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It’s telling when the Marvel Cinematic Universe uses its immense power to operate an assembly line. But it’s just as telling when there’s a deeply human spark to one of their projects, allowing franchise values like great spectacle, striking performances, and intricate depictions of family to prevail. “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is the latest addition to the latter category, taking after previous Marvel movies that introduced a vision and became benchmarks: “ Captain America: The Winter Soldier ,” “ Black Panther ,” and “ Thor: Ragnarok ” come to mind. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton , this film fits into Marvel packaging in its own way, but it has an immense soulfulness that other MCU movies, superhero movies, and action movies in general should take notes from.

Simu Liu stars as Shang-Chi, a key piece to a broken family that has a history of infighting. The dysfunctional family dynamics are even more important than the ten rings that grant such immense power to Shang Chi’s power-hungry father Wenwu, who has lived for 1,000 years and created a society called the Ten Rings that has destroyed kingdoms and swayed the events all over the world. When Wenwu found love with Jiang Li ( Fala Chen ), there was peace. They married and started a family. But after Shang-Chi’s mother died, a newly monstrous Wenwu tried to mature his son by making him a killer, causing the young boy to leave behind his sister Xialing ( Meng'er Zhang ) and Wenwu. Cretton, who previously directed “ Short Term 12 ,” an Avengers-like showcase of indie rising talent ( Brie Larson , LaKeith Stanfield , Rami Malek , etc.) keeps those visceral, personal stakes in this script (by himself, Dave Callaham , and Andrew Lanham ), so that the superhero context is a bonus to the drama. The film is a mega-budget ballet, one that glides and floats over an abyss of grief.

This backstory comes for Shang-Chi, known as an American adult as Shaun, when he rides the bus with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) up and down the hills of San Francisco. A group of henchmen attack Shang-Chi for a green pendant he wears around his neck, and in a beat that’s prefaced like a power-up (to Katy's funny surprise), Shaun’s immense courage suddenly comes to light. So too do his fighting skills, which help make for an incredible melee scene of hand-to-hand combat that has the camera gazing for long shots and freely going in and out of the moving bus, just like its impromptu hero. The scene lacks for its yowch-factor—especially compared to how “ Nobody ” did the same thing with appropriate blood earlier this year—but it side-steps that element by being fast-paced, even longer than you think it’ll be, and very funny. It’s the birth of an action star in Liu, and an amazing debut for a character who will find himself in fight scenes here of escalating intensity.

The power for this film, however, comes through in the eyes of his father, Wenwu. One of the movie’s most brilliant choices is casting Tony Leung so that he can repeat the same magic he’s had from countless romances and dramas in Hong Kong. Leung rules this movie. With the same silent passion and stillness that made “ In the Mood for Love ” one of the greatest romances of all time, Leung destroys armies, raises a family, and struggles to resist destructive grief; his presence is made all the more powerful by the ten blue rings that help him slingshot around and destroy whatever is in his path. When he hears the voice of what could be his wife from behind a cave of rock, Wenwu becomes a Darth Vader-like tyrant, driving a campaign to rampage through the mother’s magical home known as Ta Lo, in order to get to a cave that everyone else knows (including his son and daughter) has an apocalyptic, soul-sucking dragon inside. It’s the best performance from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, because the passion and grief it expresses is appropriately Leung-sized.

Cretton is able to take this enthralling movie from one scene to the next with this vivid sense of a brother and sister trying to stop their father from destroying everything because he can’t move on. It’s a more devastating threat than the usual world domination thing, and it parallels how the script builds out the painful backstory of Shang-Chi and his similarly skilled and aggrieved sister, Xialing. With a few strong twists along the way, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” turns into an adventure and a homecoming to a peaceful realm from a whole different time, which brings in a sweet, magnetic performance from Michelle Yeoh . These passages, as balletic as the entire movie, detail how Shang-Chi learned two different fighting approaches—life philosophies, really—from his mother and father.

It doesn't seem like a coincidence that a massive Hollywood tentpole sincerely based on character-based kung fu has inspired such rich fight scenes, and it makes the film even more of a refreshing blast. Cretton and his team constantly play with height, light, reflections, and staging when it comes to orchestrating a fight set-piece that surprises the audience (like a jaw-dropping, way-up-high nighttime battle royale on some scaffolding in Macao), and then foregrounds the choreography as the main spectacle; it’s not just about who is throwing the punches and kicks. I should admit that numerous beats in these sharply edited sequences blew me back in my chair, an involuntary filmmaking nerd response I’ve had to similar movies that inspired this one: “ Skyfall ,” “ The Grandmaster ,” for starters.

“Shang-Chi"'s thrilling’s embrace of clarity, of nudging your imagination instead of doing all the work for you, spreads the inspired special effects that enhance the magic of this story and the world of its characters. There’s an evocative use of water—it bursts from walls, floats in the air, and makes a map of icicles—a striking way of depicting a moment that usually would just get a hologram. The movie even throws in a charming animated cute sidekick that cleverly subverts the expectations of cute faces on plush-looking sidekicks. The dominating usage of CGI—the kind that requires dark clouds, as we saw in the grand battle of “ Avengers: Endgame ”—is saved for the last massive sequence, which is such an over-the-top, giddy, rollercoaster ride that you can’t help but root for it.

The Avengers, the new roster at least, lurk on the periphery of “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” but Cretton’s film benefits from establishing its deeper family and friend relationships. Liu and Awkwafina have adorable, platonic chemistry as two valet workers who are thrust into another adventure, this one more intense than their karaoke nights; Awkwafina in particular becomes a vital source of levity for the script, and a welcoming audience surrogate as the film ramps up to a large battle. She helps the humor pop even more compared to the story’s darker themes, making numerous passages of the movie not only thrilling but charming and funny.

As for Shang-Chi himself, well: take away the comic relief that lovingly dunks on him, or the battling schools of fighting from his parents that swirl within him, and there’s not too much personality to the character. It’s a distinct void when one reflects on the performance, given that Liu is so watchable in how he combines a striking, bulky presence with endearing innocence, a la Channing Tatum ’s own box office dominating days. It becomes telling of the imperfect balancing act of this script that its main character needs a little emphasis in his sequel; the same could be said for other intriguing characters like Xialing, a vengeful bad-ass in her own right not given enough screen time or depth, especially considering where she ends up.

Without spoiling, the movie does make some efforts to address Marvel’s previously problematic presentations of Asian characters, and while the moments are used for some self-deprecating comic relief, they remind me of two things: how it’s impossible for these Marvel films to exist in a vacuum, and how much more work needs to be done. Even the people who helped make this movie stumble through talking about it, like when Disney CEO Bob Chapek insensitively said this was an “ interesting experiment ,” a phrase that indicates a secondary status, something unofficial. The statement is ignorant in many ways, but especially after one witnesses the many triumphs of “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” It embraces fruitful ideas, big and small, whether in cohesive action scenes, embracing platonic friendships in a mega-budget movie, or introducing a new exciting hero who also has to instruct his friend (and the audience) on how to properly say his name. This movie is not an experiment for Marvel and Disney. It is a promising template for how they can get it right again.

Exclusively in theaters on September 3rd.

Nick Allen is the former Senior Editor at RogerEbert.com and a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

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Film credits.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings movie poster

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and language.

132 minutes

Simu Liu as Shang-Chi

Tony Leung Chiu-Wai as Wenwu / The Mandarin

Awkwafina as Katy

Meng'er Zhang as Xialing

Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan

Ronny Chieng as Jon Jon

Fala Chen as Jiang Li

Destin Daniel Cretton

Writer (characters)

Steve Englehart
Jim Starlin
Dave Callaham
Andrew Lanham

Cinematographer

Nat Sanders
Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir
Joel P. West

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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Reviews

We have a film that serves as an important step in terms of improved global representation, but also serves as a spectacular rollercoaster ride full of enchantment and sentimentality.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 15, 2024

After “Avengers: Endgame” (2019), MCU movies have been adequate, but not exhilarating whereas “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” leaves you wanting more because of the humor, character development, poignant, dynamic trajectory of the story

Full Review | Jun 12, 2024

Tony Leung is as good as advertised, but the rest of this movie struggles to live up to that performance.

Full Review | Feb 27, 2024

Shang Chi's strongest element is how it handles relationships between family and friends.

Full Review | Aug 11, 2023

THIS IS A GAME CHANGER For the Asian Community, For the MCU when it comes to Debut/Origin Films, & Overall Simu’s Career! The MCU has a brand new hero

Full Review | Jul 26, 2023

Through the outstanding mix of long takes, impressive fighting choreography, and jaw-dropping stunt work, Simu Liu shines with his martial arts skills, but also in tackling the identity issues of the protagonist.

Full Review | Original Score: A- | Jul 25, 2023

Thrilling and entertaining from start to finish, Shang-Chi cements itself as easily one of the best films in the MCU franchise.

Full Review | Original Score: A- | Jul 19, 2023

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is obsessed with its backstory for the better. It's fun, it's exciting, and it's sure to rejuvenate the interest in youth practicing martial arts.

Full Review | Original Score: 6.5/10 | Feb 23, 2023

All in all, it’s one of the best Marvel flicks of the past decade, and easily one of the best films of the year.

Full Review | Feb 10, 2023

I left the theater wanting to parkour onto a bus, leap into a construction site and dragon kick some bad guys in their throats. And then sing some karaoke.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Jan 7, 2023

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings combines compelling characters, awe-inspiring action, and effective emotion to create a stunning superhero spectacle - and one of the best Marvel movies in years.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Sep 1, 2022

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings brings Hong Kong martial arts action to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with an Asian American twist, creating a beautiful blend of East and West styles.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Aug 22, 2022

A few issues with the writing and the direction keep “Shang-Chi” from being top-tier MCU. But you’ll find that there is enough scattered throughout the film’s 132 minutes to keep you entertained.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 17, 2022

"I really really liked the film and thought it was a good origin story."

Full Review | Original Score: A | Jun 2, 2022

While it still hits every single MCU storytelling beat, Shang-Chi at least manages to evolve the franchise's action and provide a bit of refreshing diversity to the superhero world.

Full Review | May 30, 2022

Just when you think they've run out of tricks, "Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings" will remind you once again why you love Marvel.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | May 20, 2022

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS is a fun and of course very welcome addition to the MCU with a fantastic first half and a slightly weaker second half, that becomes a little bit too formulaic and CGI dominant.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Apr 8, 2022

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has great energy, strong direction, and a fresh new set of characters. The film makes some missteps in the second half that move it a bit too far away from the strong central conflict between father and son.

Full Review | Original Score: 7.5/10 | Mar 8, 2022

"Not for nothing, it helps that we have the eyes of Tony Leung to transport us, to put us in the mood for following this particular love story instead of inevitably jumping forward in time to more familiar MCU destinations."

