The CHIEF September 2021

Film Review

By Mason Christianson

Movie Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Marvel has finally figured out how to create fun movies again. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is not only one of the best Marvel projects this year, but it may be one of the best Marvel projects ever. THE GOOD: Shang-Chi, a brilliant addition to the MCU, can be funny, heartfelt, and wicked. His action scenes are high-octane, and they stand out vividly among the other action scenes from the marvel movies. The action is also able to effortlessly fuse Jackie-Chan style kung-fu with the power and force of Bruce Lee combat. The story and family elements also make the story interesting rather than some action-adventure story like every other Marvel movie. However, the best part of Shang-Chi was the building of the new world. The landscape of his homeworld is so refreshing and magical, and it makes the movie feel very different in that way. THE BAD: The humor in the film did not work for a majority of the first act. However, the jokes started to land consistently once the second act began. The last act of the movie also felt a little bland compared to the amazing first and second act. The last act turns into a marvel movie, but it takes place in a completely different landscape, so it is still stylish in the moment. Overall, Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings deserves very high praise, and the box office numbers clearly reflect the status of the movie. I hope the MCU will embrace Shang-Chi more than they do at the moment, and that they will mold him into one of their superstars.