Review: Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

By Anusha Fago, Staff Writer

Marvel Entertainment has taken over theaters once again with the release of “Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings.”

Rising above the exhaustive list of Marvel movies released in the past decade, “Shang Chi” delivers a spectacle of a film complete with exceptional performances and meaningful themes surrounding family and self-fulfilment. In addition to its visionary realization in the same vein as other Marvel game-changers like “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” and “Black Panther,” the film capitalizes on a soulful exploration that defines a unique, emotionally impactful watching experience, especially striking for a superhero movie.

Marvel’s first martial arts-centered movie, “Shang-Chi” focuses primarily on the dysfunctional relationship between Shang-Chi and his sinister father, Xu Wenwu.

Wenwu, a criminal mastermind, wields mystical weapons called the Ten Rings, which grant him supernatural powers. This concept of the rings derives from earlier iterations in the Marvel comics; in previous versions the rings are placed around fingers, as opposed to the film, where they go around arms. Each ring conjures a unique ability: ice projection, fire projection, light manipulation, etc.

Shang Chi’s journey in the movie is shaped by his troubled past, his relationship with his father, and his own quest to discover his purpose in life.

This movie is a unique telling of the origin of Shang Chi, unlike anything that has come before. As opposed to previous Marvel origin stories which are typically told in a linear structure, as in moving from one plot point to the next, the film instead opts to tell its story in real time as well as through interrupting flashbacks. This effectively creates a well-paced journey for the audience to enjoy; plot developments are delivered naturally.

Amidst the many complaints levied against Marvel for its movies being too cookie-cutter and predictable, “Shang Chi” is a fresh take that is sure to leave moviegoers on the edge of their seats.