Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Starring: Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Ben Kingsley, Meng'er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, Wah Yuen, Florian Monteanu, Andy Le, Kunal Dudheker, Stephanie Hsu, Benedict Wong, Brie Larson (uncredited), Tim Roth (uncredited), Mark Ruffalo (uncredited)
Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton
Rating:PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
2021

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: Shaun (Simu Liu) gets pulled back into family drama after years away when his father (Tony Leung) departs on a dangerous path that could destroy humanity.

Review:

Tim: I do think it's nothing short of astonishing that the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to surprise. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the 25th MCU film and is one of the most unique. Sure, haters may point out to the formulaic nature of these movies and they do have a point. However, Marvel decided to make their 25th film their version of an Asian martial arts fantasy film. And, they do a surprisingly good job of executing on it. Shang-Chi is nowhere near Marvel's best, but it's a thoroughly engrossing, exciting action movie that brings more needed diversity to the MCU while increasing representation among its heroes. It helps that Destin Daniel Cretton also delivers an action-packed, entertaining movie. This is yet another Marvel success.

It does feel sad to me that Marvel puts out a movie with a predominately Asian cast and that's the big headline. Someday, that won't feel like "news". I really did love this, though. It's a big step away from the MCU's first 10 years and does a lot of good. This movie doesn't capture the cultural zeitgeist like Black Panther did, but it was a major overperformer during these pandemic times. That's a huge win and another data point that Marvel needs to continue to push the boundaries of what their movies do.

Although not perfect, the story is really well structured. It introduces us to these characters before whisking them away across the world. The movie culminates in the mythical Ta Lo, where the movie's biggest action set pieces take place. This introduces us to multiple Chinese mythical creatures, which is unexpected yet effective. Whether that's the lion-like things, the dragon, or the Dweller-in-the-Darkness, this is a big departure from the typical Marvel movie and it was refreshing and exciting.

I though Simu Liu made a really strong Shang-Chi. He certainly has the physical prowess the character needed, but his comedic timing was really refined as well. It's a bit surprising to find someone who can so effortlessly do both (Jackie Chan is perhaps the best at this). Liu establishes a strong connection with the audience and builds a good deal of empathy for his character. Awkafina was really good, too. She's been a bit hit-or-miss for me. I really do find her funny, but she needs some level of restraint. I thought what she did here was outstanding. There's a lot of ridiculousness about what her character does in this film, but it's most forgivable because of her character's arc and the humor she brings to the film. Awkwafina and Liu work exceptionally well together. Their pairing and chemistry is a big reason why this movie works.

Tony Leung was a fantastic villain. I was one of the people that felt disgusted by what Iron Man 3 did to the legendary Marvel villain, the Mandarin. I truly appreciated how Marvel redeemed him in this film, but also drastically changed him. Leung never feels like he's playing the Mandarin of the comics, but gives a nuanced and powerful performance that stands on its own. He is a formidable villain and yet there's an emotional power to his story that is impossible to deny. Some of this comes from the script making him a sympathetic villain, but so much of it is due to Leung's excellent performance. You learn to understand this fascinating character and even though we don't agree with him, he's more than just out to conquer the world. I liked seeing Ben Kingsley reprise his role here. It's a bit ridiculous, but it's a wonderful callback to Iron Man 3. He is a great actor and it was fun watching him again. I loved the casting of Michelle Yeoh. She is incredible and I was so glad she had a role here. I wish she had a bit more to do and hopefully it's not the last we've seen of her. Florian Munteanu was decent as the absurd Razor Fist. I like that Marvel included such a ridiculous villain and Munteanu didn't make him seem too bad.

One of the things I liked about this film is that it mostly stands on its own. It establishes a new corner of the MCU, while making a few must-needed connections. Ben Kingsley's Trevor is one, but the unexpected addition of Wong and (most shockingly), Abomination was a wonderful connection way back to The Incredible Hulk. That's one thing I love about this- you can watch just this movie and there's a scene where a magical guy fights some big monster. But, for true MCU believers, you recognize Wong apparently has a friendship with Tim Roth's Abomination, a character we haven't seen for 13 years. The end credits scene isn't great, but it does bring in Brie Larson's Captain Marvel and Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner to further connect this movie to the others.

I really enjoyed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. It introduces a new hero to the MCU while delivering a very different kind of movie. It furthers Marvel's push into diversity and it features an incredible Asian cast. It also redeems Marvel's mistakes with Iron Man 3 and it brings back a great villain from a mostly forgotten film. It achieved a lot. It never has the impact that the biggest MCU movies make and it's far from the best. Yet, every movie won't be great. Shang-Chi is absolutely a victory. The fight choreography was excellent, there's so much humor, and it feels unique in the larger series. This is a really good movie.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 3, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel