Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

★★★ ½

Director Destin Daniel Cretton (Simply Mercy) heads the subsequent entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe,
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The script from Cretton, Dave Callaham (Marvel Lady 1984), and Andrew Lanham (The Child) is action-packed and entertaining. Nonetheless, it is likely to be disappointing for long-time followers of the unique comedian ebook as a result of quite a few refined and not-so-subtle modifications to his backstory.

Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and his finest buddy Katy (Awkwafina) work as parking valets, selecting to reside a simplistic life as an alternative of benefiting from their faculty levels. This modifications when Shang’s father, Xu Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung), sends his henchmen to gather the necklace his mom, Ying Li (Fala Chen), gave him earlier than she died. Having acquired it, Wenwu targets Shang’s estranged sister Xu Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) subsequent. Now, as an alternative of hiding from his previous, Shang should be taught to embrace it to be able to save his sister, his mom’s individuals, and his world from his father in addition to an awesome menace from a unique dimension.

Despite the fact that modifications have been made to most facets of the character’s backstory, the script isn’t dangerous. The story has good pacing, attention-grabbing and plausible growth, and pleasing closure – whereas making it clear Shang-Chi is now a vital a part of the MCU. As is usually the case when the director additionally has a hand in writing the script, Cretton knew what he wished from the actors and did a great job drawing it from them. Most gratifying is seeing Awkwafina as extra than simply comedian aid with nothing greater than a sequence of one-liners.  As with Breaking Information in Yuma County, she demonstrates performing capability past the trope. Her portrayal of an American-born Asian who doesn’t have the accent of her elders is spot-on. Nevertheless, the California birthright of her character doesn’t fairly match together with her native New York flex.

The martial arts scenes are simple to observe and great to look at; they’re as a lot a dance as they’re a combat. Sadly, this isn’t true of the later fight involving monsters in addition to people. The particular results, particularly the magical creatures, are visually beautiful even for a Marvel movie, however fights involving them are chaotic and sometimes tough to observe.

All informed, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an effective entry into the rising subsequent part of the Marvel Character Universe. The story is attention-grabbing, the characters are relatable, and the motion is enjoyable, although generally frantic. The energy of its place within the Marvel Universe stays a thriller till the arc is extra developed. However for now, one factor is obvious – Shang-Chi is the grasp of kung-fu.