I’ve been a big fan of the Marvel movies since Blade burst onto our screens in 1998 (although I wasn’t aware it was a Marvel film at the time).
I’ve been an avid watcher of all the films released as part of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) but I have to admit, since the Infinity Gauntlet storyline ended with Avengers Endgame in 2019 I’ve felt a bit done with it all.
I think I was so invested in the characters and the incredibly well sewn together storylines of all the films that I kind of feel like it’s peaked and the momentum has gone.
That said, and with some hesitation I decide to watch one of Marvel’s latest offerings at the weekend.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
If you haven’t seen it, it’s a sci-fi/fantasy/action/adventure starring Simu Liu (Kim’s Convenience), Awkwafina (Jumanji: The Next Level), Tony Chiu-Wai Leung (Hero) and Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) among many others.
This is what it’s about according to the internet:
Martial-arts master Shang-Chi confronts the past he thought he left behind when he's drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.
I absolutely loved this movie!
A friend of mine has a saying, “low expectations, positive outcome” and that couldn’t be truer than in this case. Incidentally I went into Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) with the same mindset and now both of those films are among my top 5 favourite Marvel movies.
Despite my initial doubts I had a feeling I was going to like it right from the opening credits, but it was the bus scene early on in the film confirmed it.
I loved pretty much everything about it! The story, the characters, the fight sequences, the visuals…
I particularly liked the Asian mythology element and the idea that the powers of nature can be harnessed and manipulated. The movie also has that classic “good guy vs bad guy” thing going on (although it’s not 100% clear who the real bad guy is until much later in the film). I’m a real sucker for that kind of thing, as I am a good fight scene, and there are plenty of those in this movie!
Considering I only recognised a few of the cast members (a couple of which shall remain unnamed so as to not give away spoilers), I thought everyone was brilliant!
There are a few subtitled scenes which you’d probably expect but they’re not to be put off by.
I’m the first to admit that I’m both ignorant AND lazy when it comes to foreign films. I’m not a huge fan of subtitles but we’re talking less than two minutes worth in the whole film and they’re completely necessary. In fact, there’s no reason why the whole film couldn’t have been subtitled, but then I guess people like me would’ve been put off watching it.
This is one of Marvel’s better films in my opinion. I’d even go as far as to say that I enjoyed it more than either of the latest Spider-Man offerings, but then I’m more of a Tobey Maguire/Sam Raimi Spidey kind of guy anyway.
You don’t have to be a Marvel fan to enjoy this film. There are references to the others but you’re not going to miss all that much if you haven’t seen any or all of them.
If you like fantasy, action and martial arts you’re in for a treat. I definitely recommend giving it a watch.
It’s available on Disney+ as part of the subscription.
Seen it? Let me know what you think.