“Shang-Chi, the master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.” – IMDB
If you read my last post, Eternals, then you’ll know that I was doubting the future of the Marvel franchise. Luckily, Spider-Man: No Way Home and Shang-Chi came to save the day, as superheroes do.
Shang-Chi had the point of view and character development that Eternals so sorely lacked. The story begins with Shang-Chi, whose father found the ten rings over a thousand years ago and became a powerful, unstoppable warrior using their magic. However, he one day attempts to breach the walls of mystical universe Ta Lo and is stopped by Shang-Chi’s more powerful mother, whom he falls in love with. The two start a family together, have two children including Shang-Chi and his sister, Xialing, and enjoy domestic life together until Shang-Chi’s mother is brutally murdered in a plot for revenge on Shang-Chi’s father.
This causes the remaining three family members to fracture and to live separately around the world for ten years, until Shang-Chi’s father returns to tell his children that he believes their mother is being held captive by her Ta Lo family. He has been hearing voices telling him that she is being imprisoned in order to keep her from her family. However, Shang-Chi and Xialing (rightfully) have no trust in their father and decide to venture to Ta Lo themselves in order to discover the truth.
The plot is complex and fulfilling, the visuals and martial arts are stunning, and the acting is wonderful (Awkwafina is hilarious, as always). Shang-Chi has an entirely developed point of view that allows you, as an audience member, to sit back and enjoy the ride. Unlike Eternals, if I had to recommend one Marvel movie to someone starting out the series, this would definitely be in the running.
Rating: 8 out 10 Claire Bears
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If you like this movie, you should also watch: You have about 829894723832984 hours of Marvel films, shows, and comics to choose from.
Streaming: Disney+
With: Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung
Directed By: Destin Daniel Cretton
Let Me Clarify 