shang-chi and the legend of the ten rings (and the resurgence of marvel films)

Marvel Phase 4 here we go!

Finally, 2 years after Endgame stole my heart with a ‘once in a lifetime’ assemblage of all our childhood icons, I have had the opportunity to return to the theatre to experience the aura of Marvel films once again. For us fans, there is nothing like the ineffable feeling of watching an MCU film in the theatre witnessing the epic Marvel intro as we settle down inside the dark hall, putting on the 3D glasses, grabbing a hold of the gigantic packet of popcorns as we prepare ourselves to be taken away into the mystique world this franchise has created over the course of 13 years. We had been deprived of that ecstatic feeling, thanks to covid, but after a millennium of anticipation, Marvel is here to light up our world again, this time returning with what they do best- making us fall in love with an obscure character we never knew existed.

Shang-Chi: And the Legend of the Ten Rings is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, and stars Simu Liu (as the titular character), Awkwafina (from Crazy Rich Asians), Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and a cast of talented actors whom I would love to see in future Hollywood projects. In the aftermath of the events of Endgame, which bade farewell to some of our favorite heroes, a young man in San Francisco, named Shaun, leads a normal life with his best friend, until one encounter in a bus completely turns his life upside down and soon, he finds himself hurled back into a life he thought he had left behind.

Oh, I almost forgot to say, the young man is actually ‘Shang-Chi’.

Right off the bat, I must admit this is one of the better Marvel films, in terms of performances and spectacular action sequences. I haven’t had this much fun in the theatre since Endgame, and that is because all the Kungfu and martial arts in the film are absolutely mind-blowingly amazing. There are sequences where I even forgot to put the popcorn in my mouth because my jaw was wide open. The hand-to-hand combat sequences, the ‘near-death situations, and even the CGI battles were mesmerizing to say the least. The CGI in the film is also breathtakingly beautiful, but that’s just something Marvel fans are quite used to now.

Moving on, the performances in this film are praiseworthy too. The ensemble comprised of very talented actors, especially Simu Liu who knocked it out of the park with his scintillating acting skills. I really enjoyed watching him depicting a character we barely knew of yet making us fall in love with it. Awkwafina is remarkably good in the film too, her character adds to the humor in the film. Her chemistry with Liu’s character is profound, and I’d love to see what they will do with her in the upcoming projects. Tony Leung and Meng'er Zhang are good in the film too, with the former being a menacing presence throughout the runtime of the film.

Without a doubt, Shang-Chi worked as a film that tried to invoke emotions, elicit expressions of awe and bewilderment and make the audience laugh after a long, monotonous period of isolation at home. The film excelled all our expectations in many ways, as did many of its predecessors under the tag of Marvel. However, the plot comes off insipid and rather formulaic, and that could be because the writers didn’t want to take the risk of balancing a good story with an immaculate introduction of an obscure character. Moreover, there is a CGI battle in the third act which was completely unnecessary, and only stretches the length of the film. My friends were thoroughly enjoying the film until that sequence came, and afterward, we were only ranting because that scene, although containing great visuals, completely takes away the essence of the battle sequences- the martial arts and the well-choreographed hand-to-hand action.

In the end, Shang-Chi And the Legend of the Ten Rings is a film that I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s not as enticing as The Suicide Squad, or as revolutionary as the first Iron Man, but it really is an entertaining origin story of a future Avenger, whom I expect to entertain me in the years to come.

I’m going to give Shang-Chi And the Legend of the Ten Rings a B+.