Since its release on Sept. 3rd, Twitter, Instagram and other social media sites have not stopped talking about Marvel Studios’ new movie, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”
It is the 25th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the first Marvel movie since 2019’s “Captain Marvel” to feature a new character at the center of the plot.
Shang-Chi, played by breakout star Simu Lu, is the first Asian superhero in the MCU to be the titular character of his own movie. Fans have been calling for diverse representation in the movies for a while and it seems like Marvel is trying to deliver. They still have a long way to go, but “Shang-Chi” is a start.
After seeing my Twitter feed to do nothing but praise the movie, and as an avid MCU fan, I was anxious to see it. I was worried that it was too overhyped and that I would be disappointed, but I am pleased to say that it was not the case and that “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” deserves every single round of applause it has been getting.
My only complaint with the film is a small one that can easily be overlooked. There are way too many slow-motion scenes. After the fourth or fifth time the action sequence slowed, it started to get slightly annoying. When used sparingly, slow-motion sequences can help elevate the tension of certain moments, but “Shang-Chi” used them too much for them to have any impact. The only one that heightened my emotions was during the final fight scene. Any other time, I was rolling my eyes.
That one grievance is quickly overlooked when I examine what “Shang-Chi” did right. The characters are well-rounded, and I found myself caring about them quickly, especially Katie, played by Awkwafina, who is Shang-Chi’s best friend. She had me howling in the movie theater. Katie encompasses what every college student feels all the time: the worry that what you are doing is wrong and wondering where your life is meant to go. She was funny and relatable, and I cannot wait to see where her storyline will take her.
Obviously, the strongest and best-written character in the movie is Shang-Chi himself. Lu’s performance was amazing, and Marvel Studios will definitely benefit from having him on their roster. Despite Shang-Chi being a physically strong character, he is still vulnerable around his friends and family. He is a well-developed male character who is allowed to show emotion regarding his family, and we see him go on this complex journey to understanding his emotions about his father. It was a wonderful thing to see represented on screen.
One of the highlights of the film is definitely the CGI work. “Shang-Chi” is such a visually appealing film to watch. They definitely drew inspiration from Asian culture and landscaping, and the result is spectacular. The magic used was a breathtaking array of bright colors that took the fight sequences to a whole new level. I would not be surprised to see screenshots from the film on Tumblr girl’s aesthetic accounts.
My favorite scenes of the movie were the fight scenes (at least when they were not in slow-motion). Compared to other Marvel movies, these were like dances rather than fights. They were so artistically choreographed, and I found myself fascinated by them. Each character has a distinct style of fighting that was easy to pick out. It was very interesting to watch.
If you can, get out and see “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” If you are not one of the millions of Marvel fans across the world, then you will be after seeing “Shang-Chi.”
