Shang Chi and the limits of power

 

 

Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9376612/ 

Spider-Man and his Uncle Ben have never tired of telling us – With great power comes great responsibility. But with Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, an age old question (usually posed to the likes of Superman) again pops up. Should man even have such great power? And if he does, how can such a man ever really behave within the limits of morality?

Just a bit of the plot

The story of Shang Chi is certainly a fresh take on the superhero genre. Here are just a few spoilers.

Shang Chi (Simu Liu) trains, not because he has some noble purpose. He just wants to win the approval of his negligent father – Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung Chiu-wai).

Wenwu is a warrior who used the Ten Rings and had been running an empire for over a thousand years. He had become arrogant and vain, until he met Leiko Wu (Fala Chen) in a magical forest. To be beaten by her was Wenwu’s first lesson in humility.

What perhaps made Xu Wenwu a decent man again was that he fell in love with Leiko Wu. So much so that both of them gave up their powers to lead a normal life. But then something happened that destroyed the relationship of Wenwu with his son Shang Chi and daughter Xialing (Meng'er Zhang).

The story follows Shang Chi as he comes to terms with his past and finds his inner balance.

More spoilers ahead

What does power do to people?

Coming back to good old Spidey’s need to balance power with responsibility. This film tilts the familiar adage and reveals something more.

Wenwu had wielded the Ten Rings for over a thousand years and in a moment of rage after his wife’s death, he wields them again.

But Wenwu’s problem isn’t that he doesn’t understand his responsibilities. Over the centuries, in this story world, he has kept a low profile and has not become a supreme dictator – He has limited himself to being a petty warlord looking after his own interests (Makes one grateful that no politician has these rings).

Wenwu’s problem is that with his great power has come a lack of vulnerability. That’s why the shock of his wife’s death hits him so hard. Because wielding the rings has meant a long and successful life, but one free from the fear of death for himself.

For such a man to lose someone he loves would be devastating. As the film progresses, we see Wenwu’s weakness – The Ten Rings have impaired his ability to see the truth.

Shang Chi, Xialing, his wife’s sister (The wonderful Michelle Yeoh), and an ENTIRE village is telling him not to open a portal. But Wenwu firmly believes only in himself and thus unleashes the dark dragon into this world thinking that he is freeing his dead wife’s spirit.

To know that you occupy just a small place in this world is something that Spidey understands too well. I love him for it (The Tobey one which I feel really embodies the spirit of the character). This is something that Wenwu never understands.

For a few years when he was in love, he did learn to be human. But having wielded power for so long made him eventually reject this humanity. Holding on to this fragile humanity takes a certain courage and strength vastly different from the one needed to wield a weapon. Because to be human is to learn to live with a broken heart.

From Wenwu we learn that with great power can come great ignorance and suffering.

Who can wield power?

But Wenwu is not the only one in the movie with great power. His wife Leiko Wu has some too. Though she leaves these powers behind in the magical forest, her humanity is always intact within her. This is because her powers are not just a blunt tool. They form a synthesis with nature. They reveal to Leiko that she is a part of this Universe and must live in harmony with it – Not try to conquer it or rule over it.

In the end Shang Chi has to accept the darkness within him and then like his mother, tap into a natural balance. Shang Chi wields the Ten Rings and defeats the dark dragon. But here like Spidey, he is content with being the friendly guy in the neighbourhood.

We are just friends

Another interesting aspect of this movie is that it firmly stays away from building any strong romantic storyline between Shang-Chi and his best friend Katy (Awkwafina). This dynamic of the characters not declaring their love and the audience enjoying the story without being obsessed over it, I think that’s quite cool. Also, it just might be that Shang Chi does not become an asshole like his dad because a friend like Katy always keeps him grounded.

Overall, Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings is a sincere, well-crafted movie that has some great martial art sequences. But what makes it refreshingly different is its message that having a good heart is perhaps the only superpower that matters.

Dead Poets Society: Movie Review

This is a very touching movie. Certain scenes, dialogues are truly unforgettable. 

The story revolves around a group of students of a high class preparatory American school. And how they find a new way to look at life, from their interaction with the new eccentric English teacher.

At its essence this movie is about questioning the norms of society. Questioning how we seem to have become a race of narrow minded, stiff prudes. And the story tries to convey the foolishness of being so unnecessarily hard on ourselves, when our lives are so fleeting.

The students Neil Perry, Todd Anderson, Knox Overstreet and Charlie Dalton are very real characters. Somehow you can see in them that spirit of what being young feels like. And this is true for a viewer of all ages.

Then of course, there is Robin Williams as Mr. John Keating, the English teacher. All I can say is that you cannot watch this movie, without being enchanted by his eccentric character. There is a scene at the very start, where Mr.Keating tells the students to seize the day. Carpe Diem. From this scene onwards, you get truly hooked to the movie. 

Also the whole mood of students rebelling is captured really well. 

