Mix of martial arts and magic a brilliant brew
Action scenes among MCU’s best
With Black Widow being a prequel, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings properly kicks off Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Much like Iron Man, the Guardians of the Galaxy and Black Panther, this was a character, and world, I knew next to nothing about going into his movie bow.
But Marvel has proved it can be trusted to dazzle film fans with its lesser known properties – and turn them into household names.
Simu Liu plays the titular hero, a master of unarmed weaponry-based Kung Fu forced to confront his past with the evil Ten Rings organisation.
Liu actually publicly put his name forward to star as Shang-Chi years ago and, in by far his biggest role to date, he finally gets his chance.
It’s a very important opportunity too as Marvel’s first Asian superhero – a challenge that Liu meets head on; you can tell he’s having a ball and he knows when to be serious and when to turn on his comic chops.
The script – co-penned by director Destin Daniel Cretton – follows the familiar Marvel origin story template but still feels fresh as it’s within a world the studio hasn’t explored before.
Mixing martial arts and mystical powers, the sensationally choreographed action scenes are among the MCU’s best, which is quite the compliment, especially for a character’s first solo outing.
Awkwafina is hilarious and caring as Shang-Chi’s best friend Katy and it’s great to see Tony Leung (Wenwu), star of Infernal Affairs, one of my favourite crime movies ever, in a major Hollywood production; playing an evil father could venture into very familiar territory but he masters a refreshingly complex villain.
Nods to the Iron Man trilogy are cool callbacks, and make sense, but the presence of familiar faces from previous MCU flicks feel shoehorned in.
Shang-Chi doesn’t need propping up – he and his fellow universe newbies are more than strong enough to carry their own weight in an exciting, fun introduction that leaves you gasping for more.
●What are your thoughts on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings?
Pop me an email at ian.bunting@ reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.