Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Even if the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t ongoing, I’m not sure if Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings would’ve become a cultural phenomenon on the level of Black Panther but it’s another solid entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The cast is great, the 3D is well-utilized and the fights are terrific. Marvel’s first Asian leading man makes a solid first impression.
For over a thousand years, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung) and his minions have conquered kingdoms and toppled governments. In present-day San Francisco, Xu Wenwu’s son, Xu “Shaun” Shang-Chi (Simul Liu) is forced to confront his father when assassins suddenly disrupt the normal life he was trying to lead.
Until meet Shaun and his best friend Katy (Awkwafina), you would never guess that this is an MCU film. The meeting between Xu Wenwu and his wife Ying Li (Fala Chen), the mythology of the ten rings would be right at home in a Chinese fantasy epic. We meet several creatures who come from Chinese and Eastern mythology, travel to Macau, and the millennia-spanning tale offers many opportunities to show off period-era costumes, weapons, and sets. If you know someone that doesn’t like the Marvel films, this could be the one to make them change their mind. Well, except for the mandatory cameos by characters from other franchises and the mid/post-credit stingers that tie it into the universe as a whole. Ben Kingsley's "Mandarin” from Iron Man 3 plays a sizeable part in the story and although this does give us the much-needed follow-up to the short film All Hail the King (2014), he gets much more screentime than necessary. Those minutes would've been better spent with Simu Liu and Awkwafina, who are so good together. Sometimes, the comedic tone of the Marvel films can feel like it’s undermining the life-or-death scenarios. Not here. They go back-and-forth so well you completely believe them not just as friends, but best friends.
Along with Shang-Chi and Katy, the action scenes are the film’s highlights. While purists might lament certain martial arts fights being enhanced by computer-generated effects, you'll notice that Shang-Chi doesn’t wear a mask so Simu Liu is doing many of his own stunts. The first time we get to see him show off his skills is a dazzler, and it’s completely different from the battles that involve his father’s rings. You expected these to be worn on his fingers and to shoot differently-colored beams like Green Lantern but that’s not at all what you get. Lots of creativity there.
The film’s biggest flaw is the villains. Xu Wenwu is a tyrant, a murderer of hundreds who forced his son to become an assassin, the leader of an army... but unlike Thanos, he’s not fun to hate. He’s given plenty of humanity. Too much even. Tony Leung performs well but the sympathy he brings to this character makes you pine for the baddies you wanted to see punched in the face rather than rehabilitated. The other villains include minions and creatures that have distinct looks but little personality and ultimately, aren't memorable.
The way to see this movie is on the big screen and in 3D. You get scenes of vertigo, weapons/projectiles flying towards you, many scenes where dust or particles flying through the air - blown off the ground by the kind of moves that would be at home in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings looks great. It's exciting and I'm looking forward to more. Fingers crossed the villain will be better next time. (3D Theatrical version on the big screen, September 14, 2021)