To touch briefly on the movie title, Dead Poets society is a club that Mr.Keating had created during his time in the school. And the young students decide to start it again. The introductory passage of the club meetings is quite moving. As is a lot of poetry in the film.

Something else you enjoy seeing is the little changes that happen in the students.

It’s sweet to see how Knox Overstreet tries to woo Chris(A girl. Contrary to what the name may suggest). How Todd Anderson finds a little courage inside him. How Neil Perry tries to pursue his acting ambitions. And how Charlie goes a little crazy.

Neil’s death is one of the cruelest twists of this movie.  Possibly what the film makers wanted to show, was how this world is filled with people who are unable to handle their dreams being crushed. And that it takes real courage to live the life that Mr.Keating speaks of.

Towards the end we see how the administration fixes the blame of Neil’s death on Mr.Keating. They have perhaps tried to show how anyone who challenges the system suffers. 

However the film’s end brings us some hope. Most of the students in class defy the principal and stand on their desks to bid farewell to Mr.Keating. Now these students were forced into signing a letter that got Mr.Keatings removed. 

But in spite of all that they stood on their desks that day. 

That’s how I feel changes in society begin. Not through a march of violent protestors. But through a person who holds onto a thought in his/her head, even when the rest of the world tells them otherwise.

And this thought remains in their minds and hearts, waiting for an opportune moment to spring out.

For those who haven’t seen this movie as yet, a treat awaits. And for those who have, watch it again when you start feeling life getting too serious. 

Lastly as Mr.Keating said, “Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”

+

Teesri Manzil: Movie Review(Spoilers)

I wrote a review of Teesri Manzil, you can read it here. But there were certain other things that I wanted to elaborate on, which would not be possible without giving out a lot of the story.

So here goes..Warning spoilers ahead.

As I said in my review, this is a movie which at its essence is about how dangerous love can be. I felt that the major motive driving the actions of all the characters in the movie was love or a perversion of it.

We have Rupa, the sister of Sunita(Asha Parekh) who is engaged to marry Ramesh (Prem Chopra). But on going to Park Hotel gets infatuated with the hotel band drummer Rocky (Shammi Kapoor). When Ramesh finds out about this he is infuriated with her, and is involved in some capacity in her death. 

After the death of Rupa, Ramesh very quickly shifts his affection to her sister Sunita.

There is Ruby(Helen) the hotel dancer who is in love with Rocky. She tries to create conflict between Rocky and Sunita, and is portrayed to be a vamp of sorts. But she also sacrifices her life to save Rocky.

Rocky our protagonist is in love with Sunita. As the story progresses he is seen to be working towards winning her affection. There are a few other interesting elements to Rocky’s character. While being the hero of the movie, he is also a naïve fool at times. 

He trusts the suspicious looking hotel staff Daka with delivering his confession to Sunita. Daka gives it to Ruby, who uses this to try and end Rocky’s relationship with Sunita. 

At the point when Inspector Das reveals to Rocky that Rupa was murdered, Rocky stumbles around in a haze of confusion and does a few not so intelligent things.

In one scene, a lady comes to his room instructing him to get in a car and go to a hotel where he will find the killer. Rocky trusts her and does not suspect that the car is rigged. (Break failure. Yes I know, extremely unique right?)

But after nearly dying in a car accident, the Rocky that emerges is a slightly changed one. And I liked how Rocky learns to think better on his feet towards the end of the movie. 

Kunwar Saab on discovering that Rocky has survived the car crash insists that he sleep in his bungalow. And to insure that Rocky takes rest instead of dashing of doing something stupid, he locks him in the room. This does not strike Rocky is odd.

Now in the locked room, Rocky discovers  a coat with a button missing. And all the other buttons are of the same kind as that of a button found on Rupa’s dead body. Rocky realizes that Kunwar Saab is the murderer.

Next comes the smart part. Rocky is stuck in the bungalow on a hill. He has no mode of transport to take him to the police station. He can try walking. But there is a possibility that sometime in the night, Kunwar Saab will be coming to his room (For murderous intents, not romantic ones). And on not finding him there, he will chase Rocky. Bruised man walking vs murderer in car. Not great odds.

So what does Rocky do? He makes it look like he has run away from the bungalow and actually stays back. Rocky also manages to get Sabina, Kunwar Saab’s mistress to admit on phone to the police, about their hand in the murder of Rupa. 

Another smart thing that Rocky does is when Kunwar Saab barges in, as Sabina is confessing. Kunwar  Saab shoots Sabina. It is a very late hour of night and there is only the electric lamp illuminating the room. The only way to improve the survival odds for Rocky, would be by reducing room visibility(Or becoming bullet proof). In the few seconds of Kunwar Saab firing the shot at Sabina, Rocky smashes the electric lamp. Smart.

Kunwar Saab is a quite complex character. In front of the world he plays the part of a rich, kind industrialist while really he is a cruel, manipulative and cunning man. 

