Shang-Chi is the best MCU movie since Avengers: Endgame

Date:
Mon, 23 Aug 2021 16:00:00 +0000

Description:
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings arrives in theaters on September 3 heres our spoiler-free review.

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Theres a specific scene about an hour into Shang-Chi and the Legend of the
Ten Rings that succinctly sums up Marvels latest superhero movie offering.
Its a sequence that we wont spoil here, apart from the fact that its a hilarious cameo from a character we havent seen for a while.

Its a moment thats so wonderfully absurd, though, that itll make even the hardiest soul laugh out loud. And, ultimately, it underlines what kind of movie Shang-Chi is: an unexpected delight built on the core aspects of previous Marvel movies that also delivers a fresh approach to its origin
story formula.

Shang-Chi is the first Marvel film to introduce a new superhero since 2019s Captain Marvel, but its much more than that: its also the best MCU movie
since Avengers: Endgame. Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer may drop today but will it be made public? Marvel's Eternals : what we know about the upcoming MCU movie Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness : everything we know (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney)

Set in the present day, the film opens with Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) masquerading as Shaun, a San Francisco-based citizen who works as a valet driver alongside best friend Katy (Awkwafina).

When a group of assassins unexpectedly attacks Shang-Chi and steal his
mothers pendant, hes forced to return home to confront his murky past,
reunite with sister Xialing (Meng'er Zhang) and deal with his estranged
father Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung). Shang-Chi also comes into contact with the mysterious Ten Rings organization, who have lurked in the shadows since 2008s Iron Man and have been led by Wenwu who wields the titular all-powerful bracelets.

While its opening act isnt dissimilar to that of 2018s Black Panther viewers get some historical context that helps to set up the movies plot Shang-Chi doesnt initially feel like a Marvel film.

From its wuxia-inspired action sequences, such as those seen in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, to its humor thats reminiscent of buddy comedy films like Bill & Ted, Shang-Chi is a film that could realistically exist outside
of the MCU. There are callbacks and nods to previous Marvel movies
throughout, but Shang-Chis non-superhero influences ensure that it feels grounded (at least early on) compared to the MCUs more recent cosmic occurrences.

Much of that down-to-earth feel is owed to the camaraderie that Liu and Awkwafina bring to Shang-Chi and Katys friendship.

The duo, who previously worked on the latters self-titled Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens TV series, have a natural rapport that lends a genuine believability to their characters longtime bond. It makes their intimate conversations hit harder from an emotional perspective, and it means the
pairs wisecracks aimed at one another feel authentic. (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney)

Speaking of humor, Shang-Chi is a lot funnier than you might assume from the trailers. Marvel movies have always come packaged with their fair share of humor, but Shang-Chi is one of the more amusing entries in recent memory.

It makes for a pleasant surprise, given that the trailers make it out to be a serious flick. As the movie barrels towards its final (and typical) CGI-laden climax, the pacing of jokes helps to break the tension at key moments, too.

That isnt to say that Shang-Chi is a complete joke-fest. It also deals with some difficult and at-times dark topics that will resonate with audiences. Yes, it walks Marvels well trodden path of exploring father-son issues, but other themes family succession and gender discrimination, to name two provide a thematic balance to proceedings.

Shang-Chi is an unexpected delight... that delivers a fresh approach to [Marvel's] origin story formula

Humor and emotion are present, then, but how does the movie fare with action and set pieces? Without meaning to embellish it, Shang-Chis close quarters combat is some of the best we can recall seeing in a Marvel movie.

Its intimate fight sequences grounded in various martial styles including Hong Quan, Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu are a spectacle to behold. The intensity, speed, precision and inventiveness of these encounters are impressive and stylish, making for a welcome change from so many MCU battles that require lots of VFX to bring them to life.

Liu, in particular, brings a level of physicality that few Marvel superheroes can match up close. Shang-Chi is an expert fighter in the comics, so its
great to see this element adapted (and built upon) so comprehensively on screen.

Shang-Chis large-scale set pieces, too, are great fun to watch. The films final battle is a bit frenetic and over the top at times but, by and large,
it makes for a fitting crescendo that takes in new locations that we hope to potentially explore in future Marvel productions.

Issues with Shang-Chi are few and far between, but there are some.

For one, some of its CGI is a bit hit and miss. Theres a moment in a bus
fight sequence, which has been teased in Shang-Chis trailers, where green screen use is more noticeable than usual it's a tad disappointing for a
movie with this budget.

One of the films final scenes, too, doesnt make much sense from a wider MCU perspective. Without spoiling anything, humanity should be accustomed to
alien invasions, AI uprisings and other potentially world-ending events by now.

And yet theres a moment in Shang-Chi where, for some reason, the prospect of other worlds and extraterrestrial beings seems like a far-fetched idea to some. If Shang-Chi was an earlier Marvel movie, such as Thor or Doctor
Strange where cosmic or magical events werent public knowledge, you could understand why some citizens may scoff at such possibilities.

Certain characters reactions to events, though, make it feel like this is the first time that anything otherworldly has happened on, or to, Earth. Some viewers may be able to look past this oversight, but were 13 years into the MCU at this point. The planet's human population should be more open minded about potentially catastrophic events regularly occurring by now. What we think (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney)

With its exciting action sequences, plethora of funny moments and at-times deeply moving story, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a spectacle to rival any Marvel movie.

Its complex characters complete with a tragic villain, something that the
MCU needs more of and the storys pacing make it a highly enjoyable watch.
The numerous references and cameos within, too, will be lapped up by movie
and comic book fans alike.

Admittedly, Spider-Man: Far From Home and Black Widow are the only other
films to arrive since Endgame, so there havent been many Marvel movies to recently rival Shang-Chi as the studios best offering.

But to simply say that Shang-Chi is Marvels finest movie since Endgame
because of a lack of competition is to do it a disservice. Its not just a superhero movie its a celebration of Asian (and Asian-American) traditions, cultures and societal values in much the same way that Black Panther honored Black communities and shone a light on their experiences.

Shang-Chi, then, brings further diversity to a cinematic universe that, with its global audience, is starting to better reflect the world around us and that, while wrapped up in a thrilling, humorous and emotive superhero movie, is a fantastic thing.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings arrives exclusively in theaters on Friday, September 3. Spider-Man: No Way Home : release date, cast, plot and more



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