Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) Movie Review
Here we go with another movie in the Marvel franchise. This time we’re dropped into the world of Shaun (Simu Liu) and his best friend Katy (Awkwafina) who work as valets. Out of the blue, the two are attacked by a group who are after Shaun’s pendant – given to him by his deceased mother. Shaun becomes worried that the group will go after his sister, Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), to get her pendant. He tracks her down in China but the group is already there. Their father, Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) shows up and kidnaps them. It turns out he was the one after their pendants.
Some back story is obviously needed here. Before Shaun and Xialing were born, Wenwu went in search of a mythical village hoping to expand his powers. It was in pursuit of this village that he met Li (Fala Chen) and fell in love. His love for her caused him to give up his powers and abandon the Ten Rings. Even though Li died many years ago, Wenwu believes she is being held in the village and wishes to go rescue her then destroy the village altogether. It then becomes a race to reach the village with Shaun, Katy, and Xialing attempting to warn the inhabitants before their father gets there to destroy it.
As is the case with most of the movies in the Marvel universe, the fight scenes in Shang-Chi are fantastic. One fight scene takes place on construction rigging on the outside of a building. The differing levels and the dizzying heights make for a variety of suspenseful moments. The first fight scene between Wenwu and Li is one of the most graceful fight scenes Marvel has ever done. It’s a combination of hand to hand combat and mystical powers that combine to seem more like a dance than a fight. It was fitting that it mirrored a dance, as Wenwu and Li eventually fall in love.
Simu Liu gives a reliably good performance as Shaun. He is haunted by his past and struggles to find peace in his relationship with his father. Liu gives Shaun just enough humor to make him interesting while still being able to take him seriously as a character. Awkwafina provides many of the comedic moments in Shang-Chi and although the bit role could have gotten annoying she was able to avoid that tendency for most of the movie. Meng’er Zhang was one of my favorite actors in the movie and I wish she had gotten more screen time. I’m hopeful that she will play a larger role in the movies that follow.
Shang-Chi drew from the superhero universe as well as the mythical universe to give you some epic fight scenes and a very solid origin story for Shaun. The final fight scene features not one but two dragons so prepare yourself for that. Overall, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is another very solid effort in the Marvel universe. I was genuinely entertained for the entire two hour and twelve minute run time and I’m eager to see Shaun, Katy, and hopefully Xialing in some crossover movies with other Marvel characters.
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like the Marvel universe
2. You like fantastical stories with epic fight scenes
3. You like stories that explore father/son relationships
