Shang Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) Review

Title: Shang Chi & The Legend of the Ten Rings
Director: Destin Cretton
Country: US
Language: English

Hong Kong actor Tony Leung is one of my favourite living actors. I loved him in Wong Kar Wai's masterpiece In The Mood For Love, the first film in which I had seen the actor's immense capability at capturing an audiences' heart. I did not know he was cast in this picture,  as I had not paid attention to any trailers, so when he made his presence known in Shang Chi I was immediately intrigued. Could he live up to the great acting prowess that I thought he had? We'll see!

Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) , the master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.

Shang Chi's father, Wen Wu, is brilliantly played by Tony Leung. His magnetic presence steals every scene that he's in, even when he shares it with a giant CGI dragon. The master of a criminal organization known as The Ten Rings, Leung struggles with self destructive grief with the same elegance and charm he had throughout his cinematic career. 

The film is packed with very cohesive fight scenes that are wonderfully choreographed; reminding me a lot of the martial arts films from the 70's that I would stumble upon as a child (I didn't grew up in the 70's, we just had a specific kung fu tv channel). The plot, while very formulaic and similar to other Marvel ventures, never feels like a drag. Awkwafina acts as great levity to the plot when it becomes too dark or risks becoming dull. 

There is nothing, besides Leung, that excited me about the film or in any way sparked my creative energy. Shang Chi is a fine, run of the mill, picture that was suitable for one escapist viewing. I don't regret seeing it, but I might have opted for a cheaper theatre had the film not been overhyped for me on twitter.