Full Review | Feb 22, 2022

Thirteen years and twenty-five films in, one could be forgiven for dreading yet another destiny to fulfil, another climactic battle to win. However, (this film) gives us a reason to care, and enough breadcrumbs to prove there are exciting things ahead.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Feb 17, 2022

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‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Review: House of Hidden Dragons

A millennial slacker reckons with his past — and his family of warriors.

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By Maya Phillips

Home is where the heart is. Unless you’re Shang-Chi. Then home is where your mother’s mystical secret village — and its dragon guardian — is. That’s the case in Marvel’s unsteady “ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ,” directed by Destin Daniel Cretton with an obliging eye toward kung fu cinema, but not much else.

Meet Shaun (Simu Liu). He’s your typical millennial slacker, content with his valet job, where he works with his equally listless best friend, Katy (Awkwafina). But Shaun has a secret: his mother (Fala Chen), who died when he was a child, was a master martial artist from an alternate dimension. Oh, and dad (Tony Leung) is a conqueror with a secret ninja army and 10 magical arm rings. And sis, Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), hasn’t been in touch for a while; she’s got an underground “ Fight Club ”-style empire to rule over. When Shaun, a.k.a. Shang-Chi , receives a cryptic message, he gets pulled into a family reunion and must reckon with his past.

“ Shang-Chi ” peppers its hero’s tragic back story throughout but doesn’t fully acquaint us with him in the present before it jumps into his past. As in “ Black Widow ,” here’s a case of a protagonist who can’t compete with the more fascinating characters around him. Take Leung’s character, a toxic yet charismatic father, constantly pivoting between tender vulnerability and the destructive temper that masks it. Xialing, too, is wonderfully fierce as a lady kingpin. Too bad she falls into one of Marvel’s reliable tropes: the cool sister waiting in the margins of the story. (Other examples include Yelena Belova , Shuri and even the seductively villainous Hela .)

Then there’s the beloved sidekick, a role Awkwafina satisfies in much the same way she has in several other films, as in the street-smart hustler Constance and the tacky nouveau-riche bestie Peik Lin — which is to say awkwardly and obnoxiously. She does double-duty as the hero’s potential love interest, an equally ill-fitting part given the lack of chemistry between her and Liu. (Benedict Wong, appearing as the tether to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, however, is delightful as always, even in his brief and transparent function in the film.)

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Marvel's 1st Asian Superhero Gets The Full Blockbuster Treatment In 'Shang-Chi'

Justin Chang

Simu Liu plays a young kung fu master who's hiding from his diabolical father in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Marvel/Disney Studios hide caption

Simu Liu plays a young kung fu master who's hiding from his diabolical father in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

The best moments in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings are the ones where you almost — almost — forget you're watching a Marvel movie. Some of the hallmarks are still there: the deft comic banter, the high-flying action, the passing references to other characters and events in the Marvel universe.

But the movie doesn't get bogged down in series minutiae. It takes place some time after the last two Avengers movies — you know, when half the world was wiped out and then brought back, and several fan favorites said goodbye. But you don't need to know or care about any of that to enjoy this mostly stand-alone story, which brings us into new dramatic terrain.

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New cultural terrain, too. Nearly 50 years after the character of Shang-Chi made his comic-book debut, during the '70s martial-arts craze, he's now the first Asian superhero to get the full Marvel movie treatment. When we first meet Shang-Chi, played by Simu Liu from TV's Kim's Convenience , he's a young man calling himself Shaun and living a pretty ordinary life in San Francisco.

But one day, Shaun and his slackerish friend Katy — an amusing Awkwafina — are violently ambushed on a bus, and Shaun fends off their attackers with a dazzling array of martial-arts moves. Turns out there's a lot he hasn't told Katy, like the fact that he's a kung fu master who's been hiding for years from his father, a very evil, very powerful centuries-old Chinese warlord named Wenwu.

Now his father has found him and sent his goons after him. Determined to figure out why, Shaun flies to Macao with Katy to meet up with his estranged sister, Xialing. Once there, the movie becomes a full-blown dysfunctional family drama with darkly funny overtones.

At times I felt like I was watching a comedy about the all-too-relatable tensions between a traditional Chinese parent and his wayward Westernized offspring, though one in which, of course, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. The siblings have to put their own issues aside and unite against their diabolical father, who derives his power from the 10 rings of the title — metal armbands that have made him immortal and almost invincible.

Wenwu is the latest version of a notorious Marvel supervillain called the Mandarin who was introduced in the '60s as a mustache-twirling Fu Manchu stereotype. But the filmmakers have smartly redefined the character, who's played — in an inspired piece of casting — by the Hong Kong screen legend Tony Leung.

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You might know Leung from his work in Wong Kar-wai's magnificent romantic dramas such as In the Mood for Love . Here, he gives us a more extreme vision of obsessive desire: Years ago, Wenwu tragically lost his wife, Shang-Chi and Xialing's mother. Now he's hellbent on bringing her back, with a scheme that could have devastating consequences for all humanity.

All this family angst gives Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings unusual emotional intensity for a superhero movie. Xialing, nicely played by Meng'er Zhang, resents her father for neglecting her as a child, which makes it all the more unfortunate that the movie somewhat sidelines her, too. As for Shang-Chi, he has a complicated, vaguely Oedipal rivalry with his father, who turned him into the fighting machine he is and subjected him to all manner of cruel manipulation and abuse. Liu is an appealing lead, though he doesn't always fully convey the depths of his character's trauma.

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He's better in the lighter, funnier scenes with Awkwafina, and having worked as a stunt performer, he's terrific in the movie's extended fight sequences. They're a big improvement on the blandly staged, drably lit scenes that typically pass for action in Marvel movies. The director and co-writer, Destin Daniel Cretton , may not be the second coming of John Woo, but he's done a fine job of absorbing any number of Asian action influences, from the slapstick fisticuffs of Jackie Chan to the balletic grace of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon .

Speaking of Crouching Tiger : It's delightful to see the great Michelle Yeoh turn up late in the show as a benevolent mentor to Shang-Chi. She prepares him for an epic showdown with his father that feels a bit like this series' past epic showdowns, full of apocalyptic stakes, bloodless casualties and visual-effects overkill. But the finale also has a depth of feeling that sets it apart and leaves you wanting to linger in this particular world a while longer — before the next Marvel movie comes along.

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Shang-Chi First Reviews: One of the MCU's Most Spectacular Origin Stories

Critics say the film's grounded themes, peerless action, and particularly fantastic villain – thank you, tony leung – make it a stellar introduction to a new hero..

TAGGED AS: Action , blockbusters , Film , films , Martial Arts , Marvel , marvel cinematic universe , Marvel Studios , movie , movies , superhero , Superheroes

How many film franchises go for as long and for as many installments as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has and still keep delivering critical favorites? The first reviews of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings are calling it one of the best MCU entries yet. And those most qualified to speak on such elements offer particular praise toward the Asian representation and martial arts action as being exceptional for Hollywood blockbuster cinema in general.

Here’s what critics are saying about Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings :

Will Marvel fans love it?

“The movie full on delivers the Marvel theatrical experience you’ve been jonesing for.” – Rohan Patel, ComicBookMovie.com

“ Shang-Chi joins the ranks for me [with] Winter Soldier , Thor: Ragnarok and Infinity War as some of the best that Marvel has to offer… This is the best solo film in years.” – Jon Nguyen, Flickering Myth

“One of the best origin stories in the MCU.” – Rachel Labonte, ScreenRant

“Would rank it pretty high when it comes to Marvel origin stories. I’d say maybe only the first Iron Man and Black Panther movies do it better.” – Brian Frederick, Pop Culture Leftovers

“As Marvel remixes go, Shang-Chi is one of the more successful ones. Maybe not as stylistically strong as Black Widow and certainly not as much of a watershed moment as Black Panther .” – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm

“[It] puts to bed any concern fans might have had about a drop off in Phase IV of the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe.” – Brandon Katz, Observer

Does it feel unique in the franchise?

“Marvel breaks its own mold on multiple fronts… Shang-Chi is the most energized the MCU has been in years.” – Jeffrey Zhang, Strange Harbors

“ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is most enjoyable when it shakes off the tedious franchise imperatives and forges its own path.” – Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

“As familiar of a superhero origin story as Shang-Chi is, the film blessedly feels like the least Marvel of the solo films we’ve had lately.” – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm

“ Shang-Chi barely feels like a superhero movie at all. If anything, it veers closer to the wistful grandeur of Disney’s live-action fairy tale adaptations.” – Angie Han, Hollywood Reporter

“At its most basic level this is very much another MCU affair. From a critical point of view, there is no reinvention of the wheel.” – Therese Lacson, The Beat

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

(Photo by )

How well does it handle the Asian representation?

“Getting to see myself reflected in a Marvel blockbuster flick, despite its flaws, makes me excited for what more we might see from Shang-Chi.” – Therese Lacson, The Beat

“Cultural authenticity abounds in Shang-Chi .” – Nancy Wang Yuen, io9

“ Shang-Chi makes major strides in representation; more than just plastering Asian faces on a screen, the film dives particularly deep into the Asian American experience.” – Jeffrey Zhang, Strange Harbors

“This film often feels like an actual reflection of the Asian American experience versus an uninspired Hollywood imitation.” – Rohan Patel, ComicBookMovie.com

“It’s a bit tiring to see another dragon trope involved in an Asian-led film. Which is a shame as there are subtle nods for the Asian diaspora to relish.” – Laura Sirikul, Empire Magazine

How are the fight scenes?

“You’ll be happy to hear the best parts of Shang-Chi are its elevated fight scenes.” – Nancy Wang Yuen, io9

“The action is fantastic… The choreography is the best yet in the MCU.” – Laura Sirikul, Empire Magazine

“ Shang-Chi ’s action conveys the one thing so many superhero films are missing: flavor… [It’s] the studio’s best action to date by a country mile.” – Jeffrey Zhang, Strange Harbors

“The best action I’ve seen in the MCU.” – Jon Nguyen, Flickering Myth

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings doesn’t just boast the best action of the MCU, it manages to do it with two (two!) eye-popping action sequences that unspool before the film’s first act is over.” – Kate Erbland, IndieWire

“I’m no fan of fighting sequences but I enjoyed most of the ballet-like style Cretton devised for his movie.” – Patricia Puentes, Ask

(Photo by © Marvel Studios, © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Does it live up to its influences?

“The movie may not live up to [its influences and] ambitions — the action is still too aesthetically anonymous, too CG-polished — but it’s nice that it has them to begin with.” – Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

“It still only manages pale imitations of its influences: the wuxia-inspired sequences feeling more weightless than anything out of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon , and the Jackie Chan-inspired fight scenes feel more like the Hollywood takes on Chan’s work.” – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm

How is Destin Daniel Cretton as director?

