Movie Review

‘Shang-Chi’ kills at box office

By Robert Grubaugh

For The Edge

September is historically a downtime at the movies, but history has nothing on 2021. Despite the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, there still was a mighty Labor Day opening for Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” their latest, a B-roll property that made a splash at $94 million during what is, reliably, the slowest holiday for ticket sales each year. This is nothing short of spectacular for an industry still reeling from the complete change that started more than 19 months ago.

The fallout on the industry from the pandemic also is fascinating to watch from an economic perspective. Disney promised not to simultaneously release new pictures on its ultra-successful Disney Plus streaming platform. I also wonder how Disney’s legacy will be affected by its other attention-grabbing headlines, such as Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit over the release “Black Widow.” Johansson sued Disney for breach of contract when Disney Plus streamed the movie while it still showed in cinemas. But anyhoo, I found “Shang-Chi” to be perfectly average. The plot concerns a black sheep son (Simu Liu) returning to China to find/stop his 1,000-year-old father (Tony Leung), the master of 10 mystical bracelets that give him special powers. Shaun, as Shang-Chi has Americanized his name, knows that his dad is on the razor’s edge of falling into the abyss of evil, but now is the time to challenge his dad outright for control of the rings.

The whole thing smacks of comic book filler, but the movie stands apart in two ways.

First, it’s hilarious. Humor is a serious weapon for all the characters, but especially Shaun’s bestie, Katy Chen (Awkwafina, truly making every movie she’s in better than it would be without her). It also returns Sir Ben Kingsley to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his character Trevor Slattery. I didn’t know I needed more of that.

The second reason is, it’s worth seeing, which is profound. It does for Asian inclusivity on the big action screen what “Black Panther” did for the African-American superhearo in 2017.

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” runs 132 minutes and is rated PG-13 for violence/action sequences and language. I give this film two stars out of four.

How to care for fresh holiday wreaths

Majestic Christmas trees garner the lion’s share of the decorative fanfare when the holidays arrive. Trees may be the focal points of holiday decor, but the humble wreath adorning the front door is the first decoration guests are likely to see when visiting a home.

Wreaths may need some care to maintain their beauty all month long. Here are some tips to help holiday wreaths last as long as possible.

choose a wreath wisely

When shopping for a wreath, choose freshly cut greenery that you assemble yourself; otherwise, look for wreaths made from freshly cut boughs with their foliage intact. Make sure not too many needles or leaves are falling off. Heavily decorated, preassembled wreaths may be convenient, but ornaments can make it challenging to give the wreath the moisture it needs to survive.

moistUre/water

Access to moisture will help to keep the wreath fresh. While a Christmas tree trunk may sit inside of a stand filled with water, wreaths require a little ingenuity. According to the wreath and garland retailer Club Botanic, if you will not be hanging a freshly purchased wreath right away, keep it in a plastic liner in a cool, dark place to help it retain moisture. Just make sure you don’t seal that liner closed. Before hanging, lay the wreath in a couple of inches of water for about an hour or up to a day so that the cut stems can soak up water.

Once the wreath is hanging on a door or elsewhere, spritz it with water every few days to prevent it from drying out.

location, location, location

Where you hang the wreath is key to its longevity. Wreaths and garlands hung indoors likely won’t last as long as those hung outside, advises the floral retailer Bouqs.com. Evergreen boughs tend to require a colder climate to thrive, and indoor heat can prematurely zap moisture from the wreath. Using a humidifier indoors or misting the wreath may help.

It’s probably best to hang fresh wreaths outdoors, but avoid direct sunlight, which can dry out the greenery. Slightly shaded spots are best. If your front door is bathed in full sun for hours, hang an artificial wreath here instead of a fresh one.

maintain airflow

Another factor that can affect the wreath’s longevity is an ample flow of oxygen. Wreaths tend to last much longer when kept on an outer door, indicates Harbor Farm in Ellsworth, ME. Wreaths sandwiched between a front door and a storm door will probably perish faster due to lack of oxygen.

Following these tips can help keep fresh wreaths as vibrant as the day they were brought home.