Marvel films have been criticised recently for not being original and each film not really adding anything to the art form of cinema. I have become to get a little bored of Marvel products in a way, in fact, most films recently. I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve had an experience in the cinema that I would actually remember, an experience that got me excited. That was before I saw Shang-Chi, yes it is an origin film but it’s also Marvel showing how different every Marvel project can be.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings follow the story of Shang-Chi, Simu Liu, the son of Xu Wenwu, Tony Leung, the leader and bearer of the Ten Rings. After having run away from home Shang-Chi is suddenly pulled back into his old life, along with his hilarious friend Katy, Awkwafina, as the Ten Rings are planning to invade a once ancient city with connections to Shang’s past.
Firstly, yes it is an origin film and they can get a bit old, that’s why the new Spider-Man films didn’t really have an origin film because you know the story. Shang-Chi is very obviously an origin film, from learning powers to learning about one’s purpose, yes it is all here. That aside, Shang-Chi is a breath of fresh air for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It will take time for the average cinema goer to get used to it but there is a lot of martial arts film inspiration to be found in Shang-Chi and it certainly hasn’t been ignored for the usual MCU action. Every Marvel film tries to be different, fitting into its own style of storytelling but ultimately a lot of them end up being the same. This isn’t the case for Shang-Chi, quite simply because there isn’t anything like it for everyday cinema. Shang-Chi’s style and representation reminded me of my first viewing of Black Panther and how different it felt and just how important it felt not just for the MCU but for cinema in general. Shang-Chi, like Black Panther, was clearly made by people who understand the culture, representation and art of what is on display and that makes a huge difference.
CGI plays a big role in the movie, there is a lot of set pieces that are absolutely filled to the brim with CGI and some of it is too obvious but a lot is fantastic as well. There are some closeups where the visuals don’t work but that would really be nitpicking. The IMAX screening I went to was in complete silence in awe of the last 10-15 minutes of the film as it climaxes to an all-out spectacle. Definitely go and see the film on the biggest screen possible because the full-frame IMAX was incredible to watch, especially with the fight scenes involving the ten rings.
Shang-Chi has three main highlights for me that make it a great cinema experience. The first is simply the fact that Shang-Chi isn’t a well-known superhero so a lot of people, myself included, will go into the film not knowing anything and every aspect of the film feels fresh, even some cool cameos feel fresh. This then role into the next highlight being the characters and the acting, everyone gives it their all. Simu Liu is now an action star and Awkwafina is hilarious with every line she says. Tony Leung plays a tough and fearsome father that you don’t really root against but feel what he’s going through. Shang-Chi’s sister Xialing, Meng’er Zhang, will surely have her own Disney+ series and I’m all for it. These aren’t massive stars yet they play their characters on screen like they’ve been around doing this for years and never feel out of place.
Both of these highlights are then topped off by the one aspect you can’t find in any other Marvel film, the beautiful action sequences. There is a moment near the start, one that is in the trailers, of Shang fighting on scaffolding on a building and watching him zip around the building being chased is exhilarating and exciting. The martial arts-inspired one on one fights are shot perfectly and really capture the world of Shang-Chi, it isn’t like other MCU films with punching and gunshots or repulser blasts but rather hand to hand combat and my lord is it refreshing to watch.
The story and direction of Destin Daniel Cretton is something Marvel really needed. I’ve followed Cretton and his films for a while now and his directing is really what makes Shang-Chi amazing. Cretton is clearly to Shang-Chi what Gunn is to Guardians or now Waititi to Thor, just a perfect accompaniment of characters and director. If by the end of the film I immediately want to see the character’s next adventure then you’ve truly captured my interest and the build-up of the characters is something Cretton and the rest of the team have done so well. The soundtrack is fantastic but the score also blends in perfectly with the film, as most scores for MCU films do, but they’ve really captured the right visual and audio look for the film.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings may not be for everyone, it a certain style of cinema that not a lot of people are used to but it will also make for a great entry point for the casual cinemagoer to maybe get into martial arts films. We’ve seen it with Black Panther and what that film means and represents to so many people and that is the same for Shang-Chi. Asian-Americans are finally getting their representation in cinema, and in the MCU, which they deserve. Cretton also pointed out recently that even Asian villains and father figures are getting the correct representation and story with the fantastic performance by Tony Leung and his great character creation. Shang-Chi has shot itself right up to the top of must-watch Marvel films thanks to its style and bravery to just be what it is meant to be. I already can’t wait for the next adventure and I really hope the film is a success because it deserves to be.