MOVIE REVIEW: SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS

 

MOVIE REVIEW:  SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was one of those Marvel movies that hit all the sweet spots:  great story, explosive action sequences, rich characters, some really offbeat humor, and exquisite special effects.  One of the best MCU movies I've seen, and Phase Four is off to a rollicking start (if you account for all the MCU shows on Disney Plus).

We got to see the history of the antagonist early--Xu Wenwu--whom we come to know as his history progresses through the first part of the film as the one, true, Mandarin....the head of the Ten Rings, which we had seen in the MCU before---most notably Iron Man 3, when Killian, who headed up A.I.M., and tried to kill Tony Stark, had used a British actor named Trevor Slattery (BRILLIANTLY played by Ben Kingsley), to portray the mysterious and evil crimelord.  But we see in the early part of the movie on how Wenwu managed to obtain the mystical Ten Rings, which granted him ungodly powers and immortality.  We then also see him battle Ying Li...the keeper of a magical forest he'd heard about, and wanted entry to.  They fought, and she bested him.  The two fell in love, and had two children:  Shang-Chi and Xialing.  Wenwu abandons the Ten Rings, and leads a normal life, putting his powerful rings away. 

However, enemies of The Mandarin---the Iron Gang---attack his home when Shang-Chi is 7 years old, and his mother tries to fend them off, but she is killed by the sinister group.  Seeking revenge, Wenwu put the rings back on, and sends a message to the gang.  He also then begins training Shang-Chi in many forms of Martial Arts, training him to be an assassin.  When he is 14, his father sends him out on his mission.  Having completed it, however, Shang-Chi feels guilt, and runs away---eventually he ends up stateside in San Francisco, using the alias Shaun.  As Shaun, he works as a parking attendant with his best friend Katy, who has no idea who he really is.  They seem like slackers with no real direction, and just like to have fun.  That all changes on the bus ride to work, as Shang-Chi is approached by members of his father's gang, who have tracked him down.  A fight ensues on the bus, and eventually, it goes out of control because the driver is knocked out during the battle inside.  So, Katy takes over driving---her particluar skill---and manages to stop the bus, but not before the pendant he has is taken by his father's main goon, and they take off.  Shaun, knowing that his father has found him, knows that his sister is in danger, and he has to take off....however, Katy is insistent on going once he gives her the rundown on who he his.  

They meet up with his sister in Macau, where she runs and underground fighting club, which she formed after she escaped their father when she was sixteen.  After roughing him up, she leaves him to his own devices until their father's goons show up to grab her pendant as well, and to capture them both.  Despite trying to escape while fighting on the side of the building, they are captured by their father and brought back to their home.  There, their father uses their pendants to open up a mystical map to Tao Lo.  He says he keeps hearing the voice of their mother in their heads, and that he must travel there to rescue her, so that they can have their family back....even if it means destroying their mother's village in order to get her back.  They object and are imprisoned, where they meet actor Trevor Slattery, who had been captured by the Mandarin for impersonating him on behalf of Killian, who had run A.I.M. and used the identity and legend of The Mandarin to plot against Iron Man.  Trevor has with him one of the many creatures of their mother's village, and it can help lead them there.  The crew makes their escape, and Katy drives them through the forest, taking directions from Trevor, as they navigate through the maze until they reach the village.  There, they meet their Aunt , Ying Nan, who tells them about the history of Tao Lo.  The village was attacked by the creature known as the Dweller-In-Darkness thousands of years ago, and the Great Protector helped seal the Dark Gate to keep the evil out.  According to Ying Nan, the Dweller has been impersonating her sister in order to get free---and is manipulating their father to help break it free.  

The trio train in order to prepare for the battle against their father and his Ten Rings forces.  Their father arrives, and the battle ensures.  As Wenwu attacks the gate after disposing of Shang-Chi, he starts to let some of the dark creatures loose.  Shang-Chi then comes back and manages to fight off his father, but the Dweller escapes and attacks Tao Lo.  Wenwu saves Shang-Chi, and sacrifices himself, but not before giving him the Ten Rings, thus granting Shang-Chi the power to help defeat the Dweller.  Along with help from Katy and Xialing, the manage to defeat the creature and end the threat.  

Shang-Chi and Katy return to San Francisco, and tell their friends of their adventures, when Wong steps through a magical portal to get Shang-Chi and Katy, and take them to Kamar-Taj in order to learn more about the rings.  Along with Dr. Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers, they try to crack the mystery of the Ten Rings, which they reason is a beacon summoning somthing to them.  Carol departs on a mission, and Bruce welcomes the duo to a whole new world.  

We then see Xialing in her father's compound, ready to take over where he left off, and build the Ten Rings clan back up.  

This movie was spectacular!  The story was well crafted, and I'm not sure how much Chinese folklore was used, but it gives it grivitas, and gives you that feel of ancient history, as well as A LOT of mysticism.  Seeing Wong in this movie was awesome, especially when he's fighting the Abomination.  Blonsky hasn't been seen in 10 plus  years, so it's was awesome to see him again, looking EXACTLY like his comic book counterpart.  And it also seems that the fight he and Wong had was a work, as Wong is teaching him how to fight to earn money.  Katy and Trevor provided TONS of comic relief, and it was GREAT that Trevor had a kind-of redemption arc for his story.  Michelle Yeoh ALWAYS provides great screen presence, especially in the role of a wise mentor or parent.  And the chemistry between Simu Liu and Akwafina was just stellar.  I wonder what with Xialing taking over her father's gang, whether or not that will bring her into conflict with her brother down the road, and will SHE try to obtain the Ten Rings from him.  What we DO know is that the Ten Rings play a MUCH bigger part than we can inagine...and not sure if they play a part in Doctor Strange's upcoming movie, or we'll have to wait until the sequel for Shang-Chi in order to find out.  But I do know that they've got us excited.

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