Review 615: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

 

Based on the Marvel Comics character, Shang-Chi by Jim Starlin & Steve Englehart, Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organisation. 

In terms of genre and technique, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is very much a martial arts movie. Practically, every single scene is laced with Asian history and culture, so it has its own identity and unique place in the MCU whilst also taking place in a post-Endgame world. The original Shang-Chi comic was originally created in the 70’s when Kung fu movies were all the rage. 

Outwardly, Shang-Chi seems like a nobody, a parking valet. Then he gets into a punch up on a bus of all things and suddenly his true self is revealed. Shang-Chi is in fact someone who has been trained since birth to be a living weapon by his father. At the start of the film, he’s attempted to leave his former life as an assassin behind him and live a normal life.

There is an undercurrent/subtext of family prevelant throughout Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

There’s also a theme of finding identity through balance: Ying Li, Shang-Chi’s mother represents the yang, she and the other people of Ta Lo have learned to control the powers of the Earth while Wenwu ten rings draw power from the heavens. Balance is the mission of Ta Lo, they maintain the balance of our world by preventing the Dark Demons from entering it. 

Director Destin Daniel Cretton's direction is elegant and poised, bringing a sense of elegance rarely seen in an MCU film. The cinematography is fabulous and and captures the beauty of San Fransisco and the Asian settings, the score by Joel P. West is beautifully evocative and captures the characters oriental roots. The special effects are tremendous; an near-seemless blend of digital effects and paractical work on sets. The action scenes are outstanding; they have a sense of fluidity and grace that’s rare in a superhero film ranging from non stop fist fights on a bus through the streets of SAN Fran and on bamboo scaffolding to a climax that feels like it was ripped directly from Avatar: The Last Airbender. The production design is fantastic and rich with detail, the locations are splendid, the costumes are majestic, expertly conveying “Shaun’s” American sensibility; he’s basically wearing a costume when we first meet him and then gradually building up to a gorgeous oriental style full of bright blues, yellows and oranges.

Simu Liu delivers a chipper, likeable and charasmatic performance as the titular hero, making him a inspired addition to the MCU ever growing roster of characters. An extremely calm, collected, confident and fearless person who has incredible love for his friends and family as clearly shown from interactions and banter between him and and Katy and how he shows concern when reunited with his sister.        Shang-Chi’s fundamental flaw is that he’s afraid to confront his past and accept his mistakes. This clearly evident by how he’s spent these last 10 years living in San Fransisco under the alias “Shaun”. He has the ethics and the culture of China behind him. He was raised to care about family and to listen to his parents. But because he’s spent time in San Francisco and because of his time there was spent hiding from his past, he’s built up a lot of défense mechanisms around himself. His father raised him to fight with brute force So he must learn to balance the forces of both of his parents and live within himself.    

Awkwafina is absolutely charming playing Shang-Chi's best friend, Katy. Shang-Chi and Katy have known each other for 10 years and she seems pretty satisfied with the life that she has with him and her family. She’s feisty and reckless and she likes it that way. It isn’t until she’s thrust into this adventure with her friend that she starts to accept a purpose that is bigger than herself. Throughout the film, Katy proves to be a non-stop source of comic relief: she is hilarious.

Meng'er Zhang doesn't lag far behind playing Xu Xialing, Shang-Chi's sister. Whereas Shang was able to get away from his life as an assassin for his father. Xs has had it rough compared to him. She’s had to make her own way in the world and    

Michelle Yoah doesn’t appear until towards the end of the film but she steals practically every one of them playing Ying Nan, Shang-Chi's aunt. She helps Shang-Chi achieve the balance of rage and fear with the spirit of the “Great Protector” (a character clearly based on the Fing Fang Foom character  from the Iron Man comics). A very wise woman who dedicated to protecting the dimension of Ta Lo.

Fala Chen is luminous and lovely playing Ying Li, Shang-Chi’s mother  When Wenwu and Ying Li meet their fights becomes a dance as the two of them find balance with each other

It's almost impossible to talk about a particular returning character without giving

Tony Leung has a really strong, commanding screen presence which is perfect for playing Xu Wenwu/The Mandarin, brilliantly conveying Wenwu's pain, his desperation to be loved and to show love but not knowing how to show it. He's a man with a with a history; Someone who discovered the titular ten rings which granted him immortality and limitless power which has allowed him to conquer many kingdoms and topple many governments throughout history and has become a very enigmatic and feared leader of the Ten Rings organisation. When he met Ying Li, this causes him to renounce his ways and settle down due to him having lost his. Because he's a family man, he just wants his family back. He's been corrupted by the power of these rings and at every turn kind of wanted to do the right thing. But his greed and obsessions would turn him away from that.
Wenwu is the best type of villain for this film. Someone whose actions you may not agree with but you do understand their point of view.

Shang-Chi is a Legend, 4.5/5.

The Anonymous Critic.