“He directs the film with such an infectious energy, always putting his characters first, and making you so invested in their individual journeys.” – Rohan Patel, ComicBookMovie.com

“ At last , here is a director who knows martial arts is the core of the material, so Cretton ensures Shang-Chi ’s action department will get full credit.” – Nguyen Le, JumpCut Online

How does the movie look?

“Wait until you see the gorgeous design of Ta-Lo in this film. Tons of eye candy and amazing creature designs.” – Brian Frederick, Pop Culture Leftovers

“There are stunning wuxia-inspired sequences that are as gorgeous as they are impressive.” – Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend

“[Cretton] manages to at least keep the film visually coherent (and in many of the wuxia-inspired moments, quite beautiful) even as it descends into CGI bombast.” – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm

How is Simu Liu as Shang-Chi?

“Liu knocks it out of the park as Shang-Chi, adding a tad of levity to the known-to-be-serious comic book character.” – Laura Sirikul, Empire Magazine

“Simu Liu gives a charismatic, nicely understated performance, which helps mitigate the muddled storytelling.” – Tim Grierson, Screen International

“He’s responsible, respectful, charming, and carefree, making him instantly relatable to Asian-Americans across the country.” – Rohan Patel, ComicBookMovie.com

“As magnetic as Liu is in action, he struggles in quieter moments with a script that gives the character more backstory than personality.” – Angie Han, Hollywood Reporter

“Shang-Chi seems to have inherited much of his father’s martial-arts prowess but not nearly enough of his charisma.” – Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

Awkwafina and Simu Liu in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

(Photo by Jasin Boland/©Marvel Studios)

What about Awkwafina?

“Awkwafina in particular becomes a vital source of levity for the script, and a welcoming audience surrogate as the film ramps up to a large battle.” – Nick Allen, RogerEbert.com

“Awkwafina, who has proven to be effortless in a layered role with The Farewell … isn’t allowed to go beyond ‘funnywoman’ here.” – Nguyen Le, JumpCut Online

“Awkwafina is, well, Awkwafina, for both better and worse… A few scenes allow her shtick to go on a beat or two too many.” – Rob Hunter, Film School Rejects

And Tony Leung as the villain?

“The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s best ‘villain’ yet… Leung effortlessly proves he’s one of our greatest screen actors of the past 40 years.” – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm

“One of the MCU’s best villains… Perhaps the best MCU villain to-date.” – Jeffrey Zhang, Strange Harbors

“Tony Leung delivers one of the finest performances we’ve ever seen in the MCU and should go down as one of the franchise’s greatest antagonists.” – Rohan Patel, ComicBookMovie.com

“It’s the best performance from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, because the passion and grief it expresses is appropriately Leung-sized.” – Nick Allen, RogerEbert.com

“His performance anchors the film and expands the potential of the comic-book villain.” – Shirley Li, The Atlantic

“Leung as Wenwu provides depths of character in what could be a one-dimensional bad guy. However, the film’s real villain is grief.” – Laura Sirikul, Empire Magazine

(Photo by ©Marvel Studios)

Are there any other standouts?

“The dark horse is Meng’er Zhang’s Xialing… In a lesser film, she would be discarded to the sidelines, but there’s remarkable shading to her character that gives her some of the film’s best moments.” – Jeffrey Zhang, Strange Harbors

“Michelle Yeoh also plays a pivotal role, and is absolutely wonderful.” – Rohan Patel, ComicBookMovie.com

How is the film’s representation of women?

“The strongest fighters depicted are the women…[but] even as Shang-Chi presents more badass women than most Marvel films, they exist to support a man’s journey.” – Nancy Wang Yuen, io9

“In drawing attention to Xialing’s personal history of neglect, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings insistently telegraphs its awareness of its own shortcomings.” – Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

“Zhang’s Xialing has the most compelling backstory, but at times, it feels she is just there as set dressing for the main hero. It’s unfortunate she isn’t given more to do.” – Laura Sirikul, Empire Magazine

Does the screenplay do the rest of the movie justice?

“The script, by Cretton, Dave Callaham, and Andrew Lanham, charts a familiar enough origin story and journey of self-discovery, but there’s fun and heart in the details.” – Rob Hunter, Film School Rejects

“ Shang-Chi does have some pacing issues where the story, at times, becomes convoluted with so much information to set up the world of Ta Lo and how it relates to the MCU as a whole.” – Laura Sirikul, Empire Magazine

“The film’s middle sags with exposition and backstory, as its screenwriters attempt to maneuver around a few finicky problems.” – Kate Erbland, IndieWire

Is the movie funny?

“The funny in Shang-Chi seems to reflect a millennial sensibility, making the mixture of action and comedy feel fresh for the MCU.” – Nancy Wang Yuen, io9

“ Shang-Chi ’s brand of humor almost reminded me of Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok .” – Patricia Puentes, Ask

“The cast manages to carry a strong sense of tongue-in-cheek humor throughout the film, with one later surprise character hailing straight from the Taika Waititi school of comedy.” – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm

“The jokes keep Shang-Chi from tipping over into self-importance, but they also rob it of some of its wonder.” – Angie Han, Hollywood Reporter

What about its themes of family?

“They’ve never quite been handled with the nuance and emotion granted the relationship between Shang-Chi and his father.” – Rob Hunter, Film School Rejects

“Liu infuses these struggles with a real believability and charm.” – Kate Erbland, IndieWire

“ Black Widow is like the MCU worst family vacation scenario for superheroes, while Shang-Chi is a family reunion and a long-lost relative revelation.” – Jana Monji, Age of the Geek

Is Shang-Chi … sexier than your typical Marvel movie?

“This might be Marvel at its steamiest.” – Nguyen Le, JumpCut Online

“In a swerve uncharacteristic of superhero films… Shang-Chi ’s prologue cranks up the sexiness and romance [with] one of the most passionate and distinct set-pieces Marvel has ever placed on film.” – Jeffrey Zhang, Strange Harbors

“Leung, one of our best cinematic romantic leads and devastatingly handsome to boot, manages to inject sex appeal into a Marvel film with merely a look.” – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm

Does it stick the landing?

“The finale of Shang-Chi is truly unlike anything that’s come before. It’s pure unadulterated spectacle, and so fantastical, it’s very much like watching a comic splash page come to life.” – Rohan Patel, ComicBookMovie.com

“Though it falls victim to the dreaded Marvel third-act CGI muddle, Shang-Chi ‘s is one of the more forgivable ones, if only because it verges on full fantasia.” – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm

“One of my biggest complaints is the heavy use of CGI in the final third of the film, which often felt clunky and ended up overshadowing the emotional scenes.” – Therese Lacson, The Beat

“ Shang-Chi employs its muddled third act with reckless, disappointing abandon…[the] final act demolition derby is an MCU weakness writ large.” – Jeffrey Zhang, Strange Harbors

Will it make us excited for the MCU’s future?

“ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings presents a bright future for Marvel Studios and the expanded cinematic universe.” – Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies

“Given what’s on show here, the future for Shang-Chi and Asian representation in the MCU looks bright.” – Laura Sirikul, Empire Magazine

“ Shang-Chi is a step in the right direction, but we’ll have to see how Phase Four plays out to see if the MCU is really embracing diversity in a way that includes people of Asian descent.” – Jana Monji, Age of the Geek

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is in theaters on September 3, 2021.

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‘shang-chi and the legend of the ten rings’: film review.

Marvel's latest superhero origin story centers on a young man battling the legacy of his father, a legendary crime lord possessed of godlike strength and immortality.

By Angie Han

Television Critic

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Simu Liu as Shang-Chi in 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'

There are two identity crises at the heart of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings . One is written into the narrative: Shang-Chi ( Simu Liu ) is the son of an immortal crime lord ( Tony Leung ), who’s rejected his father’s empire for a simpler and less murderous life parking cars for a ritzy San Francisco hotel. His journey will be toward making himself whole again, reconciling his dark past with his good heart to forge a new way forward.

The other lies with the film itself. Shang-Chi , directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, attempts to shake up the Marvel formula by infusing it with martial-arts action and fairy-tale fantasy and grounding it in Chinese and Asian American culture. And while its disparate elements don’t meld together as smoothly as they should, they do, in the end, add up to a superhero movie fresh and fun enough to feel worth a spin.

Full credits

Distributor: Disney Production company: Marvel Studios Cast: Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng'er Zhang, Tony Leung, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, Benedict Wong, Yuen Wah, Ronny Chieng, Zach Cherry, Dallas Liu, Michelle Yeoh Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Screenwriters: David Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham Screen story by David Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton Producers: Kevin Feige, Jonathan Schwartz Executive producers: Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Charles Newirth Director of photography: Bill Pope Production designer: Sue Chan Costume designer: Kym Barrett Editors: Nat Sanders, Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir, Harry Yoon Visual effects supervisor: Christopher Townsend Music: Joel P West Casting director: Sarah Finn

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‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Review: Marvel Gives Lesser-Known Asian Hero the A-List Treatment

In its commitment to giving audiences more than just white men to root for, the comics studio adds Simu Liu to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

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Shang-who? The most obscure Marvel Cinematic Universe character to get his own stand-alone movie to date, the comic book mega-company’s “Master of Kung Fu” may not be a household name (not yet, at least), but you wouldn’t know that from “ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ,” a flashy, Asian-led visual effects extravaganza that gives the second-tier hero the same over-the-top treatment that big-timers like Hulk and Thor typically get. The result broadens the brand’s spectrum of representation once again, offering audiences of Asian descent the kind of empowerment for which “Black Panther” paved the way a few years back.

Whether in print or on screen, Marvel has consistently been a step ahead of culture at large, ensuring that women, people of color and even queer characters feature prominently in its properties. As social pressures motivated Hollywood to diversify its roster, Marvel didn’t have to look far to produce superheroes that gave more than just little white boys a chance to see themselves on-screen. Even so, the nearly half-subtitled “Shang-Chi” marks a gamble of an entirely different order: With Henry Golding already committed to “Snake Eyes” and few other bankable early-30s English-speaking actors to consider, the company cast a lesser-known leading man in Simu Liu (of Canadian sitcom “Kim’s Convenience”).

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The real star here is Marvel, of course. Good on it for leveraging its popularity to help launch some fresh Asian talent (including indie director Destin Daniel Cretton ). To mitigate the risk, Marvel tapped Asian action icons Michelle Yeoh and Tony Leung to play Shang-Chi’s aunt and dad, respectively, and paired Liu with bigger name Awkwafina as wisecracking bestie Katy. If the film’s a hit, it’ll send an even louder message to Hollywood than the success of “Crazy Rich Asians” did. And if it flops … well, that would tell us almost nothing, since Disney is releasing the movie exclusively to theaters in the midst of a pandemic.

