Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a remarkable MCU movie and origin story

2021 should be declared The Year of Marvel, because everywhere you look, a new project is getting ready to come out. A lot of stuff got pushed back due to the pandemic, but it means that we’re living in one of the most Marvel-rich years to date. And now it’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ turn at bat.

Already, Shang-Chi feels like a special film. It’s one of the first MCU origin stories we’ve gotten since Captain Marvel in 2019. And more importantly, it’s a film that grounds itself in Asian (and more specifically Chinese) culture. Because of that, it’s become its own Black Panther in a way, leading the way for more diverse narratives to be told on screen and celebrating diversity in a way that people of all cultures can participate in.

Thankfully, Marvel has largely succeeded with this latest effort. Director Destin Daniel Cretton has created an emotional and exhilarating story from start to finish.

The film revolves around the title character, Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), who has moved from China to San Francisco to escape his father, who is the leader of the notorious Ten Rings criminal organization. He lays low by living an unambitious life as a simple valet boy. And he and his best friend Katy (Awkwafina) have no plans to do any better than that.

But there’s so much more to Shang-Chi than meets the eye. His amazing origin is what makes the story so special. His mother comes from a mystical village in China that’s just as tough to get into as Wakanda. Shang-Chi and his sister hold two keys to locating the village. And when the Ten Rings comes after him for his key, he does whatever it takes to stop his father from breaching the sacred village.

That’s just a hint of the plot of Shang-Chi; the narrative takes many twists and turns from there. Often, I found myself prematurely disappointed that something predictable was going to happen, And I quickly learned to shelf my disappointment because my expectations were always subverted (in a good way).

Tony Leung stands out in Marvel’s Shang-Chi

If there were an award for the most complex character who constantly subverted my expectations in the film, it would be Shang-Chi’s father, who goes by the name Wenwu. Tony Leung brings so much depth to this character. Like Norman Osborn in Spider-Man, you can never quite wrap your mind around his complexities. He’s a family man, but he’s also bent on power and revenge, making him the type of anti-villain that you don’t know whether to cheer for or to hate.

His relationship with his children, Shang-Chi and Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), is compelling and full of rich contradictions. The twists about this family are best left unspoiled, but don’t come in thinking you’ve got Shang-Chi and his family figured out.

The theme of family is behind some of the more emotional scenes. I, for one, found myself ready to tear up during at least two moments. But the whole film isn’t just one long weep-fest about love and loss. It’s a Marvel movie, after all, so they have to check some of the boxes when it comes to your typical action-adventure film.

Shang-Chi brings the action

The good thing is that the plot isn’t shallow, and it doesn’t just rely on action to carry the film. In a way, the action complements the story. And Shang-Chi gives two of the most distinct, unique action sequences I’ve ever seen in a Marvel movie to date. This comes as no spoiler since Marvel has teased it in the previews, but the bus scene and the scaffold scene in particular are absolutely insane.

With martial arts incorporated into just about every fight scene, Shang-Chi has some of the best action of any Marvel movie. Characters Xialing and Ying Nan (Michelle Yeoh) were standouts for me when it comes to action, and I’m sure they could both give Black Widow a run for her money.

I also can’t forget to mention just how hilarious this film is. As a comedian, you’d think Awkwafina would be the one to carry the funny scenes, but just about everyone got their chance to cut up.

Overall, Shang-Chi feels like a nicely balanced Marvel origin film. Whereas some projects feel like their sole purpose is to just move along the overarching MCU plot, this has a clear story to tell from start to finish. And then, by the end of the film, they’re able to get down to business and establish how these threads connect to the wider MCU.

I found myself leaving the theater and wondering when I could watch the movie again. Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi feels like he will fit right in with the new Avengers, and he’s a welcome addition to the MCU. Hopefully, many more people will feel that way when the movie comes out.

Grade: A

Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings premieres in theaters only on Sept. 3.

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