Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
SHOULD I SEE IT?
YES
The next movie up in the MCU is one of the best so far. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a breathtaking, entertaining origin story that brings us a group of characters we will want to revisit for a very long time.
Say goodbye to any anonymity you had, Simu Liu. Also, Tony Leung is truly worth going out of your way .
The representation more than matters - but Shang-Chi gives Asian viewers the full superhero experience, within the larger context of Marvel. Similar to 2016’s Black Panther, this is a significant step forward..
NO
If you only have a passive interest in Marvel movies, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, may feel like too much when it comes to trying to connect dots and make connections.
Marvel and superhero fatigue continues to be very real, and this movie may feel like an obligation for some viewers, by the time it arrives.
If Marvel movies that lean on action sequences are not your jam, best to not try and open this bottle.
OUR REVIEW
The most exciting Marvel film since Black Panther, the 25th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a consistently entertaining and thrilling addition to the tableau of characters and stories told thus far. By introducing a new superhero character and furthering the company’s commitment to telling diverse and culture-rich stories as part of the MCU, Shang-Chi is likely going to wow audiences and become a significant success.
The film’s arrival also means the end of ubiquity for lead actor Simu Liu. The Canadian, Chinese-born actor plays the title role, with deep-cut television watchers perhaps recognizing him from his years on Canadian comedy series, “Kim’s Convenience.” Liu emerges as a new and fresh face among the pantheon of superheroes in the MCU, leading an impressive ensemble of Asian talent, assembled by director Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12).
Designed as an understandable origin story, Cretton, and co-writers Dave Callaham and Andrew Lanham, deftly integrate references from previous films, forge connections to future stories, and properly place this into the larger, broader context of the MCU. Taking place after the events of Avengers: Endgame, when we first embed with Shang-Chi, he appears to be an everyday guy, in a low-key apartment, working as a parking valet at a ritzy San Francisco hotel, alongside best friend Katy (Awkwafina).
Shang-Chi, it turns out, is a trained assassin whose father Wenwu (Tony Leung), a/k/a “The Mandarin,” has been fighting ‘enemies’ for over 1,000 years. Wenwu wears 10 rings on his arms - rings (actually bracelets, to be honest) carrying magical powers which can be controlled by Wenwu’s mind and will.
In one of many wonderful moments, we drift back some thirty years prior to present-day. In a dutifully choreographed sequence, Wenwu meets his emotional match: Jiang Li (Fala Chen). The wuxia-inspired courtship leads to their falling in love and, eventually, the birth of their son, Shang-Chi, and daughter Xialing (Meng’er Zhang).
As Shang-Chi, or “Shaun” as he is known by his California friends, avoids his past and tries to settle into a quiet, unassuming existence, Wenwu is wrestling with grief. Convinced he can resurrect his now-deceased wife, he attempts to send his Ten Rings Army to attack Shang-Chi and seize possession of a special pendant. When they converge on a public bus, Shaun is forced to fight off his assailants, in turn outing his abilities to Katy. Soon, the two best friends are off to Macao; Shang-Chi looking for Xialing and trying to determine just what is going on with his father.
Cretton, a filmmaker who typically invests deeply in character, finds a strident balance between spectacle and emotional investment. There are action sequences within Shang-Chi which are among the most thrilling and astonishing fights Marvel has ever committed to screen. There are also some really great performances to bring us into the supernatural heart of the film, especially from Leung. The revered Hong Kong actor finally delivers a fantastic Marvel villain, one who can generate both sympathy and frustration and sometimes even within the same scene.
At times, the film feels too big for Cretton with Liu’s performance solid, if not fully able to contain the far-ranging vision Cretton has created. Throughout the film we remain constantly dazzled by intricate production design, gorgeous costumes by Kym Barrett, and a pulpy story of family dysfunction and madness. A handful of cameos reminds us that Shang-Chi fits into the larger MCU and defines a direction these characters will pursue as the MCU continues to grow larger and larger.
Liu is no weak link, even if Cretton and team swallow him up a bit with shifting focus to other characters and storylines. The best part is that Liu has natural instincts on how to create Shang-Chi as a character we will care about more and more. As a former stunt person, Liu’s aptitude for action and fight choreography is exceptional (how did they film that skyscraper/scaffolding fight?!), and he more than holds his own opposite Awkwafina, whose comedic timing takes the film’s entertainment value to another level.
When Shang-Chi ended, I was smiling ear-to- ear. The film’s 132 minutes never tedious or boring. It goes without saying that Shang-Chi will have a significant impact on Asian audiences of all ages who have long wanted to see well-rounded characters who look like they do, saving worlds and conquering evil.
Packed full of thrilling martial arts battles, great humor, a mystical story you can become invested in, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will stand up to repeat viewings and deserves its rightful place as one of the best MCU films.
CAST & CREW
Starring: Simu Liu, Tony Leung, Awkwafina, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chan, Florian Munteanu, Benedict Wong, Michelle Yeoh, Ben Kingsley.
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Written by: Dave Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham (screenplay); Dave Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton (screen story).
Based on the Marvel Comics “Shang-Chi” comic book series, written by Steve Englehart, Jim Starlin.
Release Date: September 3, 2021
Walt Disney Studios