Marvel launches back into theatres with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and it is so much more than what we expected.
While technically Black Widow may have been the first official movie of Phase 4, Shang-Chi takes place following the events of Endgame and really moves the universe forward into a world where the absence of Tony Stark is felt and the world has changed.
Too Many Trailers?
The trailer appeared to reveal a lot by way of story, revealing Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and his estranged relationship with his father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung), the head of the Ten Rings organisation, being chased by assassins and falling into a tournament of fighters. While all of this could have amounted to a pretty bulky story, it only covered the first half of the 2-hour 12-minute film.
This was backed up by Simu Liu on personal Twitter when fans voiced similar concerns as he said “Y’all haven’t seen shit”, and the movie absolutely delivered here!
From magical lands and creatures to massive dragons and super-powered rings, this movie is action-packed with both perfectly choreographed physical fighting scenes and superpowered face-offs that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Pros and Cons
Now, the only downside I have to point out is that sometimes the quality of the CGI was snaggy. Not a major problem, I mean, I can’t imagine how big the bill would be to bring all of these effects to life (ahem, about $150 Million) and following the pandemic, I think it is reasonable to expect that until viewership returns to near pre-pandemic rates, the budget will have to remain a little tighter.
Aside from that, this movie is well worth the success it’s having. Over the labour day weekend, it shattered the previous box office record of $30.6 million from 2007s Halloween and raked in over $90 Million in the US alone. The global figure is above $150 Million after just 5 days and so this film looks to be a profitable endeavour for Marvel and Disney.
Another fantastic part of this film is the incredible soundtrack! A fusion of popular music, rap and Asian influenced music from a huge roster of artists and even featuring Simu Liu on a track, Hot Soup, this soundtrack really highlights the American-Asian heritage that is showcased in the film at a time where more unity and appreciation for diverse cultures is vital. My personal favourite track is Fire In The Sky by Anderson .Paak, give it a listen, it’s worth it.
Shang-Chi Breaks into the MCU
This film did a fantastic job introducing us to a new hero and bringing him from a humble car park attendant to someone who can stand alongside the rest of the MCU heroes, it also positioned it extremely well within the universe with references to the snap and leaning into the fake Mandarin from Iron Man 3.
Not only is it a great standalone movie that anyone who is a fan of mystical, mythical adventures and martial arts movies will enjoy, but there is plenty for the hardcore MCU fans to enjoy with fun cameos and the incredible mid and after credits scenes which leave us with more questions than answers, but that is what this is all about. One massive story with plenty of incredible parts to enjoy along the way.
Have you watched Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings yet? What did you think? For more of the latest news on all your favourite fandoms, come back here often and why not check out our review of Black Widow while you’re at it.
Ben Gibbons