Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.
You know for the past couple of films in MCU that i've watched (for the most parts), we saw a genius man with armor, a powerful soldier with a powerful shield, a man got a radiation of rage, a boy with spider power, a agile Russian spy, a unique group in a galaxy and many others that we had or even about to have in the future, but there's one hero that might be a unique idea for Western's taste (perhaps?), a superhero with martial arts.
"Shang-Chi and the legends of Ten Rings" (talk about a mouthful name, eh?) is a 2021 superhero martial arts film that was written/directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, produced by Kevin Fiege (of course he's been in MCU a lot, as im working my review) and Jonathan Shwartz and co-written by Dave Callaham and Andrew Lanham (for screenplay).
The idea of the film came from 20 years ago, where the film was originally to be a TV show to be based on "Master of Kung Fu" and it was originally starring Brandon Lee with the title called "The Hands of Shang-Chi" with handing over the concept to Dreamworks Pictures, but it ended up with constant changing with directors to a tragic report where Brandon Lee was accidentally died from a gun prop while working on The Crow. Fast forward when we have MCU, they originally intended to having a movie about Manderin as an origin before Iron Man, but it wouldn't happen until we have Iron Man 3 that we have Manderin, but giving a very bad reveal, even Kevin Feige felt the idea of the imposter Manderin really ruined the development in the existance on MCU, that is until Destin Daniel Cretton step ahead to having a movie with Asian lead since the African-American lead in Black Panther (also, R.I.P., Chadwick Boseman, you are amazing back then...) to having Shang-Chi in MCU with bringing back Manderin element in this movie.
So, with all that said, will this movie give us a great martial arts film in MCU, or do we got swerved in the same way as Iron Man 3?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
For a MCU film with martial arts, we maybe assuming its gonna be a typical story of main fighter is dealing with group of bad guys or learn for the special powers? Well, its quite different, but in a fascinating way.
It begins from thousands of years ago, where we introducing a man with Ten Rings named "Xu Wenwu", where he uses his rings to be granted with immortality and godly power to conquering against kingdoms and toppling the governments, however in 1996, the one goal that he wasn't able to succeed is going to a mythical village called "Ta Lo", thanks to the forest is moving to blocking the path, not before he meets a guardian named "Ying Li", despite they fought each others, they have a mercy fight and falling in love and having their twin children Shang-Chi and Xu Xialing, despite Wenwu is attempt to passed his Ten Rings to focus on family, but time has changed, Ying Li is tragically killed from the thugs called "Iron Gang", Shang and Xialing are separated for his training by his father and Shang has packing up to San Francisco as "Shaun" to change his life after being traumatized from the past.
Fast forward to present time, Shaun works as a parking valet with his best pal Katy in adopted family, however, he was targeted by the members of Ten Rings (including Razor Fist) for not just fighting against our hero, but also stealing the pendant, so Shang-Chi has no choice to not only revealing his past, but also going to Macau to reuniting and also his father Wenwu (though he did mentioned he was "The Manderin", which is a lot more sense than Trevor the imposter, or did he in the movie?), its up to Shang, his sister Xialing and Katy for their journey to Ta Lo for the secret truth behind his family.
I find the movie's plot is pretty impressive how we invested to our main hero that he's struggling from a traumatic path that he's gotta find the answer and how to be motivated to get away from the fear, sure the story of going a mysterious place feels like its been done before that we've heard, but its the execution of the presence that really surprising us, but we'll get to the presentation later on. When it comes to the writing, despite it focuses on action, but its nice writing for the drama, our character development and even some humor, cause i gotta admit, it did made me chuckles at some moments, because hey, its MCU.
Overall, despite story is kinda lacking based on focus of action, but at least the writing is well-written to invest our characters, the journey to mythical village and as well for the respect of presentation and exploration of Asian culture.
The Presentation
Although its predictable its another outstanding work, but, this is a MCU martial arts film and honestly, its a pretty impressive work.
