Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings

Synopsis:

Martial-arts master Shang-Chi confronts the past he thought he left behind when he's drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.

Movie Review:

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton; it is the 25th film in the MCU and is the first Asian American superhero film. This film is a love letter to all the old martial arts and Kung fu films of the past with some of the greatest fight scenes in the MCU. One of the best action sequences takes place on a bus near the beginning of the movie that was jaw dropping and exciting to watch. Simu Liu plays Shang-Chi and he is captivating to watch as the charismatic lead, especially his hand to hand combat scenes. His storyline was a classic hero’s journey that I loved. Awkwafina plays Katy Shang-Chi’s best friend, and their on-screen chemistry was magnetic. She also had some of the funniest dialogue and relatable personality that makes you fall in love with her character. Classic Asian actor Tony Leung plays the Mandarin or by his real name WenWu and he is one of the best villains in the MCU I have seen. He is the father of Shang-Chi which leads to so much family drama. His character is ruthless and powerful, but you completely understand why he is doing these evil acts. There were some cool MCU cameos from characters in the universe that added to the story. I loved the end of the movie which felt like a fantasy war film. The only issue that I had are some pacing problems near the middle that slowed the film down. Overall, I loved this film. I am giving “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten rings” a 4.5/5 stars.

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Cast: Simu Liu, Awkwanfina, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, Ronny Chieng, Benedict Wong, Meng’er Zhang, Ben Kingsley with Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh

Runtime: 132 minutes