As the MCU’s fourth phase has begun to unfold, aside from the franchise’s first handful of small screen offerings being well-received, the pandemic has left audiences waiting for worthwhile theatrical content.
As such, Destin Daniel Cretton’s first foray into blockbuster territory with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is therefore long-awaited, and with its release we finally get a strong foundation upon which the theatrical portion of the fourth phase can be built.
Born from the martial arts craze of the 1970s following the untimely death of Bruce Lee, Shang-Chi may have largely escaped the notice of the mainstream, but he has been a firmly established presence in Marvel’s comics since his inception.
However, much like other western depictions of Asian characters at the time, Shang-Chi also fell victim to problematic portrayals, not least thanks to the deeply racist character of Fu Manchu being both his primary foe and his father.
With Marvel long having wanted to distance themselves from the racist stereotype of the Fu Manchu character, the MCU’s take on Shang-Chi’s parental archenemy is instead Wenwu, who is revealed to be the true identity of the live action franchise’s take on the Mandarin.
With the history of this MCU character also being problematic, Wenwu finally puts this name to rest by unambiguously denouncing the Mandarin moniker as what it always was, namely a prejudiced westerner’s name for a foreign boogeyman.
Similarly, the emphasis of the narrative is also less about a caricature of an evil warlord and criminal, but instead a story about a family torn apart by grief and the burden of the expectations parents have of their children.
However, while the film is driven by its narrative, it is certainly not lacking in the action department either. Being an amalgamation of wuxia fantasy and Hong Kong-style action as seen through a Hollywood lens, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is easily among the better half of MCU films as a whole.
More specifically, the film is among the very best of the franchise’s origin films, thanks to a healthy balance of nuanced performances and the best choreographed action in the franchise yet.
Having an amount of emotional gravitas unusual for the MCU, a lot rests on the quality of the acting, and Simu Liu makes for a compelling leading man. Delivering a solid performance not only as an action star who is ready to pick up the mantle as an Avenger, but also as an actor who conveys his emotions with a sincerity that makes his character both complex and immensely likable, Liu proves that he has the acting chops to hold his own against the likes of the legendary Tony Leung.
As for Leung, he does what he does best and not only steals every scene he is in, but also elevates them with his usual understated but deeply soulful presence. Again, this is hardly a surprise for anyone familiar with Leung’s body of work, but much like the film will probably be many westerners’ segway into a wider spectrum of Asian cinema from China and Hong Kong in particular, it will also specifically introduce people to the filmography of Leung, which will be an enrichment for any cinephile not already familiar with his work.
With the trademark MCU humor at times being a detriment to some moviegoers’ experience, Awkafina thankfully fits in well due to both her signature style of casual, quick-witted snark and her chemistry with Liu. With the filmmakers knowing when to use her as comic relief and when to uphold the seriousness of a scene, the tone of the film is for the most part more on the serious side, which may also be why the introduction of another comic relief character in the second half of the film will be rather grating to some viewers.
And the second half of the film is unfortunately not quite as strong as its first half. Not only does this secondary comic relief outstay their welcome, the film also struggles ever so slightly with its pacing and the finesse of its action choreography. Going a more fantastical route in the latter half of the film, there is still plenty of spectacle to behold, but the film’s final threat feels somewhat shoehorned in due to a very late introduction. That being said, the finale of the film is nonetheless well realized, and it offers one of the more original final showdowns of the franchise.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings may not be as mind-blowing to those who are already fans of Asian cinema as it will be to those who only have a very limited knowledge of how the medium is used outside Hollywood, but the film nonetheless works as an excellent ambassador for non-Hollywood cinema.
Giving the MCU one of its most compelling villains to date with Tony Leung’s excellent performance as Wenwu, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has its own distinct identity, and the film breathes new life into the behemoth that is the MCU, setting the fourth phase of the franchise up to be even more nuanced and fantastical and than what came before.
Verdict: 8 out of 10
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Produced by Kevin Feige, Jonathan Schwartz
Screenplay by Dave Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham
Story by Dave Callaham ,Destin Daniel Cretton
Based on Marvel Comics
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
Starring Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu,
Benedict Wong, Michelle Yeoh, Ben Kingsley, Tony Leung
