Saturday, September 4, 2021
Thursday, September 2, 2021
I saw Shang-Chi...
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is Marvel/Disney's latest, which combines components of other Marvel Cinematic Universe chapters, to introduce a new (Phase IV) superhero to the big-budget screen. This particular enterprise is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who co-wrote the script with Dave Callaham and Andrew Langham, based on the 70s mythology of Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin.
Shang-Chi (aka the Master of Kung Fu/Master Hand) is portrayed by Simu (the Akira Project) Liu. The character is a martial-arts expert (with great, assassin potential), trained by a misguided father, Wenwu, the Madarin (not to be confused with Guy Pearce's Iron Man 3 villain), who's portrayed with devilish aptitude by Tony Leung. (In the comics, it's Sax Rohmer's Dr. Fu Manchu who once acted as Sheng-Chi's dad, but of course the PC police had to squash that historic, pop-cultural tie-in.)
As one might presume, the nimble Shang-Chi has Snake Eyes attributes and like David Carradine's Caine from Kung Fu, is in search of meaning and escape, or in the very least a need to protect his sister, Xialing (Meng'er Zhang). He can also enhance his martial-arts prowess through ten metaphysical rings, which can be summoned by a few masterful swoops, thus squashing the bad guys in a single, whirling bound. On the downside, a bad guy can also administer the rings, so watch out!
"The Ten Rings" is also the name of an organization that Shang-Chi must engage, as introduced in Iron Man #1. The organization seeks what any such ego-maniacal source would: heedless conquest. However, its obsessed leader, Wenwu, has an even greater cause to fulfill: the quest to seize his wife, Leika (Fala Chen) from beyond a creature-laden land. But is his mission wise? Liu and Leung contrast well as they reveal the answer, tapping their dysfunctional adversity for all it's worth.
To tie the picture's events to those of other MCU chapters, we get Benedict Wong's Wong from Doctor Strange and the upcoming Spider-man: No Way Home. In addition, Tim Roth's Hulkish adversary, the Abomination pounds his way to an energetic cameo, and Sir Ben Kingsley's Trevor Slattery of Iron Man 3 surfaces for obligatory giggles and a pretty neat Planet of the Apes reference. (Action-movie veteran, Michelle Yeoh also grants an appearance as Shang-chi's aunt, Jiang Nan, and to buffer the attractive veteran, such newbies as Awkwafina's comical Katy and Florian Munteanu's towering henchman, Razor Fist jump on board.)
I liked Shang-Chi for its wild fight sequences, zesty, Joel P. West score and spiffy, Bill Pope photography, but even so, it felt rather like Captain Marvel: more or less jammed-packed filler. Why should I care, though? As I often say, we can never have enough good-vs-bad stories, whether of the comic-book sort or even "real-life" based. The world is too dark and skewed right now not to justify Shang-Chi's existence, so damn it, let the movie (and its hero) reign.
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
EIGHTH TOWER'S CD/DOWNLOAD: FULCI'S DEATH ANTHOLOGY/THE BEYOND
As a prelude to Eighth Tower Publishing's upcoming, Lucio Fulci literary anthology (of which I'll be a proud part), Raffaele Pezzella has released a musical compilation that's as dark and dank as a ghoulish graveyard. In other words, it's ideal for horror fans, especially those of a certain Italian director and his notorious legacy.
The Beyond: Music Inspired by Lucio Fulci's (Doors of) Death Trilogy is a masterpiece of morbid melodies, shivering sensations and frightful vocalizations, all conjured by the following artists, per their tremulous tracks:
Naresh Ran - Enoch
Mario Lino Stancasti - Rotta dal pianto
Kloob - The Blind Woman
Bad Girl - He Opened the Gates OF Hell
Progetto No Name & DuSerpe - Late Night Black News
Mario Lino Stancati - Se parla mostro
Kloob - Seven Doors of Death
Naresh Ran - Freudstein
Progetto No Name & DuoSerpe - A cuore aperto
Mario Lino Stancati - Perdono Sangue i tuoi occhi
Kloob - Hotel's blueprint
Bad Girl - City OF Dead
Naresh Ran - Eibon
Progetto No Name & DuoSerpe - Ending Nightmares of Beauty
The compositions fit the Fulci formula to a terrifying tee: demonic and nightmarish, pulsating and sweeping; and as such, damn chilling to the bone!
Toss away your timidity and devour every last audio speck of the album's hellish delights. You'll be pleased to experience the macabre master's influence in this new, demented way:
https://eighthtowerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-beyond-music-inspired-by-the-lucio-fulci-death-trilogy?fbclid=IwAR1jePp0m_C7ixAmrP-4hzNotGE9SgHseCAI9uMf8hQ1cJNqoMlC5vSrZkU
Collectible Time: G.I. Joe/Snake Eyes Classified/Premium Baroness Action Figure
Finding Scarlett did the trick (see my Aug post), and so when the Baroness came my way, in the form of a new, G.I. Joe Snake Eyes, Classified/Premium action figure, how could I say no?
The figure captures Ursula Corbero's sleek, lethal sexiness, and I must confess, I've always had a thing for the erudite Baroness: Cobra's Emma Peel in reverse, if ya will.
The Corbra-ero (ha, ha) Baroness stands 6", and like the Scarlett figure looks just fine in her designer packaging (if one digs the MIB approach). She also comes with spiffy weapons, as shown above, and of course, those stylish specs. Say, now that I think about it, the Baroness is rather like a villainous, non-songstress Lisa Loeb, isn't she?
Anyhow, I'm proud to possess the Baroness, but if the truth be known, it's more so she who possesses me (tee hee).
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