Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings(尚氣與十環傳奇) is an 2021 film. The movie stars Simu Liu, Awkwafina, and Tony Leung. The supporting cast include Meng'er Zhang, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, Benedict Wong, Michelle Yeoh, and Ben Kingsley. This is the 25th and the first Asian led movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was originally set for release in February of 2021, but due to the pandemic, things got shifted around many times. During the shuffling, summer dates came and went.
Simu Liu is Shang-Chi and Awkwafina is Katy, whom are valet parking attendants at a high end hotel. On the way to work on the bus, they are attacked by a brute with a sword attached to his arm. Shang-chi comes clean with Katy about his past and that they were sent by the Ten Rings organization. Shang-Chi also tells Katy that his father is the leader and he must stop him. How will Shang-chi do that?
I went in with very low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. It is hard to put into words exactly how I feel as there is a sense of pride. Because Asian led products in the "west" have generally been very high on playing to stereotypes. This movie however played very little to it. It was also the first one that I felt was able to mix the world I grew up into a movie a little. I mean this in terms of the mix of English and Mandarin. The use and mix of the two was the best that I've seen in "western" films.
The story itself was fundamentally simple. But the items of each piece was complex in nature. In all, the movie was 4 acts. Each act built up to the next. The pace was really good as I didn't really want it to end. Tony Leung was his amazing self. Because I haven't seen his recent films, it was good to see him onscreen again. The rest of the cast met up with an amazing script so it was hard to mess up.
Some other parts of the MCU made their appearance to welcome their Asian buddy in. Very happy about that. I highly recommend this film. Go watch it!
