This movie is really good! In fact the first half of the movie is almost flawless. Incredible combat scenes and a great family drama story set-up which promises an emotional climax and confrontation.
SPOILERS:
Where the movie fails to become a masterpiece is the last 20 minutes. Throughout the whole movie the conflict between father and son is at the forefront and is the real emotional driving force of the story. And what a great idea for a superhero movie to tackle such a deep and relatable topic.
There is even an important line of foreshadowing by Shang, the evening before the final battle: -I'm going to kill my father-. What a strong statement and what a setup.
But then the climax of the movie turns out the be a fight between 2 dragons.. the father dies by pure bad luck couple of scenes earlier.. killed by a random monster.
A HUGE MISSED OPPORTUNITY
If they had kept the emotional conflict and the father&son dynamic as the climax of the movie, it COULD have become a masterpiece, which would have been more then just a great super-hero movie, it would have become timeless.
HERE'S MY PITCH FOR THE LAST 20 MINUTES:
1) the father tries to open the gate. Shang-Chi fights him. Shang gradually wins the upper hand in the battle as he taps into his mothers skills.
The father doesn't give in and continuously tries to open the gate. -If you want to stop me, you'll have to kill me- he yells. Now Shang-Chi is confronted with the moral dilemma of choosing to save the world or the life of his father.
2) Shang-Chi choses to defeat his father, however he doesn't kill him just wounds him badly and takes the rings off him.
It is too late however, the gate has Already opened and the monster comes through and goes straight for the village
3) The father realizes his mistake and has a moment of emotional breakthrough as he realizes his wrongdoings and how he has let his son down as a father. He asks for forgiveness. They exchange a few deep words before Shang rushes off.
4) with the help of the rings and the village dragon Shang-Chi manages to defeat the Monster.
5) The gate is still open and it needs to be closed. It gets established that closing it also kills the person who does so.
6) Shang doesn't hesitate for a second and rushes to the gate to sacrifice himself. Just before getting there his father pushes him out of the way and closes the gate in his stead. He dies saving his son and everyone else and redeems himself and ultimately heals the broken bond he had with his son.
...aaaaand scene.
Now THAT in my eyes would be a worthy arc for the father and emotional climax which pays off the great build up the movie does.
SPOILERS:
Where the movie fails to become a masterpiece is the last 20 minutes. Throughout the whole movie the conflict between father and son is at the forefront and is the real emotional driving force of the story. And what a great idea for a superhero movie to tackle such a deep and relatable topic.
There is even an important line of foreshadowing by Shang, the evening before the final battle: -I'm going to kill my father-. What a strong statement and what a setup.
But then the climax of the movie turns out the be a fight between 2 dragons.. the father dies by pure bad luck couple of scenes earlier.. killed by a random monster.
A HUGE MISSED OPPORTUNITY
If they had kept the emotional conflict and the father&son dynamic as the climax of the movie, it COULD have become a masterpiece, which would have been more then just a great super-hero movie, it would have become timeless.
HERE'S MY PITCH FOR THE LAST 20 MINUTES:
1) the father tries to open the gate. Shang-Chi fights him. Shang gradually wins the upper hand in the battle as he taps into his mothers skills.
The father doesn't give in and continuously tries to open the gate. -If you want to stop me, you'll have to kill me- he yells. Now Shang-Chi is confronted with the moral dilemma of choosing to save the world or the life of his father.
2) Shang-Chi choses to defeat his father, however he doesn't kill him just wounds him badly and takes the rings off him.
It is too late however, the gate has Already opened and the monster comes through and goes straight for the village
3) The father realizes his mistake and has a moment of emotional breakthrough as he realizes his wrongdoings and how he has let his son down as a father. He asks for forgiveness. They exchange a few deep words before Shang rushes off.
4) with the help of the rings and the village dragon Shang-Chi manages to defeat the Monster.
5) The gate is still open and it needs to be closed. It gets established that closing it also kills the person who does so.
6) Shang doesn't hesitate for a second and rushes to the gate to sacrifice himself. Just before getting there his father pushes him out of the way and closes the gate in his stead. He dies saving his son and everyone else and redeems himself and ultimately heals the broken bond he had with his son.
...aaaaand scene.
Now THAT in my eyes would be a worthy arc for the father and emotional climax which pays off the great build up the movie does.