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Stick around for the end credits, and cameos by a few of the Avengers hint at how Shang-Chi fits into the greater MCU. For the two hours prior, however, the movie may as well be spinning its own mythology, reaching back more than a thousand years to ancient China, where Wenwu (Leung) is already in possession of the 10 rings. These powerful, immortality-bestowing bracelets are the movie’s answer to “Star Wars” lightsabers: a new form of weapon that glows blue on Wenwu’s wrists and is controlled by his mind and sweeping arm gestures, resulting in all kinds of fancy tricks.

From the outset, Cretton embraces the artificiality of CGI, establishing an aesthetic in which spectacle trumps plausibility. (These are comic book movies, after all.) Wenwu parts an army as Moses did the Red Sea in DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments,” using his magic jewelry to easily breach a walled city. Centuries pass, and the shadow villain expands his reach around the world until, 30 years ago, with “nothing left on Earth to conquer,” he goes looking for a land called Ta Lo, meeting his match in its guardian, Li (Fala Chen), whom he marries.

In the comics, Shang-Chi’s father was none other than the notorious Fu Manchu, and though that connection has been scrubbed here, the script (for which Cretton shares writing credit with Dave Callaham and Andrew Lanham) maintains the idea that Shang-Chi was raised by a dastardly figure he must eventually confront: ancient-Greek dramatic tropes imposed upon the Asian martial arts genre. “From sun up to sun down,” we learn, this powermonger-turned-family man taught his son “every possible way to kill a man.” That means of all the Marvel heroes, Shang-Chi has perhaps the most dysfunctional upbringing yet.

Small wonder then that Shang-Chi ran away to San Francisco, changed his name (but barely, as Awkwafina hilariously points out) and tried to forget it all with a dead-end job as a parking valet — which is how we meet him immediately following the movie’s overlong but action-packed Wenwu prologue. Although ultra-likable Liu appears shirtless and handsome in his first scene, Shang-Chi is all but neutered compared with other studly Marvel heroes (who all get girlfriends). That could be the movie’s progressive, “Frozen”-like way of saying superheroes don’t need love interests, but it plays into a troubling Hollywood tradition of denying Asians their sex appeal — one that Marvel could remedy by making a Namor/Sub-Mariner movie.

Cretton and his co-creators are smart enough to recognize the minefield of stereotypes the movie must navigate, finding clever and amusing tactics to deal with missteps in Marvel’s pulp past (spoiler alert: the company even brings back Ben Kingsley for some self-ribbing comic relief, addressing unresolved problems with the Mandarin character in the process). But in distancing itself from the Fu Manchu trap, the film unwittingly squanders Leung’s involvement. Here, he’s an incredibly evil world terrorist turned softie, who loses his way again after his wife’s death.

Now, beckoned by what he believes to be her voice, Wenwu arranges to steal the amulets that Li had given their two kids, Shang-Chi and his far more successful sister, Xialing (musical theater actor Meng’er Zhang, making her screen debut). After fending off Dad’s goons in a thrilling donnybrook aboard an out-of-control city bus, Shang-Chi drags Katy to Macao, where he finds Xialing running an “underground” fight club a hundred or so stories above street level in a half-constructed skyscraper.

The early action scenes are the best, as Cretton and his second-unit/VFX teams collaborate to make cartoonishly extreme choreography seem acceptable within the movie’s elastic alternate reality. Whereas “Black Panther” invented the Afrofuturist kingdom of Wakanda as a fantasy answer to the Western world’s visions of its own superiority, “Shang-Chi” acknowledges China as the global superpower that it is and merely has to find a way to get its characters back to the mainland. (Marvel has been courting Sino audiences since at least “Iron Man 3,” which added China-set scenes for its Asian release.)

That works just fine for the Macao sequences, although the movie veers in a different direction — trying to incorporate familiar wushu and anime elements — when Wenwu uses the amulets to access Ta Lo, a vaguely Lost World-like parallel dimension inhabited by fantastical creatures. There, an elite brigade of trained fighters (led by Yeoh and backed by a benevolent CG dragon) defend unsuspecting humans from a hellacious soul-sucking beast. Like virtually every stand-alone MCU movie to come before, “Shang-Chi” does a fine job of presenting its hero as a relatable everyman during the first half before spiraling off into bombastic, brain-numbing supernatural mayhem for the final act.

Here, the movie has the added burden of trying to give Awkwafina something to do while giant creatures battle it out in the skies. It’s great to see her in action, but confusing that we’re being asked to view this goofball as Shang-Chi’s equal, rather than a sidekick. More confusing still is why Wenwu’s slacker son, using rings for the first time, should turn out to be more skilled than his father.

In its efforts to be inclusive, Marvel has all but obscured just how powerful its various characters are supposed to be relative to one another. Not that audiences seem to mind. Now that the Avengers’ Infinity War has played out, Marvel must figure out where this lucrative enterprise will go next. By expanding its idea of who can be a hero, the franchise appears egalitarian while bringing all new demographics under its control.

Reviewed at El Capitan Theatre, Los Angeles, Aug. 16, 2021. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 133 MIN.

Production: A Walt Disney Studios release of a Marvel Studios production. Producers: Kevin Feige, Jonathan Schwartz. Executive producers: Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Charles Newirth.
Crew: Director: Destin Daniel Cretton. Screenplay: Dave Callaham & Destin Daniel Cretton & Andrew Lanham; story: Dave Callaham & Destin Daniel Cretton, based on the Marvel comics. Camera: Bill Pope. Editors: Nat Sanders, Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir, Harry Yoon. Music: Joel P West.
With: Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, Benedict Wong, Yuen Wah, Ronny Chieng, Zach Cherry, Dallas Liu, Michelle Yeoh, Tony Leung.

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Shang-Chi made me excited about the Marvel Cinematic Universe again

I’m ready for shang-chi to meet thor.

By Alex Cranz , managing editor and co-host of The Vergecast. She oversaw consumer tech coverage at Gizmodo for five years. Her work has also appeared in the WSJ and Wired.

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For two hours Shang-Chi and Legend of the Ten Rings is a charming, family-friendly action-adventure movie about learning to grow up, learning to grieve, and learning to flex ab muscles so the light hits them just right. Then, as every movie set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is wont to do, it reminds us it’s part of a large fabric and its characters are destined to join forces with the likes of Captain Marvel, Thor, and Doctor Strange. And instead of being exhausted, I was elated. This movie helped me overcome my MCU fatigue, and — unlike every other Marvel flick since the Snap — actually set out to tell a new story absent of the baggage of Iron Man and the rest.

It helped that it’s just a really fun film, too.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings stars Simu Liu, who came to fame as the lovable, buff son in the Canadian sitcom Kim’s Convenience . In Shang-Chi , he’s again playing a charming guy with more abs than career drive. But after more than a decade of super capable Marvel superheroes, it’s refreshing to have a guy who’s content to just park cars and stay out all night drinking cheap booze and singing karaoke with his best friend. The best friend, in this case, is Katy, a completely normal woman with zero ties to the larger Marvel universe. Awkwafina minimizes the appropriative accent that brought her fame to make Katy a compelling human anchor for the otherworldly adventures the film takes its hero on.

Tony Leung as Wenwu and Fala Chen as Jiang Li in a combative embrace.

Well, one of two anchors really. Tony Leung, one of the biggest stars to ever come out of Hong Kong, makes his American film debut in Shang-Chi as Shang’s father, Wenwu. Wenwu, besides being the titular character’s dad, is also the actual leader of the MCU’s Ten Rings, the terrorist organization that played a major role in Iron Man 3 . Leung is one of the greatest actors working today and immediately elevates what could have been a rote role. He’s suave and menacing as the ageless leader of a group of assassins who run a chunk of the world from the shadows, but he’s tragic and affecting as Shang’s distant dad who has spent more than a decade abandoning his children and mourning his wife.

The grief these characters share is ultimately what Shang-Chi is about. The two men, and Shang’s younger sister Xialing (played by a wonderfully droll Meng’er Zhang), were once harmed by the loss of Shang and Xialing’s mother and they spend the film trying to reckon with that grief more than a decade after her loss. It gives Shang-Chi a surprisingly effective emotional core, which is good because the plot is fairly thin beyond the familial drama. This isn’t Loki or WandaVision with intricately plotted reveals and Marvel-y twists. It’s a film about a dad and his kids learning to grieve.

Awkwafina as Katy, and Simu Liu as Shang, stare in open mouthed shock at something out of frame as Ronny Chieng as Jon Jon embraces them both while looking amused.

But, you know, it’s still Marvel, so all that learning to process grief happens in between the best action in a Marvel film since Winter Soldier . This is director Destin Daniel Cretton’s first action film, and you would not believe it with how confidently he shoots this movie. He holds the camera steady so the fast-moving and fantastically choreographed fights are easy to see. It feels like you’re watching a Hong Kong action film from 1991 — in the best way possible.

The only time the fights drag are when CGI enters the picture, and like Black Widow earlier this year , the CGI seems to get in the way, feeling goofy and looking silly after we just watched Shang-Chi battle ninjas across the sides of buildings. Marvel’s come to be emblematic of a kind of glossy modern action aesthetic that leans on cartoonish CGI when practical would have done it better, but Shang-Chi is the first time I felt truly disappointed by its appearance instead of just a little annoyed.

Xialing, Shang, and Katy look at something awkwardly in the distance.

Thankfully, the CGI only infects small chunks of the film, and while it does contribute to the worst of the Disney / Marvel excesses of the finale, it's used sparingly enough that you can make peace with it. The film has a great cast, anchored by some real heavyweight actors (Michelle Yeoh and Tony Leung act opposite each other for the first time since 1993’s Butterfly and Sword ), sharp action, and more heart than I’ve seen in years from something out of the MCU.

Which brings me back to actually being excited about the MCU again. Shang and Katy feel like real, normal people (or as normal as a former child assassin and his bestie can be) thrust into a much larger world of gods and monsters and interdimensional wars. Shang-Chi is the first film of Phase 4 of the MCU to not feel like a denouement for Endgame . And like WandaVision and Loki , it cracks open a much, much larger world and gives us a glimpse of where the next big Avengers team-up could take place.

But where Loki and WandaVision were about some of the most powerful characters in the Marvel universe, Shang-Chi is about a guy who can fight really well but would probably rather be doing some karaoke or earning enough to pay his rent. Shang-Chi establishes Shang as the heart of whatever this eventual new team will be and finally moves the Marvel Cinematic Universe out from the shadow of Avengers who have come and gone before.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be in theaters only on September 3rd. Unlike Black Widow , it will not have a dual release on Disney Plus Premiere Access. That is a bummer because this film deserves to be seen and audiences should feel safe while watching it.

No one’s ready for this

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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

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Shang-chi and the legend of the ten rings.

Common Sense Says
Parents Say 30 Reviews
Kids Say 109 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Funny, poignant, thrilling MCU adventure; action violence.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 11+?

