Destin Daniel Cretton Breaks Down the Bus Fight Scene from 'Shang-Chi'

One of the best summer blockbusters this year was Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. It was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Simu Liu in the titular role. The movie mixes action, comedy, and mysticism to capture the hearts and minds of the audience.

Now, check out a scene breakdown where Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) fights off a handful of assassins on the aforementioned bus.

Watch this video from Vanity Fair, and let's talk after. 

Destin Daniel Cretton Breaks Down the Bus Fight Scene Shang-Chi

I loved watching this video and hearing Cretton's strategy when working on a fight scene. Breaking the fight down into acts is a really smart way to sway the audience as we get into the story.

The fight starts with some big reveals about the character, namely that he has skills. Like many other Marvel movies, the fight was choreographed very diligently. They wanted to find props within the scene to aid in the fight, but they also needed space for them to fight in. 

The bus is on a soundstage, and everything outside the windows is CGI. But parts of this scene were filmed in LA, Sydney, and San Francisco.

Those yellow poles? A few of them are also CGI, so they had more room to plan out the acts of this fight as well. 

The scene takes Shang-Chi through the ups and downs of the fight while the stakes continually rise. They're knocking over scooters, tearing the bus apart, and headed down a hill with the brakes out. Each character gets a POV in the scene and even a mission. Someone has to drive the bus, some people have to fight, and civilians have to try to survive. The action and editing are all interwoven between these points of view. 

I love the access and details we get in these breakdowns. Cretton was really open with his strategies, and his hate of those terrible scooters.

What did you learn from this video and what were your favorite parts of the movie? Let us know in the comments. 

Source: Vanity Fair