The filming began in February 2020 on Fox Studios Australia and various locations in New South Wales with the help of William Pope, especially with a cinematography style since Pope has done with The Matrix. But since they started in 2020, pandemic breaking in when the virus hit all over the world, leaving the filming on halt before going back to business on July and August, but under the guideline in Australia. Even though some locations are in real life, but of them are done with sets and green screen, and i gotta say, the locations setting looks pretty cool in order to perfectly fit for Asian cultures from the compound of the Ten Rings to a bright and colorful world of Ta Lo, sure the compounds are typical dark and edgy from Ten Rings, but i love the mythical landscape of Ta Lo, its bright and colorful.
For the effects and the designs, like i said, the filming locations is all done in digital with the usage on Google Street View and some crew members of Fast and Furious series for some of the actions like the bus fight scene, because again, pandemic. Which is understandable what they have to, but despite being forced from pandemic, it actually looks impressive for the effects. Not to mention with other effects from the manipulation of Ten Rings, the energy power, the special weapons and some creatures, while some creatures look great, but some have a odd design, like Hundun, who appear to be a mammal with bird wings, but without a head, i know its weird, but that what its told from Chinese Mythology. As for the costumes, they're pretty cool too, making some of their outfits like Shang-Chi, Wenwu or others have a cool and well-fitting design.
And as for the action, oh man, the choreography are impressive for the fight scenes. In fact, this is an inspiration concept of various martial arts film like Jackie Chan films, Ip Man, Tai Chi Master ad many more, as well as animes and video games. This is thanks for the help of supervising stunt coordinators such as the team members of Jackie Chan Stunt Team and Brad Allen in order to make the fight scenes consistent for the styles and a Hong Kong action cinema, as well with some elements pf stunt comedy style based on Buster Keaton. And i gotta say, the choreography are outstanding and good first taste if anyone like to see a martial arts film like this.
But, Brad Allen did a nice work for action scene, sadly on 7 August 2021, he passed away from his illness with his age of 48, way too early before 50. In fact, this film dedicated to him for his involvement, he deserves a respect and his amazing work with previous films like 1999's Gorgeous with Jackie Chan with a fast paste fight scene. Rest in Peace, Bradley James Allen, you are amazing.
The presentation is still amazing for MCU standard, but we can all agree that the martial arts are definitely the highlights of this film, which makes the good reason why i love martial arts films, eh?
The Characters
Unlike from the very past that the characters are either generic or offensively racial, the characters in this movie are surprisingly memorable.
Lets start with our titular hero named Shang-Chi (played by Simu Liu), he's a skilled martial artist that he was originally to be the member of Ten Rings, but left to focus his personal life in San Francisco for not only live himself in peace, but also struggling his fear from the past. Like i said he's our main protagonist to giving us the first taste of martial arts and it works, not because of his set of skills, but also we can invest our hero that despite dealing from his traumatic past, but has to be brave and motivated, even if when his skills and his identity is discovered, he's gotta find the answer from Ten Rings to Ta Lo. Simu did a great job for his role and his fighting skills.
Next is Katy (played by Awkwafina, aka Sisu from Raya and the last dragon, which i reviewed it before), she works as a hotel valet for taking car the parked cars and being Shang's (or Shaun) best friend in adopted family. She's definitely the comedic sidekick in the movie (You know, like any Disney projects), though she might be useless to be a sidekick, but in fairness, at least she gets a chance to shine for heling out our main hero. Of course, Awkwafina is once again, did a pretty good and fun work of her role, i mean, i've already gave a respect to her since she played Sisu.
After that, we have Shang's sister Xu Xialing (played by Meng'er Zhang), she's an estranged one that she was originally to be trained by her father, but got rejected that Wenwu is focusing on Shang-Chi, leaving her all alone to making her own foundation after ran away from her father to blame. Even though she's sorta being a rebellious type, but at least they made her as a badass sister for owning her underground style fight club in Macau, especially for her skills of MMA, tai chi. In a very interesting, this is Zhang's very first role as im working this, sure she had a theatre role since 2013 called "Finding Destiny", but in for her very first film role, she did a good work and we'll wishing her a good luck for her acting role in films in the future, especially in MCU.