Frequent, intense comic book-style action violence. It isn't especially gory, bu

Occasional language includes variations on "s--t": "s--t," "holy s--t," "bulls--

Brands seen on-screen include Lucky Charms, Adidas, BMW, and Bose. All Disney/MC

A couple fight in a way that telegraphs attraction (it looks like dancing). Late

Possible glimpse of drinks as adults eat out at a restaurant.

Any Positive Content?

Courage, heroism, protecting those you love, belonging to a community, acting fo

Shaun/Shang-Chi is brave, empathetic, kind. He's protective of his loved ones, p

Nearly all-Asian/Asian diaspora cast, with exception of a couple of supporting p

Violence & Scariness

Frequent, intense comic book-style action violence. It isn't especially gory, but there are a couple of injuries/deaths, plus frequent peril and danger. Characters are killed and severely injured. Viewers see people plummeting to their death; being stabbed, crushed, shot, or impaled; pursued by scary, demon-like monsters, etc. Explosions/destruction. Lots of hand-to-hand combat. Weapons include guns, spears, bows, explosives. Mourning/sadness. Arguments, yelling, shouting.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Occasional language includes variations on "s--t": "s--t," "holy s--t," "bulls--t," each said a couple of times. "What the hell," "ass," "goddammit," "oh my God," and "damn" also pop up. The word "vagina" is used.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Brands seen on-screen include Lucky Charms, Adidas, BMW, and Bose. All Disney/MCU films and characters have lots of off-camera merchandise available.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A couple fight in a way that telegraphs attraction (it looks like dancing). Later, they embrace, kiss, are shown as being married with children.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Courage, heroism, protecting those you love, belonging to a community, acting for the greater good. Themes include teamwork, perseverance, courage. Shows how important family and friendship are, how the concept of family is more than blood: People can have incredibly strong chosen families, with friends who love you unconditionally. Emphasizes idea of knowing and being who you are , not who you think you're destined or supposed to be to please others.

Positive Role Models

Shaun/Shang-Chi is brave, empathetic, kind. He's protective of his loved ones, particularly his friend and sister, also of his mother's community. Katy is a loyal friend who's like a sister to Shaun; she commits to helping him even when she could easily stay safe back at home. Xialing is bold, brave, independent. Central characters put themselves in harm's way to save a community.

Diverse Representations

Nearly all-Asian/Asian diaspora cast, with exception of a couple of supporting players. Focuses on racial/ethnic representation, as well as non-stereotypical depictions in the form of Shaun and Katy, who aren't in predictable career paths.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the action-packed origin story of Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero Shang-Chi (Simu Liu). The son of The Mandarin ( Tony Leung ) -- the superhumanly powerful leader of the underground criminal organization the Ten Rings -- Shang-Chi was trained as an assassin from an early age. As a teen, he abandoned his destiny in order to live a normal life, but his father sends muscle to force him back home a decade later. As in all of the MCU movies, families can expect lots of sometimes-intense comic book-style violence. Most of it is martial arts-based and involves heavy hand-to-hand combat, although characters also occasionally use guns, bows, spears, and other weapons (and, naturally, things blow up). There's a fairly large body count, frightening demon-like creatures, and a couple of deaths that may hit viewers hard. Language is infrequent but includes "s--t" and "damn." There's less romance in this movie than in other MCU entries, with the exception of flashbacks to how two characters met and fell in love (there are a couple of embraces and kisses). The film is notable for featuring a nearly all-Asian cast (including popular comedic actor Awkwafina as Shang-Chi's best friend), as well as for its messages of teamwork, perseverance, and courage. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Parents say (30)
Kids say (109)

Based on 30 parent reviews

Some swearing no sex

What's the story.

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS begins with a bedtime story prologue explaining that Shang-Chi is the son of two supernatural people: superstrong (and basically immortal) Wenwu, possessor of the Ten Rings ( Tony Leung ), and Ying Li (Fala Chen), a fellow martial arts master who hails from the secret powerful community Ta Lo and is the only rival to ever defeat Wenwu. When Shang-Chi's mother dies, Wenwu, who had given up the Ten Rings to devote himself to his family, goes back to building his criminal empire and training Shang-Chi to be the best killer/assassin and successor. But at age 15, Shang-Chi escaped. Ten years later, he goes by Shaun (Simu Liu) and is a San Francisco parking attendant who spends most of his time hanging out with his best friend, Katy ( Awkwafina ). One day while Shaun is commuting on the bus, Ten Rings goons arrive to steal the one thing Shaun has left of his mother: half of a jade pendant. Soon, Shaun must reveal his true identity to Katy, and they both head to China to find his estranged younger sister, Xialing (Meng'er Zhang), before Wenwu does. Once they reconnect, Shang-Chi, Xialing, and Katy are caught up in Wenwu's master plan to resurrect their mother by destroying her secretive village.

Is It Any Good?

An entertaining mix of comedy and superhero action, this is a welcome addition to the Marvel universe that, like many MCU movies, explores loss, father issues, and learning to own your power. Liu and Awkwafina have great buddy chemistry as Shang-Chi and Katy, and, similarly to Black Widow , the romance in Shang-Chi is limited to the older generation while the main character is more devoted to his family (both chosen and biological). While Marvel is no stranger to funny sidekicks, the central pairing here has comedic timing on par with Ant-Man 's Scott and Luis, with the added bonus of a tender brother-sister vibe. Shang-Chi also has a biological sister, of course, and she's sure to be an audience favorite. Zhang's Xialing is like an edgier Natasha/Black Widow: She's a trained assassin who wants more out of her life than being her father's overlooked younger child. But Leung is the scene-stealer here, a brooding, powerful presence simmering to a boil. It's hard to imagine a superhero film without overt father-child baggage, and director (and co-writer, along with David Callaham and Andrew Lanham) Destin Daniel Cretton focuses a lot on the characters' backstory. It occasionally feels like too much, but ultimately the writing manages to balance the superhero speechifying and inspirational monologues with witty banter and a particularly effective subplot with a familiar MCU face.

One thing to make clear, even to those not versed in the genre, is that Shang-Chi isn't a straight-up, bona fide kung-fu or martial arts flick. Yes, there are plenty of martial arts scenes (from the aggressive style the Ten Rings members use to the almost dance-like martial arts demonstrated by Shang-Chi's mother and her community) and elements, but this is still first and foremost the Marvel world. The rapid-fire editing (courtesy of Elsabet Ronaldsdottir, Nat Sanders, and Harry Yoon) during the action sequences is noteworthy, as is Bill Pope's cinematography, which excels in both the city-set scenes and the ones taking place against the natural beauty of idyllic Ta Lo. Once the story settles there, it's a lovely, vibrant counterpoint to the darker, grimmer parts in the Ten Rings headquarters. It's important to also note that Shang-Chi features the first Asian lead in the MCU (Benedict Wong, who cameos, was memorable in Doctor Strange , but he's wasn't the main character). Shang-Chi, like Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians before it, continues to prove that diverse representation matters.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the action violence in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings . Does martial arts/hand-to-hand combat violence impact viewers differently than weapons-based, military-style violence?

What character strengths are on display in the movie? How can viewers model the teamwork , courage , and perseverance depicted in the story?

Fewer than 4% of Hollywood films feature AAPI characters in leading roles. Why are racial and ethnic representation in media important for all viewers?

How does Shang-Chi reference the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe? What would you like to see happen if there's a sequel?

This is one of the few Marvel movies without a romantic subplot. Discuss the strong platonic bond between Shaun and Katy. Do you like that they're "just friends," or would you have preferred a romance? Why?

Movie Details

In theaters : September 3, 2021
On DVD or streaming : November 12, 2021
Cast : Simu Liu , Awkwafina , Tony Leung , Michelle Yeoh
Director : Destin Daniel Cretton
Inclusion Information : Asian directors, Asian actors, Female actors
Studio : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Genre : Action/Adventure
Topics : Superheroes
Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
Run time : 132 minutes
MPAA rating : PG-13
MPAA explanation : sequences of violence and action, and language
Award : Common Sense Selection
Last updated : July 12, 2024

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What to watch next.

Avengers: Endgame

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Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings Review

03 Sep 2021

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings

Being the first of anything comes with a lot of pressure and responsibility. Black Panther was the first film in the MCU to celebrate Black and African culture. Captain Marvel became the first women-led film in the franchise. Now, Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings marks the MCU ’s first Asian-led superhero film. Of course, there have been characters of Asian descent in the MCU before, including Wong ( Benedict Wong ) from Doctor Strange , Hogun (Tadanobu Asano) from Thor , and Jimmy Woo ( Randall Park ) from Ant-Man And The Wasp and WandaVision . But they’ve always been the main heroes’ sidekick, flunkey, or comic relief. Shang-Chi features not only the first Asian protagonist but also a predominantly Asian cast. Happily, Asians can collectively breathe a sigh of relief—because the movie is good. Actually, it’s really good.

After running away from his father, formidable crime lord Wenwu ( Tony Leung ), Shang-Chi, ( Simu Liu ) starts over in San Francisco, where he meets his best friend, Katy ( Awkwafina ). Living the loafer lifestyle, Shang-Chi’s daily rituals include breakfast with Katy’s family, working a valet shift, and drinking and karaoking the night away. Basically, living the good life. However, after ten years, Shang-Chi’s past finally catches up with him. Driven by vengeance fuelled by heart-breaking loss, Wenwu forcefully reunites with his son and daughter Xialing ( Meng’er Zhang ) in hopes of recruiting them — along with Katy— into his terrorist organisation, The Ten Rings, an evil empire built around the power of ten ancient rings that Wenwu wears around his arms to generate blasts of energy.

Shang-Chi thrives when the scenes are rooted in the real world, especially in its fight sequences.

Co-writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton , best known for indie darling Short Term 12 , understands family dynamics and beautifully sets the tone for a heart-warming story syringed with humour. But despite the humanity on show, it’s the innovative martial arts that are the USP. Although there are many mystical elements, Shang-Chi thrives when the scenes are rooted in the real world, especially in its fight sequences. The action is fantastic, thanks to fight coordinator Andy Cheng and supervising stunt coordinator, the late Brad Allan , to whom the film is dedicated, the choreography the best yet in the MCU. A bruising bus battle between Shang-Chi and Wenwu’s henchmen is even more hypnotic than the trailers suggest, Liu showing off a barrage of blistering moves to disarm his father’s lackeys. The action doesn’t rely heavily on digital trickery in the real-world; but even its CG set-pieces within the fantasy realm of the hidden magical city of Ta Lo, which Shang-Chi has mysterious ties to, do not diminish the beauty of the diverse fighting styles. These fight scenes are truly gratifying; the martial arts in an early sequence between Wenwu and powerful warrior Jiang Li (Fala Chen) feel more like a dance and the result is simply mesmerising.

