Released Friday, September 3, ‘Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings’ follows Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), a man who believed to have successfully escaped his traumatic past before discovering that his father, Wenwu, (Tony Leung) is chasing him and his sister, Xialing, (Meng’er Zhang) in search of amulets left to them by their late mother (Fala Chen).
The movie utilized every storytelling and character developing method, from wardrobe, to the style of martial arts used by different characters at different moments, to their fullest extent. No characters felt underdeveloped or flat, with every single one having established struggles, motivations, and goals. This movie really shines in making every character, even the antagonists, feel human.
The fight choreographies were another aspect of Shang-Chi that did not disappoint. The choreographies flowed very well with the story and managed to use typically difficult settings for fights to their advantage. The directorial choices served to keep the audience engaged throughout, never shying away from unconventional timing.
The humor was mostly full of hits, even if sometimes the timing was jarring. Occasionally, there would be a comedic moment immediately after a serious scene that made one question the importance of it, but it never felt out of character.
One of the most noteworthy things in the movie was the acting. Simu Liu’s charisma in the role of Shang-Chi was easily comparable to that of Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. His commitment to the film really jumped out and worked to elevate the experience. Tony Leung’s performance was also remarkable, as despite his immorality, he still managed to show Wenwu’s motivation to be sympathetic. It was also nice to see Awkwafina, who played Katy, Shang-Chi’s best friend, playing a character with more hard-hitting emotional beats than what she is known for.
This movie further confirms that the Marvel Cinematic Universe will take character development seriously moving forward, as also seen in ‘Black Widow,’ ‘Loki,’ ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier,’ and ‘WandaVision.’
With compelling story telling, engaging characterization, and several hints towards Shang-Chi’s future involvement in the MCU, as well as some surprising appearances from established characters, Shang-Chi is a must watch for any fan that is looking forward to seeing where Marvel will take its characters, old and new, next. This film has more than earned a 9/10 rating.
Laura Pinto-Alton// Staff Writer
