With it seeming as if cinemas are getting more and more comfortable with new releases, the slate of new entries into the Marvel Cinematic Universe that were all pushed back due to COVID are finally coming to the big screen, allowing this epic franchise to proceed. Well, after my somewhat lukewarm reaction to their first new release, Black Widow, I realise that what I want to see from this franchise going forward is new things. Sure, I'm open all for some of the sequels involving existing characters on the way such as Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but I want Marvel to keep doing what they've shown themselves to be really good at, and that is bringing new and somewhat obscure characters to life. So, Shang-Chi, a hero I had never heard of prior to the announcement of this film, was a character I was very keen to see in his own Marvel movie, so I was very keen to see this.
The film follows Shang-Chi, who, along with his sister, was trained to become a powerful assassin all throughout his childhood by his ruthless father. After escaping his origins and starting a new life in the USA, he is brought back home and a whole new journey begins.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has a lot going for it, but by far the best thing about the film is how distinct it felt. I've seen some other people say this, but a Marvel movie not feeling like a Marvel movie is an aspect worthy of praise; a lot of these films are often criticised for feeling too similar, so it's always nice to see one of them feeling unique and different. I personally haven't been too bothered by these films feeling the same, but even I am all for a change of pace in terms of style, aesthetic, and atmosphere.
This is where Shang-Chi thrives the most; it embraces a very oriental style, which is in line with the character and a lot of the aspects of the story. I have always been a fan of this style, even in Western films like Kubo and the Two Strings or Kung fu Panda, I think oriental elements are always very attractive. In this film, it is very obvious why. The visuals are stunning, with the locations, costumes, creature designs, and such all being extremely eye-catching. The music is beautiful, whether it's exhilerating or gentle, it's always effective. And, what most people will probably admire, the action is awesome. It is completely rooted in martial arts and thus amounts to such energetic, satisfying, and electric choreography. It also isn't overly reliant on fast editing and allows a lot of the action to unfold in long, unbroken takes, which is great. Not only are these oriental elements all admirable on their own, but these all contribute to making Shang-Chi feel so utterly distinct as an entry into the MCU. Also, it has a dragon. Dragons are so cool, especially Chinese-esque ones, so that alone was awesome.
Beyond that, it has all the things you've come to expect from a solid Marvel offering. The protagonist is really likeable and actually feels like a well-rounded character with a genuine conflict they have to face. The antagonist isn't just an evil obstacle but has understandable motivation as to why they oppose the hero, and they way the two are tied together makes the film very thematically interesting too. It also manages to strike a balance between taking itself seriously and also being very entertaining, with humour that, although it sometimes doesn't land, is more often than not successful.
One other thing I liked a lot about the film was that you never really feel as though the heroes are completely safe. The some of the best Marvel movies like Infinity War and Endgame have a constant feel that, although you subconsciously know that the good guys will come out on top in the end (for the most part), you still feel like the obstacles they face are not overcome easily. In Shang-Chi, the heroes don't always have the upper hand, which makes the film more engaging and tense.
There aren't many negatives here. I think the film could've maybe been paced a little better; a lot of it involves flashbacks which can often go on for a while, which adds up to a narrative that is a bit clunky in places. Also, as distinct as it feels from the rest of the franchise, the film makes many attempts to remind the audience that this is a Marvel movie, via certain character appearances as well as acknowledgement of previous events through dialogue. I wasn't too bugged by this, but I know many people are.
As a whole, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was terrific. The implementation of oriental elements makes it spectacular in terms of its visuals, music, and action, and also gives it a unique identity when compared to other Marvel movies. Top it all off with the usual Marvel greatness and you have a very solid addition to this franchise. If we get more movies like this going forward; movies with completely new and different characters, then I can safely say I'm keen to see everything Marvel has in stall for us.
I'm going to give Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings an 8.0/10