The cast is stellar. Liu knocks it out of the park as Shang-Chi, adding a tad of levity to the known-to-be-serious comic book character. As expected, Awkwafina hits all the comedic cues while remaining Shang-Chi’s anchor through his journey of self-discovery. The chemistry between Liu and Awkwafina is palpable, exuding a real sense of a found family. Perhaps the most intriguing character is Zhang’s Xialing who has the most compelling backstory; but at times, feels she is just there as set dressing for the main hero. It’s unfortunate she isn’t given more to do.

A dashing Leung as Wenwu provides depths of character in what could be a one-dimensional bad guy. However, the film’s real villain is grief. Grief drives Wenwu to perform nefarious acts, even at the expense of his own children. For those of Asian descent, grief is difficult to overcome. In an early scene, Katy’s mother comments on how moving on from a loved one is a Western idea. As such, Leung’s performance is filled with tangible anger and anguish that really brings the character to life.

In the debit column, Shang-Chi does have some pacing issues where the story, at times, becomes convoluted with so much information to set up the world of Ta Lo and how it relates to the MCU as a whole. The rushed ending makes some of the character arcs feel unearned and brushed aside. Also, it’s a bit tiring to see another dragon trope involved in an Asian-led film. Which is a shame as there are subtle nods for the Asian diaspora to relish — Shang-Chi taking off his shoes before entering Katy’s home, Katy’s grandmother asking Shang-Chi when he and Katy are getting married, and Ronny Chieng’s mystery character telling Katy that he speaks “ABC” (American-born Chinese) — that feel never feel forced or over-played. It’s a winning blend of Chinese culture mixed with the successful Marvel formula that avoids the typical Asian clichés and stereotypes of accents and bad drivers, while pointedly calling out some of the racial errors from Marvel's past. Given what’s on show here, the future for Shang-Chi and Asian representation in the MCU looks bright.

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Someone will have to do the actual math (and I don’t doubt that someone will), but if Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings isn’t the most action-oriented movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far — purely in terms of ratio of time spent watching people beat each other up to time spent vamping in the interim — it has to rank somewhere near the top. This is saying a lot for a movie that does have a hefty dose of backstory to plow through, being a cross-generational, culture-forward origin story and family drama — a narrative with heavy lifts on the exposition front and a heap of traps to avoid on the cultural front.

But this is also as it should be. I do actually go to an Iron Man movie wanting to see Robert Downey Jr. be a wise-ass for two hours; if he has to do it from behind a mask for a few scenes, so be it. Put the likes of Michelle Yeoh and Tony Leung in a movie, on the other hand, and attach it to a kung-fu superhero, and my needs adjust accordingly. The promise of Shang-Chi , which is as much martial-arts movie as it is standard superhero origin fare, is that a lot of people will get their asses kicked: sometimes gracefully, even beautifully, and other times with the battering-ram power you can expect of a movie advertising 10 rings at play. (Frodo just had the one, and it was enough of a pain in the ass.) Inevitably, someone wants to unleash great evil upon the world, and someone else wakes up one day to realize that it’s his fate, responsibility, and chore to be the guy who stops the other guy. The success of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings , which was directed by indie filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton ( Short Term 12 ), is that it manages to do everything expected of it: set up a new and, for many, not terribly familiar (or, because of dated stereotypes, not always fondly remembered) superhero; break free of those aforementioned stereotypes by giving the cultural legacies at its center a little weight; satisfy audiences so used to the usual hero-journey theatrics of origin stories that phoning it in with “the usual” just won’t cut it anymore. And it accomplishes all of this efficiently and effectively enough that we indeed spend most of our time watching people duke it out on the sides of skyscrapers, in underground fighting rings, on San Francisco public transit, and elsewhere. It’s a good movie. It’s got a plausibly fearsome villain by way of Leung, a nice ensemble of heroic personalities (played by Simu Liu, Meng’er Zhang, Yeoh — even Awkwafina gets in a good kill when it counts), and a dose of actually-poignant family drama undergirding all the rest. The rest — a forest maze that collapses in on people, dragons, souls getting sucked out of bodies, roles for women that are more than the standard gender-flipping lip-service — is a cherry on top. It’s probably best to leave the intricacies of the life of Xu Shang-Chi (Liu) to the movie. Suffice it to say he and his sister, Xu Xialing (Zhang), descend from a legacy of power and myth. In one corner, there’s their mother, Ying Li (Fala Chen), guardian of the hidden village Ta Lo, which, buried in deep in a forest, happens to be all that stands between humanity and its imminent destruction. In the other corner: their father, Xu Wenwu (Leung), a centuries-old warrior who, empowered by a mythical set of bangles known as the Ten Rings, has been able to hoard money and power, fucking around with governments, building his own army and the like, for years and years. He can’t be defeated. Then he sets out to find Ta Lo, the last frontier for a man who has everything. There, he meets Mom. And, in one of the movie’s most pleasurable scenes — a leaf-strewn bit of pleasing wuxia fighting intercut with “ I think I’m in love with this woman ” close-ups — he gets his ass handed to him for the first time in centuries. Fast-forward to the present. Bad things have happened. Wenwu, who’d set aside his Ten Rings for love — which entails becoming mortal — has been given good reason to traipse back over to the dark side. And the kids that the couple had in the meantime, Shang-Chi (Shaun, to friends) and Xialing, have grown into masterful warriors in their own right — the young man because his father saw him as the direct heir to the Ten Rings, the young woman because her father’s lack of interest became, in a skewed way, an opportunity to train herself. And fend for herself. When we meet adult Shaun, he’s a hotel valet in San Fran pretending to be a normal guy, working alongside his girlfriend, Katy (Awkwafina), and contentedly failing to make anything of himself. Xialing, meanwhile, runs a fighting ring in Macau. The siblings are estranged. Things are not allowed to remain that way, of course. Fates must be confronted. Legacies wrestled with at long last. Part of the fun of Shang-Chi is that it goes through these motions with an actual sense of interest in them. The obvious setup of the thwarted daughter, the never-heir, finally getting to have her say doesn’t just end there; it becomes a way of exploring an entire maternal legacy akin to its own equally powerful way of being and fighting. The bad-dad routine — unusually compelling, thanks to Leung — grows more menacing with time, gnawing at Shang-Chi’s sense of who he can even become given the things he’s done and seen.

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DVD & Streaming

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Action/Adventure , Drama , Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Content Caution

In Theaters

September 3, 2021
Simu Liu as Shawn/Shang-Chi; Awkwafina as Katy; Meng'er Zhang as Xialing; Tony Leung as Wenwu; Fala Chen as Jiang Li; Florian Munteanu as Razor Fist; Benedict Wong as Wong; Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan; Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery

Home Release Date

November 12, 2021
Destin Daniel Cretton

Distributor

Disney, Marvel

Movie Review

There’s nothing wrong with being a valet. Absolutely nothing.

It’s honest work. Well, mostly. You get to drive some really cool cars—even if it’s technically just to the other end of the parking garage and back. But if your co-valet worker and best friend convinces you to take a slick BMW for a quick spin around the block … well, who’s going to be the wiser?

And let’s be honest: Valet work is way preferable than being your father’s right-hand assassin.

Yep, that’s what Shawn was supposed to be. His dad, Wenwu, had been training him to kill since Shawn was just a toothpick-armed kid. He was called Shang-Chi back when he was sparring with Wenwu’s seemingly endless store of warriors. And by the time he was 14, Shang-Chi could defeat almost all of them.

That’s still pretty good for a 14-year-old. And at an age when most teen boys are just starting to shave the peach fuzz off their upper lips, Shang-Chi was being sent on his first lethal assignment.

He never came back to Pops, though. Instead he fled for the U.S. and made a great best friend., Katy. Together, the two became valets. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

But some careers are notoriously hard to leave, especially if they’re family businesses.

One sunny morning, while Shawn and Katy are riding the bus to work (ironic, no?), several skilled martial artists and a guy with an energy sword for a hand attack them. It’s soon clear that they’re after the amulet Shawn wears—the same amulet his mother gave him just before she was killed. “Whenever you get lost,” she told him then, “this [will help] you find your way home.”

Clearly, the attackers were sent by his father. Obviously, dear old Dad wants the amulet for some nefarious plot. And obviously, he’ll be looking for the amulet’s matching twin—the one worn around his estranged sister’s neck. Shawn knows he’ll need to warn her, even if the two haven’t spoken for years.

Nothing wrong with being a valet. Not in the least. But someone else’ll have to park the cars for a bit. Shawn—Shang-Chi—has a sister, and a world, to save.

Positive Elements

Anytime you’re saving the world, you’re doing good work—and indeed, that’s the position Shang-Chi (along with some helpmates) is in. He’s willing to give it his all to prevent his father from making a terrible mistake.

Which brings us to the movie’s second big positive—and one that undergirded fellow Marvel movie Black Widow , too. This is a movie about family . And as messy as this family is, the film says some pretty nice things about it, too.

In a flashback, we see how father Wenwu met Shang-Chi’s mother, Jiang Li—and how that relationship proved, for a time, to be a catalyst for positive change.

Wenwu, who had been literally on the warpath for 1,000 years (thanks to the lifegiving, magical power of 10 bracelet rings he always wears), gave up his immortality to be a loving husband and father. Jiang Li (Shang-Chi’s mother) gave up something for the relationship, too, but neither of them had any regrets: They loved each other, and they loved their kids. “After all those years, I found something worth growing old for,” Wenwu says tenderly. And even in the aftermath of Jiang Li’s death, Wenwu still loves her deeply—so deeply that the loss and grief twists him terribly. But the love, despite all that, remains. He’s as much a father as an evildoer, and the movie never loses sight of that.

As mentioned, Shang-Chi gets some help, too. Katy dives into this adventure, risking her own life when she would’ve been much safer parking cars. And while Shang-Chi and his sister, Xialing, are not exactly on the best of terms for much of the movie, they come together for a common goal—and they still share a lot of affection for each other.

We also hear lots of good messages about striving to reach your potential. While there’s nothing wrong with being a valet, characters stress that both Shang-Chi and Katy could do better. “If you aim at nothing, you hit nothing,” someone tells the latter.

Spiritual Elements

The movie’s very title hints that we’re moving into a mythical space here. Magic is very much in play, and we hear mention of “gods” and people with god-like power.

None of the people we see here are gods (though the rings do give Wenwu “the strength of a god and the gift of eternal life”). But Shang-Chi and his pals do visit a hidden, magical realm associated with a dragon—a creature that, in Chinese culture, is deeply spiritual, and one that comes across here as something of a supernatural protector.

And the powers on display here among several human characters often seem to bridge the gap between really skilled martial artistry and the manipulation of matter and energy. Some movements seem to harness the very air. And, of course, the rings themselves are quite magical.

