The one big thing that has been missing from the
Marvel Cinematic Universe is a feeling of closeness when it comes to the
action. There have been a lot of highly cinematic moments, but the amount of
computer-generated imagery, especially in the fist fights, makes the scenes
feel repetitive and, sadly, boring after they’ve been done countless times.
That absence is mentioned in a great way in the MCU’s
first film focused on Asian characters. Based on a comic character that first
appeared in Marvel Comics in 1973, the film talks about Shang-Chi (Simu Liu)
living as Shawn in San Francisco, where he leads a somewhat lost career as a
valet along with his friend Katy (Awkwafina).
As a prologue mentions, however, he has special
fighting skills in his blood from his father, Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung), and
mother, Jiang Li (Fala Chen). When mysterious criminals try to steal a pendant
from Shang-Chi, Katy and him fly to Macau, where Shang-Chi is reunited with his
sister, Xialing, played by Meng’er Zhang in her film debut. The two soon find that
Wenwu, who has the titular rings, is trying to seek power where both of them
play a part, a mission that is shown by an overwhelming amount of grief.
Alex Bentley said in his review, “Written and directed
by Destin Daniel Cretton, with co-writing credits to Dave Callaham and Andrew
Lanham, Shang-Chi is the second film in Phase 4 of the MCU, but given how
backward-looking Black Widow was, it really feels like a fresh start.” Except
for a few brief cameos (Ronny Chieng and BD Wong) and minor references, it has
almost no connection to the previous Marvel films, which makes it feel really
nice in this continuous franchise.
Bentley mentioned, “Consequently, Cretton and his team
are given the freedom to create the character of Shang-Chi without any built-in
expectations. Almost from the start, Shang-Chi and Katy are a lot of fun to
watch together, showing a level of friendship that is enviable. And that’s even
before Shang-Chi starts showing off his Kung Fu skills, most memorably aboard a
bus careening down multiple San Francisco streets and on scaffolding on the
side of a building in Macau.”
Unfortunately, the film has to be forced to use so
much CGI. You can predict the scenes in the first half of the film have so much
CGI, but they’re filmed in such an up-close and dynamic kind of way that you
can feel every blow that is given. That’s not the same in the second half,
where people mostly fight from a distance as the stakes are risen from personal
to beasts. Bentley said, “Much of the emotional groundwork that had been laid
by Cretton is overwhelmed by incomprehensible airborne combat.”
Bentley continued, “Liu is a natural as the lead,
making it a wonder that he mostly has bit TV parts on his resumé prior to this.
He has an abundance of charisma both in and out of fighting scenes, so it’s
easy to see why he was chosen for the role.” With this, “Crazy Rich Asians,” “The
Farewell,” and “Raya and the Last Dragon,” Awkwafina has become the actress to
go to when telling Chinese stories, and she’s as fun and active as always. Also
great are Tony Chiu-Wai Leung and Michelle Yeoh, who really takes over when she
comes in the second half.
Bentley said, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten
Rings bodes well for the continued storytelling success of the MCU.” Even though
there are some supernatural elements, it’s at its best when it shows the innate
martial arts skills of the protagonist and the unique story of his family.
Spoiler alert: the mid-credits scene shows Wong
introducing Shang-Chi and Katy to Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and Carol Danvers
(Brie Larson). They see that the ten rings are acting as a beacon to something.
In the post-credits scene, Xialing becomes the new leader of the Ten Rings.
This is one of the best MCU movies, hands down, and
another one of my favorites. You have to see this movie on Disney+. You will
fall in love with this movie and it will blow you away with how beautiful it
looks, how the fights scenes are like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and the
comedy. Expect Ben Kingsley to reprise the same role from “Iron Man 3.”
Thank you for joining in on today’s review. Stay tuned
next Friday for the continuation of “Lou Diamond Phillips Month.”
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