A domino effect of sorts leads to the murder of Rupa. Kunwar Saab’s wife finds out about his affair with Sabina. One night she walks in on them in a hotel and tries to shoot Sabina. While trying to stop his wife, Kunwar Saab ends up accidentally killing her. Rupa happens to stumble onto Kunwar Saab disposing the dead body. (Rupa was on route to meet Rocky in his room. She had threatened to kill herself if he does not meet her.) Kunwar Saab chases Rupa to Park Hotel and pushes her from the third floor.

Rupa had knocked on Rocky’s door that night when Kunwar Saab was chasing her, but Rocky did not open the door because he did not like her and wanted to distance himself from her. Rocky probably also felt that letting strange girls into your room at a late hour of night was wrong.

Interestingly if Rocky had opened the door that night, not knowing that Rupa was being chased by a murderer, then she would have lived. His sense of moral principles partly contributed to her death.

Also if Rupa had not let herself get infatuated with Rocky, she would have lived. Her engagement with Ramesh(Prem Chopra), a boring, arrogant and rich guy could have possible allured her to Rocky. Who in comparison was a kick ass drummer.

I feel that Rocky was more well matched to the vivacious and rebellious Ruby. But maybe it was not acceptable to have that sort of girl as the heroine in those days of cinema.

Kunwar Saab as a person sinks lower and lower to protect himself as the movie progresses. And I think the process starts when he first gets into an affair with Sabina. In the end as he is hanging from the ledge of his bungalow, he looks down at the people standing below and realizes that the truth is no longer hidden. And he chooses to die instead of living in shame.

Sabina herself is not exactly innocent. Her reasons for standing by Kunwar Saab seem mixed. Partly fear and perhaps partly greed.

And oh yes, inspector Das smokes a lot throughout the movie. 

You might think that you would not want to see this movie, after reading all this. But even after knowing the climax, you can still enjoy this movie!

At its essence Teesri Manzil  is a movie about mystery, crime and suspense with a flavor of Shammi Kapoor’s style and certain elements of Indian cinema. So if you get the time, then do have a look. Watch it!!

Teesri Manzil: Movie Review

Firstly I would like to state that I loved this movie. I would not have been able to put as much effort into writing this, if I did not completely and utterly LOVE this movie.

As I write this review I ask myself, is Teesri Manzil the greatest movie of Indian cinema? Well, no. Perhaps not.

Is it a movie that changed the world of film making? Hmm, not really.

But it is a great movie, a memorable one. It has the kind of content for which it will be remembered or at least should be remembered for a really long time.And as I said, I loved it.

What I would like to also state is that after watching this film, I love Shammi Kapoor. 

You see, in this world there are actors. There are method actors, there are serious actors, there are versatile actors. And then there is this man. A rebel, a clown(a sexy one), a wild burst of fierce energy and passion that is the unique signature of the one and the only Shammi Kapoor.

Okay now to proceed with the movie review.

Teesri Manzil is a movie about a girls hatred towards the man she thinks is responsible for her sister’s death, this man’s need to prove his innocence and love to her, while the real killer lurks after him.

Rupa the sister of Sunita (Asha Parekh) dies, seeming to have committed suicide by jumping from the third floor of Park Hotel Mussoorie. But Sunita thinks that Rupa killed herself because of Rocky (Shammi Kappor), the hotel band drummer fooling around with Rupa.

When Sunita arrives at Park Hotel, Rocky comes to know of her hatred for him and hides his identity from her. Rocky takes the guise of Anil Kumar Sona, a rich industrialist’s son. Slowly Sunita and Rocky fall in love and Rocky wants to tell her the truth about her sister.

The question is who was responsible for the death of Rupa? The police inspector Das, who has been trailing Rocky thinks that it was most certainly a murder.

Is Rocky a murderer? Is Ruby(Helen) the hotel dancer, the culprit? Is it Ramesh(Prem Chopra), the fiancé of Rupa? Or is it someone else entirely?

Rocky was also on the third floor of Park Hotel, the night Rupa jumped from there. There is a lingering doubt in the mind of the murderer that he/she left some proof behind and Rocky might be the person who has knowingly or unknowingly found it. 

Rocky has to find the real killer with the help of Inspector Das, before the killer gets to him. And the murderer is the kind of cruel, shrewd person who will not stop at anything to protect himself/herself.

At its essence Teesri Manzil is sprung around the theme of how dangerous love can be. It is also about a young man discovering his capabilities when his survival is at stake.

Besides the story this movie has some great songs. To pick a favorite is difficult, but I think I liked O Hassena Zulfowali and O Mere Sona the most.(Though watching Shammi Kapoor perform on any of the songs is a treat.)

At the very start of the movie there is an amazing scene where we see Rocky(Shammi Kapoor), Sunita(Asha Parekh) walking towards the train ticket counter but the camera focuses only on their legs.

So if you want to find out who the murderer is, watch this movie. If you love Hindi movies, then watch this movie. If you saw this movie many years back and vaguely recall what it’s all about then, watch. This. Movie.

PS: There is another part to this review containing spoilers. Click here to read.