In addition, there’s a hint of yin-yang dualism here, as Shang-Chi is encouraged to embrace both the light and the dark aspects of himself (though its ultimate manifestation seems unquestionably good).

We see a couple of shrines dedicated to Jiang Li, surrounded by candles. During a memorial ceremony, people float paper lanterns on a lake—recalling a Japanese ceremony in which the lights are said to help guide the souls of the dead to the spirit world. People express a belief in the eternal souls and ghosts.

[ Spoiler Warning ] The real villainy at work here, by the way, feels pretty demonic, too, and it’s sometimes referred to as such. It even eats the souls of the dead to grow more powerful. (Souls are depicted as a bright ball of energy being sucked from people’s bodies.) A villainous entity uses trickery—the voices of people long dead—to trick the living.

Sexual Content

Despite some prodding from a relative or two, Shang-Chi and Katy are just good friends (though Katy does ogle him a bit when he removes his shirt).

The main romance here is between Wenwu and Jiang Li, and it all takes place in the form of a series of flashbacks. When the two first meet, they “fight,” but the battle feels more like a dance. They twist and move almost in unison, and moments when their hands touch prompt glances that are charged with suggestive romantic energy.

The two do soon marry, and we see them in moments of domestic happiness, including some kisses and caresses.

As mentioned, Shang-Chi goes shirtless a few times. His sister wears a top that reveals a bit of midriff. During a quip, Katy crudely mentions her mother’s vagina.

Violent Content

Superhero movies are violent. Martial arts flicks are violent. And this, my friends, is a superhero martial arts movie.

Some of this violence is mitigated by the film’s fluid, dance-like choreography. Even the most frenetic fights (between people, anyway) carry a tang of poetry with them, fists and feet taking on rhyme and meter. But none of that keeps people from getting hurt or killed: Both happen with some frequency.

Wenwu’s rings are especially dangerous. They enable Wenwu to blast through walls, throw people around and (off-camera) execute at least one person with extreme prejudice (an act witnessed by a very young Shang-Chi, though we do not witness what he does). The rings are even used to defeat a monstrous creature in perhaps the movie’s most visceral scene.

But other weapons do damage, too. Xialing uses a blade at the end of a tether that does some serious damage. A man wields an energy sword attached to his handless wrist. More traditional swords, staves, electrified scythes and throwing implements are used, too—sometimes with lethal results—and a number of warriors use bows, both on an archery range and in battle. And in a gladiator-like fighting arena, men and monsters battle until one is knocked out. Someone is kicked in the groin,.

People fall from massive heights—sometimes painfully landing on a solid surface, while others plummet to their (unseen) deaths. Motorcycles crash, sending their riders flying. A killer forest sends an SUV careening off a cliff, presumably spelling the end for its remaining inhabitants. People tragically die off-screen.

Tentacled, fanged monsters attack people, leading to grotesqueries on both sides. A creature sucks out and absorbs souls. A bus is torn apart, and the people inside it are tossed about violently. We see explosions. As a child, Shang-Chi beats a wooden post until his knuckles bleed.

Crude or Profane Language

We hear about a half-dozen s-words and a sizable collection of other profanities, including “a–,” “b–ch,” “d–n,” “h—” and the British profanity “bloody.” God’s name is misused six times, once paired with “d–n.” We also hear a couple of uses of the f-word stand-in “freaking.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

Shang-Chi and Katy sing with abandon at a karaoke bar, both looking as if they’ve likely had a bit too much to drink. (In a later scene, the two are joined by another seemingly drunken singer.)

A woman insists that people live on after death. As proof, she talks how she left a bottle of whiskey on her husband’s grave. “The next day it was gone,” she proudly concludes. Some liquor bottles can be seen in clubs and dives.

Other Negative Elements

Xialing runs a presumably illegal fight club. We hear about someone vomiting.

While Marvel’s television shows on Disney+ have allowed fans to dip their toes into the post- Avengers: Endgame Marvel Cinematic Universe, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings jumps into the deep end. It introduces moviegoers to a new hero (though the character himself debuted in 1973) and sets us up for a long and (Marvel and Disney hope) lucrative road ahead.

As a movie, Shang-Chi unquestionably works. It’s an engaging, action-packed story that blends the lineage of martial arts movies with Marvel’s multilayered bombast, and it even throws a few massive creatures into the mix to give the film a kaiju-type feel at times. And it feels a lot more open to MCU newcomers, too. While being familiar with the 24 (!) previous Marvel movies will certainly add to the experience here, moviegoers don’t need to be particularly familiar with any of ’em to enjoy this one.

But if Shang-Chi is friendly to MCU novices, it’s not quite as friendly for families.

First, of course, you’ve got plenty of violence to contend with here, as well as some language. None of that is a new thing in the MCU, of course: The PG-13-level action feels very much in line with what we’ve seen before.

But the film feels surprisingly spiritual, too, and it uses Eastern spirituality as its template. While most of what we see here is a mythos of Marvel’s own making, we can certainly see the sensibilities of Taoism, Buddhism and other streams of traditionally Eastern faith flowing here. And though you could suss out some Christian themes here—themes of fighting against temptation and darkness, the willingness to sacrifice for the greater good, etc.—those would be likely secondary or wholly unintended by the filmmakers themselves.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a satisfying, fun superhero movie, no question. But families—even families already familiar with the MCU—still might want to pause before grabbing this ring.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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Your Rating

Destin Cretton

Reviews (4)

Shang-Chi was action-packed, interesting, and one of the better movies to come out of the recent lineup of Marvel films. I was interested throughout the movie's runtime and eager to see what would happen next, instantly becoming drawn into the world the movie created.

Shang-Chi is a underappreciated feature in the post-Infinity Saga MCU. A standalone feature set on bringing another little-known character to screens, the action is on-point, it has one of the strongest villains in the franchise thanks to Tony Leung's Wenwu, and its heart is on point. I can't help but feel for all of these characters, and even moments cut from the movie exemplify this strong emotional core. It would be a crime to not give these characters further exploration.

As a Wuxia fan, I really love this film. As a Wong Kar Wai fan, I love Tony Leung. Insane that he is in an MCU film. The fight scenes are spectacular throughout and it was quite heartfelt and funny. Simu Liu is a solid actor and would fit right in alongside some of the bigger names in the MCU.

Shang-Chi is a movie that helps to redefine the MCU after the Infinity Saga. In no small part, the film's star, Simu Liu, makes this movie into what it is as he throws himself, body and sould into the role of Shang-Chi.

The movie is action-packed, proving that superhero movies don't have to stay within the lines of sci-fi and fantasy, as it imbues martial arts and culture beyond what has been seen in the MCU up to this point.

Tony Leung Chiu Wai

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Shang-chi reportedly had a major role in avengers 5, shang-chi's next mcu appearance has me even more frustrated by marvel's handling of the character, shang-chi 2 gets promising update from awkwafina, black widow’s coolest mcu villain battle was never shown in its movies or shows, related titles.

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Shang-Chi's Simu Liu Has an Exciting Update on His Marvel Sequel

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One of the MCU's coolest and most forgotten about heroes, Shang-Chi, will be returning to the MCU, says Simu Liu . Shang-Chi, the master martial artist, made his MCU debut in the 2021 MCU hit Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings . Despite good reviews from audiences and critics, the movie's COVID release date severely limited its box office potential. Because the character has yet to appear in any follow-up MCU movie or series, fans assumed that Shang-Chi's spotlight had faded permanently. However, Simu Liu has provided audiences with some great news.

Speaking to The Times of India about his new movie Jackpot (which also features his Shang-Chi co-star Awkafina), Simu Liu confirmed that Shang-Chi 2 is in the works at Marvel Studios. The actor didn't provide any details about the film's potential release date, production timeline, or plot, joking that it's above his pay grade. But Liu's confirmation is the first piece of good Shang-Chi news fans have received since the movie's release. Liu said:

"A lot of it is above my pay grade, but it's definitely happening. So, just very excited to kind of work on it, and it's going to be amazing. I really can't say anything beyond that."

Shang-Chi Legend of the Ten Rings Poster

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Starring Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Ben Kingsley, Meng'er Zhang, Michelle Yeoh, Fala Chen, and Benedict Wong, Shang-Chi formally introduced the legendary Ten Rings organization to the MCU. The iconic Marvel villains were first teased in Iron Man 3 , but that version was a fake (an actor named Trevor Slattery, played by Ben Kingsley, was hired to pose as the Mandarin). The Ten Rings were then teased in a Marvel One shot (remember when Marvel made those?) titled All Hail the King , revealing that the Ten Rings did exist in the MCU. As well as promising a return for its eponymous hero, the end of Shang-Chi also teased that the Ten Rings would return.

While Shang-Chi Is Returning, The Eternals Are Not

It's impossible to discuss forgotten Marvel heroes without mentioning Eternals . Directed by Chloé Zhao, the film followed the titular race of immortal beings who have secretly protected Earth for centuries. Featuring a star-studded cast, including Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Barry Keoghan, Lia McHugh, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani, and Kit Harrington, the movie was lambasted by audiences upon release. Despite contemporary opinions about the movie changing, it feels like the wider MCU has tried to forget that Eternals ever happened — despite a gigantic dead celestial sitting in the ocean.

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While Shang-Chi is getting his long-awaited vindication (at least according to Simu Liu), the Eternals have received the short end of the proverbial stick. Last month, Kevin Feige proved that the team's name was only metaphorical, as the Eternals won't be making an MCU comeback anytime in the near future. Feige said:

"There are no immediate plans for Eternals 2. There are, and I think you’ve seen maybe in a trailer we’ve released recently, an acknowledgment of some of those events. Certain giant things came out of the ocean."

Shang-Chi and Eternals , along with the entire MCU, can be streamed on Disney+.

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Original Naruto live-action movie writer previews director Destin Daniel Cretton's 'nuanced and special' take

Tasha Huo, who worked on the live-action movie's first script, tells EW she's excited to see the "Shang-Chi" helmer's interpretation of the character.

The live-action Naruto movie is one step closer to completion.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly , original writer Tasha Huo reveals that her "script is done" on the anime adaptation's first live-action big-screen outing and that new writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton "is now doing his stuff" with the story as the filmmaker takes over the project before filming.

The mind behind Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Short Term 12 was previously announced as the film's new director (and writer, taking over for Huo) in February, following his success in directing Marvel's Shang-Chi movie to $432 million at the global box office (during the pandemic, no less).

Everett; Getty

Huo, who also serves as the showrunner for Netflix's upcoming Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft animated series, praises Cretton for his background in producing "his own writing and storytelling" that she feels "is very personal and relatable" to viewers.

"I think that’s such a cool choice because he’s going to be able to capture how nuanced and special Naruto is without getting distracted by the big world that it is, which I think could easily be done by someone who’s not a fan or someone who’s coming in for a cash payday," she says. "This is definitely a movie that comes at it from a love of who Naruto is and that character and his relationships."

