Shang Chi and Legend of the Ten Rings (spoiler free review)

It's been a year since I've been in a theater and I am so happy that the first movie I got to welcome myself into cinemas is through an installment of the ever-expanding MCU movies. Although, Shang Chi was released almost a month ago, and luckily, I succeeded in saving myself from most spoilers on social media, getting to enjoy parts of the other surprising parts of the film - even if they weren't as surprising. 

For those who don't know, Marvel Studios presents Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings which tells the story of Shang Chi who is now living in San Francisco as Shaun as a valet parker with his best friend Katy. After years of hiding out in the states, Wenwu, his villainous father, sends his Ten Rings army to go out looking for Shang Chi and his sister to bring them home to fulfill a plot he had been trying to work out for years. Just like the early days of Marvel Studios, this all-new original entry to the Marvel Cinematic Universe sticks with the superhero origin story formula to portray a story that features heavy Asian representation. 

Supposedly this is the Asian answer to the representation featured in Black Panther even if Shang Chi does not 'groundbreak' the world, or the box office for that matter, as much as the Boseman-led flick. This might be due to the pandemic still being a factor but the fact that Shang Chi , as of today, is the highest-grossing movie of the pandemic season. This is also shows how much fans still want Marvel content in theaters, even if Endgame was a literal end of an era which got everyone worried whether audiences needed another decade filled with mystery and events that lead up to yet another large crossover of characters. 

Shang Chi is the first of many films to be set after the infamous 'Snap' (Black Widow doesn't count since it is set after Civil War) where audiences will not be bogged down by the trauma that erupted during and after the events of Endgame and how it affected both halves of population whether blipped or not Yes, it was a fictional equivalent to our pandemic and it has affected this world of characters as much as our issue affected us but I think it's time we moved on from the repercussions of the Blip. Shang Chi does that smoothly by buckling us up for the future of the further MCU and I can't help but be excited. 

The new entry unfortunately does suffer from formulaic superhero storytelling and this is a good thing. As large as it may seem, Shang Chi has the perfect feel of setting up the next set of movies that will set up the next saga within the franchise. People may have a problem with how it is too formulaic but it is probably because everyone is expecting Marvel movies to be bigger with each entry. Well, people should start treating this upcoming movies like the beginning of something new... ergo don't expect anymore big twists... at least for now. 

Simu Liu was already a star before he was ever a Marvel character even if it was towards a small range of people but it is definitely clear that Liu is not being forgotten anytime soon, especially after witnessing his portrayal as the Master of Kung Fu. The real star of this film, however, is Tony Leung as Wenwu. Leung has a reputation with his acting credits and there's no isolating his talent nor his achievements in acting even if most of his groundbreaking acting credits come from Hong Kong cinema. Wenwu has managed to earn the rare honor of being one of Marvel's most memorably adapted villains and I can vouch for everyone who has seen Shang Chi to say the same. 

Another notable cast member is Meng'er Zhang as Shang Chi's sister, Xia Ling. This is her first appearance on screen and she makes one of hell an entrance as one of the most badass characters within the MCU. Awkwafina although targeted as the comic relief but I think we all know she is deemed to become Shang Chi's future love interest. With that said, what I (and my sister) noticed is that her character, had no purpose to this whatsoever. But if she was useless to this plot, the film has somewhat left a very subtle nod at the fact that there could be a possibility of exploring Katy's history well in a future sequel.

Shang Chi and The Legend of the Rings answers questions we have been needing since the very first Iron Man film is clearly not the only reason to head to the theater again. There's boatload of great actors. No doubt it is filled with great Marvel action (possibly featuring the best fight sequences within the MCU) Most importantly, Marvel is back at the big screen. HURRAH! Catch Shang Chi and friends in theatres now.