Shang-Chi and Ma Belle, My Beauty

A box office hit that seems likely to be among the most popular movies released in 2021, "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" is a very entertaining addition to the Marvel universe. In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano agree that the movie strikes a nice balance between martial arts combat and special effects. It's a fast-paced spectacle that also benefits from a strong cast including Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh. By way of consumer advice, Marie and Mike remind their audience that this is a Marvel movie and so you will want to remain through the end credits in order to get additional scenes. The second movie discussed in this podcast episode is "Ma Belle, My Beauty," which is about three Americans vacationing in the south of France. They had a polyamorous relationship years before, and now struggle to define what their relationship should be like now. Although it's an intriguing premise, Marie and Mike concur that the script is sketchy and the pace is slow. At least there is the scenery to enjoy.