Before the Naruto TV series launched in 2002, its story began as a Japanese manga release created by Masashi Kishimoto in 1997.

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“When I heard of Destin’s attachment, it happened to be right after watching a blockbuster action film of his, and I thought he would be the perfect director for Naruto ," Kishimoto told EW in a statement when Cretton was announced as the live-action movie's director. “After enjoying his other films and understanding that his forte is in creating solid dramas about people, I became convinced that there is no other director for [ Naruto ]. In actually meeting Destin, I also found him to be an open-minded director who was willing to embrace my input, and felt strongly that we would be able to cooperate together in the production process."

Naruto 's story follows the titular character, an orphan warrior ousted from his community because he harbors a demonic entity in his body. The character became popular with audiences around the world for his notable quirks, from his spiky-haired look to his penchant for eating ramen.

A release date for the live-action Naruto movie has yet to be announced.

REPORT: Simu Liu's Shang-Chi Had Major Avengers 5 Role Before Kang Exit Rewrites

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The transformation of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty into Avengers: Doomsday following various creative changes seemingly cost one Marvel Cinematic Universe hero a major role. A new report confirms Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu's title character was set to be a big presence in the upcoming Avengers sequel before rewrites occurred.

According to Inverse , Liu was initially penned in as one of the Avengers follow-up's main stars when The Kang Dynasty was in development. However, after The Kang Dynasty title was dropped following Marvel's firing of Kang actor Jonathan Majors last December due to his assault and harassment convictions, plans changed. The report noted that there's still a chance Shang-Chi will play a key role in Doomsday if the next MCU movie on the docket, Captain America: Brave New World , introduces a new Avengers lineup as teased.

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Shang-Chi's MCU future has been the subject of debate following The Legend of the Ten Rings ' 2021 premiere, with the acclaimed film (91% on Rotten Tomatoes) making $432 million against its $200 million budget and earning an Academy Award nomination. Amid rumors of when next fans would see the character, Liu recently confirmed the Shang-Chi sequel is in development and claimed it's progressing well. Liu starred in The Legend of the Ten Rings alongside Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina and Florian Munteanu, with Destin Daniel Cretton directing.

Marvel Pivots to Doctor Doom for Avengers 5

Marvel announced Doomsday during San Diego Comic-Con in July, ending speculation about Kang's MCU future and confirming a sensational Robert Downey Jr. return as Doctor Doom . Downey Jr., who portrayed Tony Stark/Iron Man for much of the MCU's existence, will play the villainous Victor von Doom in Doomsday and the follow-up Avengers sequel, Secret Wars , with Infinity War and Endgame helmers, the Russo brothers (Joe and Anthony Russo) directing both movies. The news was met with understandable disappointment from Majors , who was set to be the MCU's big bad for the next two Avengers films before he ran into legal trouble.

Avengers Endgame Steve Rogers & Peggy, Thor fighting Thanos, and the Avengers assembling

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The most famous superhero movie in the world consisted of dozens of tremendous and memorable scenes that left fans in awe.

Aside from Downey Jr.'s main antagonist, no one else has been confirmed to appear in Doomsday aside from Doctor Strange , with Benedict Cumberbatch recently announcing he'll be reprising his role in the upcoming sequel. Multiple other names have been linked to Doomsday , including Deadpool & Wolverine stars, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, who have remained coy about their MCU futures following the billion-dollar blockbuster.

Meanwhile, Liu recently starred as the villainous Harlan Shepherd in the Netflix sci-fi action film, Atlas , alongside Jennifer Lopez. His latest projects also include the Prime Video action comedy, Jackpot! , featuring Awkwafina and John Cena, and Gremlins: The Wild Batch , joining the cast of the Max animated series last month.

Doomsday opens in theaters on May 1, 2026.

Source: Inverse

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
Shang-Chi 2

Live-action Naruto movie gets an exciting update as its first writer praises the "cool choice" of director: "This is definitely a movie that comes at it from a love of who Naruto is"

Naruto movie gets a new update from the writer of its first script

The initial writer of the live-action Naruto movie has given an exciting update on the project, as well as praising director Destin Daniel Cretton.

Tasha Huo tells Entertainment Weekly that her first script is "done" and that Cretton is now "doing his stuff" with Naruto's story.

The live-action movie, an adaptation of the classic shonen manga (which was later turned into a 220-episode anime), was first announced in February and sees Cretton take on the project alongside his Marvel work.

"I think that’s such a cool choice because he’s going to be able to capture how nuanced and special Naruto is without getting distracted by the big world that it is, which I think could easily be done by someone who’s not a fan or someone who’s coming in for a cash payday," Huo said. "This is definitely a movie that comes at it from a love of who Naruto is and that character and his relationships."

No release date for the Naruto movie has been announced. Cretton is currently working on the Wonder Man series for Marvel, while a Shang-Chi sequel is also on the way. Actor Simu Liu recently teased to ComicBook.com that it's "definitely happening" and it's "exciting" to be working on the follow-up to 2021's Legend of the Ten Rings.

For more, check out the latest on the new anime just over the horizon – including Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 , Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War part 3 , and the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle trilogy .

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I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

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COMMENTS

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi's friend Katy and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, as well as Fala Chen, Meng'er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings movie review (2021
Simu Liu stars as Shang-Chi, a key piece to a broken family that has a history of infighting. The dysfunctional family dynamics are even more important than the ten rings that grant such immense power to Shang Chi's power-hungry father Wenwu, who has lived for 1,000 years and created a society called the Ten Rings that has destroyed kingdoms and swayed the events all over the world.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Review
Verdict. Director Destin Daniel Cretton skillfully connects Shang-Chi's personal stakes with the larger MCU by way of an emotionally complex villain, a stellar cast with fantastic chemistry, and ...
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Apr 8, 2022. Jeffrey Harris 411mania. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has great energy, strong direction, and a fresh new set of characters. The film ...
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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Rated PG-13 for kung fu fighting. Running time: 2 hours 12 minutes. ... Rating PG-13. Running Time 2h 12m. ... Explore More in TV and Movies
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Simu Liu plays a young kung fu master who returns home to battle his evil father. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a superhero movie packed with an unusual emotional intensity.
Shang-Chi First Reviews: One of the MCU's Most Spectacular Origin
Shang-Chi 's prologue cranks up the sexiness and romance [with] one of the most passionate and distinct set-pieces Marvel has ever placed on film.". - Jeffrey Zhang, Strange Harbors. "Leung, one of our best cinematic romantic leads and devastatingly handsome to boot, manages to inject sex appeal into a Marvel film with merely a look.".
'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings': Film Review
Rated PG-13, 2 hours 12 minutes. It doesn't take long for Shang-Chi to lay down its terms. The initial scenes of the film are set in China, with the opening narration and dialogue entirely in ...
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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. With Simu Liu, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Awkwafina, Ben Kingsley. Shang-Chi, the master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Review: finally excited about
For two hours Shang-Chi and Legend of the Ten Rings is a charming, family-friendly action-adventure movie about learning to grow up, learning to grieve, and learning to flex ab muscles so the ...
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Shang-Chi is an alright movie. It has some great fight scenes with some incredible fight choreography and epic large-scale battles. It is also has some good comedic scenes that made me laugh a couple of times. Where Shang-Chi suffers is when it comes to the plot. I didn't find the story very compelling and I didn't get that attached to the ...
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Movie Review
Our review: Parents say ( 30 ): Kids say ( 109 ): An entertaining mix of comedy and superhero action, this is a welcome addition to the Marvel universe that, like many MCU movies, explores loss, father issues, and learning to own your power. Liu and Awkwafina have great buddy chemistry as Shang-Chi and Katy, and, similarly to Black Widow, the ...
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Film Threat. Sep 7, 2021. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an origin story, and director Destin Daniel Cretton, working from script he wrote alongside Dave Callaham and, Andrew Lanham did a masterful job telling a story that's not only Asian-American but a Marvel movie at the same time. Read More.
Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings Review
Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings Review. While revelling in the slacker life in San Francisco with his best friend Katy (Awkwafina), Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) is confronted by the dark past ...
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"Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" conjures a slick addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one that owes less to the comics than most of its predecessors. The movie not only ...
'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings': A Better Origin Story
The promise of Shang-Chi, which is as much martial-arts movie as it is standard superhero origin fare, is that a lot of people will get their asses kicked: sometimes gracefully, even beautifully ...
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings critic reviews
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings isn't perfect. There's a bit too much exposition involving myths, history, and character backstory; that climax inevitably abandons the intimacy of the fight scenes for gargantuan CGI. Yet by that point the movie has earned too much goodwill to be affected much by such complaints.
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Marvel Studios' "Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings" stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. ... Fan Reviews and Ratings Powered by Rotten Tomatoes Rate Movie. Close Audience Score. The percentage of users who made a ...
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the 26th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Simu Liu plays Shaun (Aka Shang-Chi), a valet living and working in San Francisco, along with his friend Katy (Awkwafina), when one day, his past comes knocking back at his door. To protect himself and Katy, Shaun reveals himself to be Shang-Chi and his lineage, with his father being the actual
'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' Review Thread : r/movies
Despite pacing issues, it delivers a hugely entertaining step in the right direction for Asian representation. Time Out 4/5. Even though it doesn't stick the landing, Shang-Chi is one of the better Marvel intros. Thor and Captain America both debuted in films less assured than this, and look how they developed.
Shang-Chi 2 Gets a Promising Release Update From Simu Liu
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, premiered in Hollywood on August 16, 2021, and was released in the U.S. on September 3 as part of MCU Phase Four.It earned over $432 million globally, making it the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2021. The film was praised for its portrayal of Asian culture, thrilling action sequences, and the performances of its cast, including Simu Liu and Tony Leung.
Simu Liu confirms Shang-Chi 2 is "definitely happening"
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Shang-Chi 2: Simu Liu Offers Exciting Marvel Sequel Update
Shang-Chi, the master martial artist, made his MCU debut in the 2021 MCU hit Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Despite good reviews from audiences and critics, the movie's COVID release ...
'Naruto' live-action movie writer previews director's take on anime
The mind behind Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Short Term 12 was previously announced as the film's new director (and writer, taking over for Huo) in February, following his success ...
REPORT: Simu Liu's Shang-Chi Had Major Avengers 5 Role Before ...
Shang-Chi's MCU future has been the subject of debate following The Legend of the Ten Rings' 2021 premiere, with the acclaimed film (91% on Rotten Tomatoes) making $432 million against its $200 million budget and earning an Academy Award nomination.Amid rumors of when next fans would see the character, Liu recently confirmed the Shang-Chi sequel is in development and claimed it's progressing well.
Live-action Naruto movie gets an exciting update as its first writer
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