce Lee, the main villian was called " The Mandarin" and people got very offended rightly so.  


History of action 


2010s 
  • Fight scenes are very choppy
  • Lots of cuts
  • Extremely fast
  • Lack of choreography
  • One shot scene 
2021
  • fast 
  • right amount of takes 
  • comedic tone 
  • good choreography 
  • music to enlighten the fight 
  • took a year to film the bus scene 
  • the director had never before done an action scene 

The Mandarin 
Super-villian

Enemy of Iron man and other Avengers

The ten rings that gave him his power were taken from a crashed  Alien spaceship 

The negative stereotypical presentation of the character would have gone down very bad in other Asian countres

Disney had to change the Mandarin as it will get censored in China similarly to the lesbian kiss scene at the end of star wars 3 that was censored out of the scene. 

Drastic descisions made for Ben kingsley, he was made to play the role of the Mandarin rather than actually be him. 

The new villian for Shang-chi was Xu Wenwu, they changed his name in order to not be disrespectful and they also give him motivation and a good personality. 

Marvel is a genius for using Easter eggs - the ten rings appeared in films years before the release of Shang Chi i.e Iron man I and II

 Advantages of expanding -
  • Higher income - huge marketing budget, massive potential audience - ZOOTROPILIS OPENING WEEKEND 456 MILLION.
  • Gain loyal fans
  • gain respectability
  • Diversity- access to huge amount of directors
  • Disney+ vertical integration- cheaper distribution
  • amazing connections
disadvantages of expanding - 
  • Responsibility - representation
  • Loss of quality control

Critical Reception.
Shang Chi got 92% on rotten tomatoes

This suggests universal acclaim.
First Asian led marvel film.
- reference to classic favorite ( Ferris Buelers day off)
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
Director of 'Short Term 12' - low budget indie film
wrestling match between his low- key indie films and the franchise wanting action.
Act 3 resolves back to the 'marvel mode'



Casting
Michelle Yeoh


Won the award ' best actress in a leading role' for Everything Everywhere all at Once.
Malaysian decent.
Second woman of color to win Academy Award for Best Actress.
63 years old.
She plays Shang Chis aunt.
In recent blockbuster movie Wicked and Wicked for good
appearing in the upcoming Avatar






Simu Liu

Canadian -  advocate for Asian rep
Keen to fight Asian constructs












Awkwifina
Comedy rapper famous for 'My Vag' and 'Queef'
Comic relif













Tony Leung

Cannes film festival winner
china most respected


























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