Kevin Feige and the folks over at Marvel have undoubtedly found a formula for success; the kind of formula that currently rules Hollywood with an iron fist. A formula so strong that most every film under the Marvel banner has more or less copied and pasted onto itself with overwhelmingly successful results. However, the formula is far from perfect and that’s largely due to the ever-glaring problems with their final acts. When Oscar-winning gamechangers like Black Panther suffer similar issues as the worst of the MCU — ahem, Thor: The Dark World — it’s time to start repairing the cracks.
Shang-Chi, the newest character introduced into the MCU arrives with a new set of inspirations and a much-welcomed new perspective. Director Destin Daniel Cretton, known for the criminally underseen Short Term 12 and the compelling Just Mercy injects a visual panache from the very opening that most Marvel films sorely lack. Taking cues from the works of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, to filmmakers like Ang Lee, Zhang Yimou, even The Matrix and Kung Fu Hustle, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings uses its martial arts influences to infuse a fresh new twist on the typical superhero action.
By introducing a new array of characters and fantastical worlds, Cretton does well by expanding the Marvel mythos to some compelling new directions. Backed by legendary cinematographer Bill Pope, Shang-Chi contains some of the most visually inventive set pieces to exist under the Marvel banner. An early action sequence on a bus is thrilling in ways even the best of Marvel films rarely deliver. Guided by excellent choreography by the late Brad Allan, the hand-to-hand combat sequences showcase that you don’t need planet-ending stakes in order to thrill your audience in a superhero blockbuster. It also helps that most of the action here is presented in fluid long takes that avoids editing overkill.
Star Simu Liu has all the physicality to be a lasting action hero, but his dramatic chops aren’t quite up to snuff. Wisely, Cretton surrounds him with a vast ensemble of actors who are all putting in the work, even when folks like Michelle Yeoh are relegated to being exposition machines. Liu is a likable enough screen presence, but not only does the character wind up getting lost within the chaos of his own movie, he’s perhaps the least interesting character in the film. Meng’er Zhang as Shang’s estranged sister, Xialing, who runs an underground fight club, is a much more layered and interesting hero. Admittedly, the one-two punch of Liu’s underwritten hero and the actor’s lack of range is done a greater disservice by pairing him against the incomparable Tony Leung as Shang’s father who also serves as the films villain. Leung is far and away the films most richly textured and complex character. Leung plays the villainous Xu Wenwu, aka The Mandarin, with pathos in a performance that’s almost too good for the film it’s contained within.
So much goodwill that Cretton garners is tossed aside for a tiring, uninspired final act that’s among the most ill-conceived, visually drab finales in a blockbuster since every film with a $150 million+ budget contained a climactic sky portal. The climax trades in the slick, visually stunning set pieces for a hodgepodge of CG and incomprehensible spectacle. Instead of clean, engaging fight sequences that features actual humans performing impressive stunt work, Cretton shifts the action into large CG monstrosities that smash against each other with no sense of visual cohesion. Shang-Chi also has a serious issue with introducing compelling characters, only to not utilize them past their initial entrance. The funniest character in the film, someone I can’t actually mention without giving away major spoilers, is introduced, only to literally be thrown into the background. Awkwafina, who is reliably fun as Shang’s best friend, Katy, who follows Shang on his adventure, is given a forced, late-in-the-game character arc that feels too underdeveloped and lazy to make much of an impact.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is largely a refreshing new spin on the Marvel formula until it isn’t. It occasionally flirts with greatness, but squanders so much of what makes it stand out from the normal superhero crowd in its muddled climax. While there’s much to commend, this is yet another instance of the Marvel formula in need of some retooling.
Checking it out today. I haven’t cared much for marvel lately but I hope this is at least entertaining. I love a good martial arts flick so I’m hoping it leans into those inspirations.
I have several colleagues interested, so probably this weekend or the next.
I liked it but I can understand your criticisms of this film. It felt like a film that was necessary for non comic geeks to learn who he is and now that we’ve done that, we’ll get back to our regularly scheduled programming. I doubt if we ever see another Shang-Chi solo film but I think the film serves it’s purpose well. I look forward to seeing him in other Marvel films that aren’t solo Shang-Chi flix.
Shang chi is a perfect addition for avengers but they should’ve cast someone good reminded me of mahesh babu lot of timev and the emotional relationship didn’t work out at all for me tony leung and the cool action sequence carried the movie
Not interested in the least, but I’m seeing it tomorrow.
It was very entertaining for me. It has a lot of heart, decent humor, and the fight scenes have room to breathe. And thankfully the marketing has left out many of the best bits.
I woll watch it once it hits Netflix
I loved it so much!
This movie was sick
I had no idea what to expect but thought it was wonderfully done!
I thought Leung’s character was the best villain in an MCU film I’d seen. His motivations in the story were well developed and complex. He was sympathetic without being admirable. And if I weren’t so exhausted with the “daddy issues” themes in all of these mass market movies, I would have enjoyed the film more.
Shang Chi is one of the best Marvel movies that’s come out in a while. Saw it twice this weekend and loved it both times. Was a great kungfu/martial arts movie and would be a great standalone film if it wasn’t even tied to the MCU.
Also FYI, there’s two end credit scenes. Lot of people left after the first scene when I went.
But I’ll be honest, I felt like this movie had amazing CGI but the writing was all over the place. I love the dude playing Shang Chi but Akwafina was so out of place and she made the emotional beats feel hollow. Also there was like 10 ex machina in this movie that saved them from being killed and I wish they would have tried harder to flush out the story better. I wish black panther had the same level of CGI in this movie though
Shang-Chi is a top tier Marvel movie and has become one of my perosnal favorites.