‘Shang-Chi’: A Thrill Ride That Will Leave You Hypnotized

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures and Marvel Studios.

Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings released in theaters on September 3, 2021. It was released to all Disney+ subscribers on November 12, 2021 also known as Disney+ day. The film’s premise follows Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) as he is forced to confront his past when his father, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung), draws him and his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) into an intense search for a mystical village.

The storytelling is so incredible in this film. It’s embedded with rich culture and history that will have you glued to your TV screen. I loved that they dove into Shang-Chi’s past because it made it more clear for me to comprehend the story behind these characters and why they are who they are in the present.

The characters are so well-written.

Simu Liu shines in this as Shang-Chi. His performance is so compelling and charming. He did most of his own stunts which is pretty insane to me. He was so dedicated to this role and brought so much depth to Shaun/Shang-Chi.

Shang-Chi goes through so much character development. He went from running away from his past to accepting himself for who he is. It was rewarding to see his journey of self-acceptance.

If I had to pick my favorite character from this film, it would be Xialing. She’s so cool and badass. I wish there was more of her but it’s okay. I hope we get to see her more in the future. Meng’er Zhang is the complete opposite of Xialing. The fact that she survived on her own for so long and owned an underground fight club is nothing short of impressive.

Awkwafina’s performance as Katy is nothing short of fitting and comedic. This role was made for her. I loved Katy and Shang-Chi’s chemistry in this. They were so entertaining to watch together.

Tony Leung is impeccable as Wenwu. While I couldn’t stand his character, it just shows his talent and range as an actor and artist.

The fight sequences were incredible. It’s amazing how the stunt coordinators, choreographers, and director Destin Daniel Cretton were so dedicated in making sure the two types of martial arts portrayed in the film were authentic and accurate. I never lost interest because there was always so much going on.

The cinematography is stunning. I think this has become one of my favorite Marvel films, literally but also visually speaking.

The pacing seemed oddly fast considering it was over 2 hours but it wasn’t like lightning-fast pacing.

Yes and no. The intense action sequences are formulaic but also inventive. The story is what makes it refreshing. It felt like a typical Marvel film but at the same time it didn’t.

 

 

Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is currently streaming on Disney Plus.

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Cast: Simu Liu, Meng’er Zhang, Awkwafina, Tony Leung

Producers: Kevin Feige, Jonathan Schwartz