An Action-Filled Journey that Spans Generations and Worlds
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is another attempt by Marvel Studios to reach into its deep vault of characters and stories and to introduce audiences to a hero who is anything but a household name.
The movie opens with exposition, telling the tale of Xu Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung), a power-hungry warlord who uses the Ten Rings to amass an army and conquer many kingdoms. Over the centuries, he and his army (also conveniently called the Ten Rings) overturn governments, amass wealth and add to his power and legacy. He focuses on the ultimate power in a mythical city called Ta Lo. He finds the entrance, only to be stopped by its guardian, Ying Li (Fala Chen). The two soon fall in love and Ying Li sacrifices her power for her family. They welcome two children, Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Xialing (Meng’er Zhang).
Wenwu gives up his organization to be with his family, but Li is later murdered by a rival group called the Iron Gang. Wenwu murders them all with the Ten Rings. Shang-Chi is trained in weapons and martial arts and is sent to assassinate the leader of the Iron Gang as as teenager. He fulfills his mission but is too impacted by the result. He flees to San Francisco where he changes his name to Shaun and wallows in a life of mediocrity.
This is where the first half of the film establishes Shaun’s relationship with his sarcastic best friend, Katy (Awkwafina). The pair works as valets in scenes reminiscent of Key & Peele’s Liam Neeson fanatics. On the bus ride home, they are attacked by the Ten Rings and the warrior aptly named Razor Fist (Florian Menteanu). Shang-Chi reveals his skills in self-defense, saving the bus passengers in the process. The Ten Rings do manage to steal his pendant that was a gift from his mother.
Shaun decides to track down his sister, leading to an underground fight ring in Macau. (Insert some spoilerific cameos here.) Xialing, Katy and Shang-Chi fight off the Ten Rings, with Wenwu showing up to “help.” Returning to the Ten Rings headquarters, Wenwu (explains the plot of the second half of the movie) says he believes that Li is alive and that he will have to overtake Ta Lo to save her.
At this point, we like to joke that Shang-Chi becomes the best Pokemon movie of all time. The story leans heavily into its fantasy elements as well as the large-scale action sequences that drive the visuals.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings covers a LOT of ground. It must serve as the hero’s origin story, the villain’s origin story, and build the mythology of the Ten Rings. It also must introduce history and champions of new realms like Ta Lo. The film also must be entertaining while trying to hit these many story points. Fortunately, with a run time of 2 hours and 12 minutes, writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton and his crew manage to pull it off.
It is difficult to pull of an epic adventure with completely unknown characters, but Shang-Chi is consistently entertaining and engaging. Many characters get their story arcs and each of their relationships is believable and worth the viewers’ emotional investment. This one appeals to fans of fantasy and action alike, plus it has some very clever ties to the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe.