'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' offers viewers the best fight choreography in the MCU, an emotional conflict, Asian flavor, and the real Mandarin.

On September 2, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the 25th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first movie fully dedicated to an Asian superhero, hits theaters. Despite an abundance of predictable clichés and tenuous connections to the rest of the MCU, director Destin Daniel Cretton has managed to create an epic and moderately entertaining fantasy with Chinese flair, appropriate humor, and a clear conflict at the heart of the story.

The Legend of the Ten Rings and Valet Parking

The great warrior Wenwu (Tony Leung Chiu-wai) conquers one village after another, showing no mercy or pity. He is aided by magical rings that make him nearly invulnerable. Since the Middle Ages, he has had no equal in strength, until he sets his sights on the magical village of Ta Lo. Its inhabitants, according to rumors, possess martial arts inaccessible to ordinary mortals, which is what attracts Wenwu. However, upon encountering Ta Lo's guardian, Jiang Li (Fala Chen), the power of the ten rings falters for the first time.

In the present day, a simple valet named Shaun (Simu Liu) and his friend and coworker Katy (Awkwafina) lead an ordinary life as Chinese Americans: they work, visit relatives, and go to karaoke (because why not). But their peaceful existence comes to an end when Shaun is attacked on a bus by a gang of thugs led by a guy with a blade for a hand (fans will recognize him as Razor Fist). It turns out that Katy's friend is not who he has been pretending to be all along. Now he must confront his past.

Pros and Cons of the Plot

Perhaps the main success of the film 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' is its near-perfect balance between action, humor, Asian aesthetics, and a story centered on a father-son conflict. The closest reference within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 'Black Panther,' suffered from excessive pathos and echoes of real-world BLM issues, unlike this new release. Here, the conflict is more relatable (after all, not everyone can grasp disputes over succession), and the cultural flavor is no less vivid. The beauty of Ta Lo and nighttime Macau can easily rival the sights of Wakanda for the title of the most beautiful location in the MCU.

Another undeniable plus is the antagonist.

First, thank heavens, Marvel boss Kevin Feige decided to introduce the real Mandarin into the narrative (remember that fiasco from 'Iron Man 3'?!). And he truly resembles that powerful comic book character from the supervillain category who instills fear in both subordinates and enemies. The rings were simplified in functionality and visually altered for greater effect, though.

Second, he is fairly well-written at the script level. The Mandarin has a coherent arc and a reasonably understandable (from his perspective) motivation, something many MCU villains desperately lack.

Third, Tony Leung Chiu-wai is magnificent. His composure in battles, his smile in quiet domestic scenes, his ferocity in moments of rage—the actor's versatility clearly benefits the character. And he easily overshadows both the protagonist and his entire entourage.

The main drawback of the plot can be summed up in one phrase: it is a standard 'Marvel' origin story. No surprises. Encountering a problem, self-discovery, overcoming fears and internal conflicts, a mirror antagonist (here this formula is implemented almost literally), victory with a setup for the future. Everything follows a long-established template that we have seen at least five times within the MCU alone.

Another flaw is the questionable connections to the rest of the cinematic universe. Yes, there are a few bright cameos of characters familiar to fans and a couple of lines about Thanos's actions, but overall, 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' is made in isolation from what is happening in other corners of the planet. It is no coincidence that the final battle is even taken outside the 'ordinary' world, so there is no need to come up with excuses for the absence of other iconic superheroes.

Another problem with the film is the supporting characters. There are many of them, but for the most part, they are underdeveloped. For example, Shaun's sister seems to exist only for action sequences, as her entire development leads nowhere, despite a decent amount of screen time. Awkwafina makes for a funny sidekick, but if you have seen her other work, you will not be surprised. And the colorful Razor Fist and Death Dealer are more of a reminder that this is a comic book adaptation.

Best Fight Choreography in the MCU and Tons of CGI

There is a feeling that Kevin Feige wanted his universe to have its own 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.' There are overlapping scenes, the vibe of the Ta Lo episodes recalls that iconic Asian blockbuster, and finally, there is Michelle Yeoh in the frame, as beautiful as she was over 20 years ago. But, as is traditional for comic book action films, epicness and tons of CGI have been added, which can become quite tiring in the final act.

At the same time, the fight scenes in the film are staged at the highest level. Much of it is built on the skill of the stunt performers, so cinematographer Bill Pope does not try to dodge or play games with the audience, but instead shows the fights in long takes (as in the series 'Daredevil'). And the bus sequence will surely go down as one of the most striking scenes in Marvel movies.

Many of the fights feel like a tribute to Jackie Chan, as everyday objects are often used, and the protagonist demonstrates feats of acrobatics and ingenuity. And you know what? That is a cool and fitting example to follow.

Should You Watch 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'?

If you are a fan of Marvel and entertaining comic book blockbusters, this film will likely appeal to you. If you want to escape the real world for a couple of hours and immerse yourself in a world with flying dragons and masters of kung fu and magic, this movie is worth watching. But you should not expect any depth or novelty from this film—it is not that genre, and the stakes are not that high. And although Marvel is experimenting a lot with series this year, the movies are still being made using the same old working formulas.

Trailer:

P.S. 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' has 2 post-credits scenes, don't miss them—they are fun and hint at the future of the film's characters.