‘Shang-Chi’ expands Marvel Cinematic Universe
The first Marvel film to feature an Asian lead tops the DVD releases for the week of Nov. 30.
“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”: Simu Liu stars as the titular kung fu master, who must leave his new life in San Francisco behind to confront his past, and his father, when he becomes involved with the Ten Rings organization.
Though his father is the movie’s antagonist, “it’s not all serious family tragedy in ‘Shang-Chi,’ which is extremely funny and playful, especially thanks to the casting of comedian Awkwafina as Shang-Chi’s ride-or-die best friend,” writes Tribune News Service critic Katie Walsh in her review. “The charming Liu, a Chinese Canadian actor and stuntman, holds his own with the comedy, and he’s more than equipped for the combat, which unfolds in clean, crisp action sequences.”
Walsh also credits director Destin Daniel Cretton for helping make this entry stand out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “’Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings’ doesn’t feel like just another MCU installment, which is a compliment,” Walsh writes. “The characters are fresh and Cretton constantly emphasizes the emotional connections between them, crafting a modern, wuxia-informed martial arts movie with heart, which just so happens to feature a Marvel superhero. Shang-Chi is a welcome, and very necessary addition to this universe.”
ALSO NEW ON DVD
“Malignant”: Horror film
directed and co-written by James Wan, about a young woman who begins experiencing visions of gruesome murders, the origins of which involve a terrifying secret from her past.
“My Life Is Murder: Series 2”: Acorn TV show with Lucy Lawless as a former police detective turned private eye in Melbourne, Australia.
“Saint Maud”: British horror movie about a Catholic nurse who becomes obsessed with saving a patient with late stage cancer.
“Reds”: 40th anniversary two-disc Blu-ray set of the sweeping historical epic starring Warren Beatty, who also directed, as American journalist John Reed, who witnessed the start of the Russian Revolution
amid World War I. Also featuring Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Edward Herrmann, Gene Hackman, Paul Sorvino and Maureen Stapleton.
“Heaven Can Wait”: 1978 romantic comedy starring Julie Christie and Warren Beatty, who also co-wrote and co-directed, has been restored and remastered and is available on Blu-ray for the first time. Beatty plays a backup quarterback in the NFL whose soul is taken by his guardian angel too soon, only to be returned to the body of a recently killed millionaire.
OUT ON DIGITAL HD
“Out of Nowheresville”: Thriller about two women who find their lives changed forever after they discover a dead body and almost $1 million in cash.