Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Like Black Panther before it, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a milestone in cinematic representation, being only the second Marvel film to have a non-White title character, and the first to focus on an Asian lead. But more than that, it’s just a damn good film – expertly combining the martial arts, epic fantasy and superhero genres, along with Marvel’s trademark sprinkling of family-friendly comedy.

Premise: While living a quiet life hiding in San Francisco with his best friend Katy (Awkwafina), Shang-Chi’s (Simu Liu) secret past comes back to haunt him when he’s targeted by assassins sent by his father (Tony Leung), the leader of the Army of the Ten Rings who was granted long life a thousand years ago by a powerful mystical artefact.

Review:

Much can, and should, be said about the cultural significance of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. We’re now 25 films into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and we’ve only had one title character who was Black (Black Panther), two films led by female title characters (Captain Marvel and Black Widow), and now the first Asian title character. Representation matters, and it’s great to see that not only is this film led by an Asian title character, but almost all of the principal cast is Asian, and the story itself embraces Asian culture and mythology.

But as great as all that progress is, it wouldn’t count for much if the film itself didn’t work – but on a pure enjoyment level, Shang-Chi is also a resounding success. It feels that long ago, Marvel figured out that the comic-book world of superheroes is just a stage on which to tell stories, rather than a genre in its own right – which is why they’ve been able to set outlandish sci-fi tales (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2), spy thrillers (Black Widow) and heist movies (Ant-Man) all within the same coherent universe. Shang-Chi is the latest example of the MCU attempting a new genre within the superhero world, as it’s a full on martial arts fantasy epic, that also manages to weave in references to life in the post-Blip world after Avengers: Endgame.

“…Simu Liu is a revelation, displaying near endless charisma whenever he’s on screen…”

Arguably the secret of the film’s success is its casting, and front and centre is Simu Liu as Shang-Chi himself. Simu Liu may have been a relative unknown before being cast to lead this film, but you’d never guess it, as he’s an absolute revelation in this film, displaying near endless charisma whenever he’s on screen. Yes, he is amazing in the action scenes (more on that later), but for a film like this it’s essential to have an actor that’s just as engaging when he’s not punching villains, and Simu Liu is certainly that.

His double act with Awkwafina as Shang-Chi’s best friend Katy is the heart of the film, and their (platonic) relationship brings out the best in both of their characters. They’re so much fun to watch when they’re just hanging out together in the early scenes, that you almost forget that you’re here to see an action packed superhero movie. Awkwafina is (as usual) really funny in her supporting role, but it wouldn’t be fair to label her as the “comic relief”, as both Shang-Chi and Katy are equally funny, and their easy back-and-forth is what makes their friendship so believable.

“…the family drama is just as nuanced as the family dynamics at the heart of the ‘Thor’ films…”

The rest of the supporting cast is just as impressive, with Hong Kong acting legend Tony Leung making his Hollywood debut as Shang-Chi’s father. Casting him to play the leader of the Ten Rings is the MCU’s way around the racist stereotypes that made depicting “The Mandarin” on screen so problematic previously. Tony Leung’s character is “The Mandarin” – but he also isn’t “The Mandarin” – and whatever name or label he goes by, the character is far more three dimensional and multifaceted than the original comic-book villain ever was. Yes, his character was a conqueror, but he’s also so much more than just that, and many of his decisions are made with the best of intentions. The family drama in this film is just as nuanced as, say, the family dynamics at the heart of the Thor films.

Meng'er Zhang also makes an impressive Hollywood debut as Shang-Chi’s sister (and the action scenes where she wields a rope dart are just as impressive as anything else in the movie). It’s also nice to see Florian Munteanu appear as the augmented assassin Razor Fist, after he made such an impression in Creed II. All that plus a couple of cameos from other MCU characters which I won’t spoil, as well as an appearance by another legend of Asian cinema, Michelle Yeoh.

“…the fight choreography inventively integrates the surrounding environment into Shang-Chi’s fighting style…”

Aside from the cast, the film’s other strong point is its action and fight choreography. Given that this is a Marvel film (and is rated 12A), the fight scenes may lack the brutality of, say, the John Wick films, but they more than make up for it with their creativity. For me, two of the action highlights are a fight scene that happens on a moving bus, and another that takes place on a bamboo scaffold, and what makes them both so entertaining is the way in which the fight choreography inventively integrates the surrounding environment into Shang-Chi’s moves and fighting style. I’ve heard Simu Liu and director Destin Daniel Cretton say that the films of Jackie Chan were an inspiration for Shang-Chi’s fighting style, and you can totally see the influence when it comes to integrating stunts, gymnastics and even comedic elements into the various fight scenes.

All in all, this film is not only a really enjoyable origin film, but it also feels like we’re finally getting our teeth into the meat of Phase 4 of the MCU. The Disney+ shows have been great, and Black Widow was an enjoyable flashback/prequel, but now we’re finally getting to see the post-Endgame world – and the heroes who will defend it – on the big screen where they belong.

“…delivers all you could ask for in terms of martial arts action scenes, epic fantasy adventure & family drama…”

Overall, if I really wanted to nit-pick, I could say that there are a few pacing issues around the middle of the film, and the final act does get a little CGI-heavy. But these are minor quibbles. Powered by Simu Liu’s charismatic central performance, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings delivers all you could ask for in terms of martial arts action scenes, epic fantasy adventure, and family drama leavened by humour. If this is the future of the MCU, I can’t wait to see what happens next.

And (although by now it should go without saying), make sure you stay for two post-credit scenes…