Simu Liu takes his place among Marvel legends with the release of Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Martial-arts master Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) confronts the past he thought he left behind when he’s drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.
Spectacular is the word that only begins to describe the martial arts action in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The first Marvel movie to put an Asian hero in the star spotlight, this epic movie – playing exclusively in theaters – is the true kickoff to the MCU’s Phase 4 on the big screen. It’s not until we get to the climax of the film where our characters get sucked into a jumbled vortex of CGI special effects. This doesn’t take away the thrill of seeing former stuntman Simu Liu taking his rightful place amongst the other Marvel legends.
When we first meet our heroine, he’s just a regular guy named Shaun, parking cars for a fancy hotel in San Francisco and hanging out at karaoke bars with best friend Katy (Awkwafina in her usual fun, funny, firecracker self). It’s only when thugs attack him on a bus does his martial arts skills kick in.
It’s a very killer and well-choreographed scene that gives Liu his star-making debut. It’s also used as a way to let Katy in on who he really is and reveal his backstory as the son of an immortal warlord (played by the great Hong King legend Tony Leung) who strikes fear in any language.
All this backstory is pretty interesting and entertaining, though sometimes it does drag on a bit during the detailing of his father’s rise to power. His father claims to have grown a soul since the death of his wife and is eager to reunite with his kids, which includes Shang-Chi’s sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang delivers a knockout performance). And there is also a sister-in-law played by the legendary Michelle Yeoh.
It’s a lot to take in, I know, but you’ll catch up pretty quickly. Director Destin Daniel Cretton makes his mark with this blockbuster with flying colors. There’s really nothing that he won’t throw at the audience to keep those pulses racing and he doesn’t miss a beat in doing so.
Overall, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings delivered on all fronts. The visual effects combined with the martial arts are epic and well-executed. The chemistry between Liu and Awkwafina was perfect helped make their character’s friendship that much stronger. In his first outing, you might forget you’re watching a Marvel movie, but Shang-Chi is sure to be a memorable part of the ever-expanding MCU.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is now playing exclusively in theaters.
What did you think of the film? Let me know in the comments.