Then we have Xu Wenwu (played by Tony Leung), he's the founder of the Ten Rings for thousands of years. thanks to using his powerful Ten Rings on his hands for conquering journey before nearly focusing his family life after getting married and have a children. Despite one mission that he's always looking for is Ta Lo. Not to mention, he's also mentioned he was nicknamed by the public as "The Manderin" (And i DO mean he's the OG Manderin in MCU). Even though he's depicted as a realized villain whether he made a bad choices or whatnot, but he's sinister and harshly demanding whenever his mission is unfinished. He's basically the leader of Ten Rings with his two face role, ranging from somewhat a nice person for his kids, while others being sociopath, narcissist and hungry for love ever since Ying Li died. Even though its not easy to have a sympathy for Wenwu, but Tony did a good work as a villain.
Speaking of "Manderin", how about our old "friend" Trevor Slattery (played by Ben Kingsley, aka Bagheera from The Jungle Book 2016), if anybody who ask why Trevor is "Manderin", consider this as a Spoiler Warning which he was first introduced in Iron Man 3 as i said before;
We first introducing him as "The Manderin", it builds him up how sinister and threatening he is when he's going to pull a terrorist threat against America or anywhere, but once the late Tony Stark found out about The Manderin, he reveals himself to be an actor to pull his stunt ever since he took a lot of drugs while working with the REAL antagonist Aldrich Killian. In my opinion, his revealing is quite possibly the worst plot twist in MCU history that we assuming he's the main villain, but ended up insulting our intelligence, no wonder why Iron Man 3 is many people consider it as the black sheep of Iron Man's trilogy, well, that or Iron Man 2.
Anyway, back to Shang-Chi, Trevor is back, this time, originally sentenced to death (due to you know, being addicted to drugs to act like a villain is a "Good idea" right?? Right???), but reduced to becoming Wenwu's jester, especially with his Hundun pet named "Morris". Despite he's gonna be like a secondary comedic role, but he's also giving a plot convenient to helping our heroes for the whereabouts on Ta Lo. Even though Trevor is quite possibly the most hated character in MCU, but in this movie, im glad he's been changed to somewhat a likable character, and with all to Ben, at least he's having fun to playing his character again.
As for the rest of the characters, they're pretty cool too, but just want to clearing up from my list, whether they have plot developments too or something fascinating, like the late Ying Li (played by Fala Chen) who used to be the guardian of Ta Lo when she's married with Wenwu before giving motivation to our main hero before her death, Razor Fist (played by Florian Munteanu) is a badass high rank member of Ten Rings thanks to his use of machete from his right arm, Ying Nan (played by Michelle Yeoh) who's the guardian in Ta Lo and an aunt of Shang-Chi and Xialing, btw, this isn't the first time that Michelle appeared in MCU, she also played as Aleta Ogord in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2", Jon-Jon (played by Ronny Chieng) is Xialing's right-handed man and an announcer of fight club, Guang Bo (played by Yuen Wah) who's somewhat of a harsh leader of Ta Lo (probably being over protective) and Death Dealer (played by Andy Le) who's Ten Ring's assassin since Shang's youth.
Of course, the movie brought us some returns like Wong (played by Benedict Wong) who's Dr. Strange's sidekick and Abomination (played by Tim Roth) who's The Hulk's main villain, and somehow, he'll be back in upcoming She-Hulk.
The characters are pretty fascinating for their developments, a nice casting and lovable that we can invest them.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, "Shang-Chi and the legend of Ten Rings" is a pretty damn good movie for both fans of Marvel and martial arts, with well-written film, outstanding action scenes of martial arts, the presentation is pretty good and the characters are memorable for the action, the development and lovable.
Sure, while the writing is well done, but the story could've been more focus than the action in my opinion and the forced production in pandemic guideline is understandable for why the backgrounds are done with building sets and CG, despite they look rather pretty good.
This film is so good to what if you love martial arts, its definitely a highly recommended film if you love both superheroes and martial arts, like you'll definitely won't disappointed.
I wanted to give a perfect rating, but due to some flaws i have in my nitpick, i have to dropping it to slightly perfect rating of 9/10.
So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on https://ko-fi.com/blackevil.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
